Black Headed Pythons?

[XburntbythesunX]

I am fairly curious about this species. Would getting a male black headed python be a bad species to get for someone without experience with large snakes? They sound like they are very docile. Is that accurate? Also I was wondering if there is a good place to learn about caring for them?

[eminart]

If you're aware of the prices, and still interested, you should look up Derek Roddy's website. I have no personal experience with this species, but I've read some.

[XburntbythesunX]

I imagine I could afford one within a year or two (I see juvies running about 1.5k), but at the same time I imagine price wise, there are larger snakes that are still extremely docile? I'm not sure what they would be though, I haven't researched much on larger snakes.

Right now, I'm leaning toward getting a female woma, which seems like a the best fit for what I want, but I am still very fascinated by the BHP.

[REM955]

I feel the same way. The current plan is to get the Woma and see how that plays out. Then maybe consider a BHP. But they supposedly are not beginner animals and not just because of price.

[XburntbythesunX]

I can't imagine any snake that large is a beginner snake, regardless of temperament. My only hesitation with these (besides price/space) is if I ever have a family some day can I keep something like that in the house with a small child? I've heard some horror stories about burmese pythons that make me really second guess getting a snake this size.

[Karilyne]

If you are a responsible pet owner I don't see why you can't safely own large snakes and keep them in the house with your family. I certainly do with my fosters. Now if you aren't feeding it, putting it in a cage it's strong enough to break out of, not handling it to keep it tame, etc...then you have no reason owning a snake period. That is just my 2 cents worth.

If a BHP is something you truly want then you will do the research and work to make that a real possibility. The worst advice I've heard someone give is "start out with something smaller and see if you still want a snake". That's how animals end up abandoned in shelters or wild released. Get a snake you are going to be passionate about. Talk to Derek Roddy or the guy from HLH Reptiles (he has gorgeous Womas as well as BHB).

I have a Woma Python and my 8 year old and I love her to bits. Great snake with a great temperament. Her brother though is a real arse so I would ask the breeder specifically for one with a calmer disposition.

Good luck!

[eminart]

You should also look up K Brothers Pythons on YouTube. They're in Australia, so you can't buy from them, but they have lots of videos with BHP's.

[XburntbythesunX]

If you are a responsible pet owner I don't see why you can't safely own large snakes and keep them in the house with your family. I certainly do with my fosters. Now if you aren't feeding it, putting it in a cage it's strong enough to break out of, not handling it to keep it tame, etc...then you have no reason owning a snake period. That is just my 2 cents worth.

If a BHP is something you truly want then you will do the research and work to make that a real possibility. The worst advice I've heard someone give is "start out with something smaller and see if you still want a snake". That's how animals end up abandoned in shelters or wild released. Get a snake you are going to be passionate about. Talk to Derek Roddy or the guy from HLH Reptiles (he has gorgeous Womas as well as BHB).

I have a Woma Python and my 8 year old and I love her to bits. Great snake with a great temperament. Her brother though is a real arse so I would ask the breeder specifically for one with a calmer disposition.

Good luck!

I'm speaking for myself specifically. I've kept a cranky California King snake for three years (and then someone stole her on a breeding loan), which I don't think makes me an expert on snakes. Do I want to learn from experience with a 10 ft python? For me personally, probably not if I had a small child. I just don't have the knowledge/experience and wouldn't feel comfortable.

They do seem like docile and intelligent animals, but b/c of size and my inexperience with snakes, I doubt I will get one at this point. But I do have a while to make up my mind.

[XburntbythesunX]

You should also look up K Brothers Pythons on YouTube. They're in Australia, so you can't buy from them, but they have lots of videos with BHP's.

I watched one of their videos last night, and it was pretty fascinating. It was mostly about breeding though. I thought the enclosures they kept the animals in were awfully small for snakes that big, but I know breeders usually house snakes in small tanks.

As far as the snakes temperament, most of them seemed very calm, they even picked up snakes in shed etc, which I was really surprised by. It's hard for me to imagine, not needing any real concern with an snake that big, but the only snake I've kept was very nervous and nippy.

[Karilyne]

I'm speaking for myself specifically. I've kept a cranky California King snake for three years (and then someone stole her on a breeding loan), which I don't think makes me an expert on snakes. Do I want to learn from experience with a 10 ft python? For me personally, probably not if I had a small child. I just don't have the knowledge/experience and wouldn't feel comfortable.

They do seem like docile and intelligent animals, but b/c of size and my inexperience with snakes, I doubt I will get one at this point. But I do have a while to make up my mind.

In that case a Woma Python may be a good choice. Mine is super docile and a real joy to handle.

I've always wondered why King Snakes are recommended as a beginner snake. They are bitey. They musk. I watched one crap on a person for 20 second straight. Quite disgusting! They are temperamental little guys especially when young. I'm not saying they can't be great snakes...I just haven't met one yet who was.

[Aaron_S]

In that case a Woma Python may be a good choice. Mine is super docile and a real joy to handle.

I've always wondered why King Snakes are recommended as a beginner snake. They are bitey. They musk. I watched one crap on a person for 20 second straight. Quite disgusting! They are temperamental little guys especially when young. I'm not saying they can't be great snakes...I just haven't met one yet who was.

There's many species of king snake so in some ways I agree and disagree.

I've seen many mexican black kingsnakes that are super docile all the time. I've seen many california king snakes that are kind of bratty and some that aren't. It's 50/50 in my experience.

Same for milksnakes. People say to start with milksnakes and the most common species people are talking about are the pueblans. They tend to be super flighty and musk a lot. Whereas the larger Hondurans or Sinoloans tend to be much better.

[XburntbythesunX]

In that case a Woma Python may be a good choice. Mine is super docile and a real joy to handle.

I've always wondered why King Snakes are recommended as a beginner snake. They are bitey. They musk. I watched one crap on a person for 20 second straight. Quite disgusting! They are temperamental little guys especially when young. I'm not saying they can't be great snakes...I just haven't met one yet who was.

Mine was calm and gentle when I bought her at the reptile show, and the next day when I tried to pick her up the first thing she did was bite the absolute hell out of me lol. Very nervous, and always musking, and trying to escape from me. I was never able to pick her up and hold her without gloves. People told me to hold her and she'd calm down but who wants to deal with all that drama? ;) And yes I was told by several people to get a Cali King. Not the best advice I've ever received.

[EL Ziggy]

I know all snakes are different but stop bashing on the kings please ;). They're great beginner snakes imho. My Cal King would musk when he was a baby but he outgrew that in a matter of weeks. My MBK has been a shy sweetheart from day one. Neither have ever bit me.
@X- have you considered some of the larger carpet python species? They're really fun snakes to keep.

[XburntbythesunX]

I really loved my CK but she was absolutely awful when it came to handling ;)

I don't know anything about carpet pythons. What species should I take a look at?

[Albert Clark]

One of the more laid back species of kingsnake is the L.p. pyrelomana. I have bred kings in the past and although they all are a beautiful species, i do prefer L.p.p. for its amazing beauty and temperament. I have seen specimens from certain locales attaining 4.5ft - 5.0ft . I keep a female now and plan on breeding them in the near future.

[EL Ziggy]

I really loved my CK but she was absolutely awful when it came to handling ;)

I don't know anything about carpet pythons. What species should I take a look at?

If you want a larger carpet look into Coastals or Bredli. Those will grow to 7-9 ft or larger. Jungles and IJ's are a bit smaller at 5-6 ft on average. The husbandry is pretty simple and they make great display snakes.

[Derek Roddy]

Hey there, any information you want on the BHPs....just give me a shout.

derekroddy@hotmail.com


or you can check my website below.

The one thing I hear people say about BHPs are their size. BHPs are NOT supposed to be any bigger than 6 to 7 feet. It's very rare that you would see an individual in the wild over 7 feet. And even then...they are very slim and trim snakes in the wild.

The reason they get big in captivity (and the reason 95% 0f the people working with them can't get em to lay eggs or hatch them if they do) is the over feeding on the commercial rodents we feed in captivity.

They require a certain feeding regime to be kept and bred successfully over their life time.

Here's a video I recently made and it shows a good size range that the western BHPs should have. They are slightly smaller than other forms of BHPs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax9HyTecE28

Cheers,
D

[REM955]

As you mentioned the range for the "Western" variety, my next thought is that there is an "Eastern" variety. Is there such one that does get to that 10 foot length in a healthy fashion?
I have seen a lot of the 8ft+ adult BHPs in the online markets lately. All due to overfeeding/ power feeding?

[Derek Roddy]

As you mentioned the range for the "Western" variety, my next thought is that there is an "Eastern" variety. Is there such one that does get to that 10 foot length in a healthy fashion?
I have seen a lot of the 8ft+ adult BHPs in the online markets lately. All due to overfeeding/ power feeding?


Yes, some of the eastern animals can get longer but, not necessarily "bigger".

7 feet would still be the average but, there have been 9 footers seen in certain localities. BUT, These animals are still very slender and thin.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/derekroddy/HD%20BHPs/wildBHP2016.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/derekroddy/media/HD%20BHPs/wildBHP2016.jpg.html)

Not like the overfed "Big" adults you see in captivity.

Cheers,
D

[Albert Clark]

Thanks Derek for the class and differentiation of the species.

[XburntbythesunX]

Hey there, any information you want on the BHPs....just give me a shout.

derekroddy@hotmail.com


or you can check my website below.

The one thing I hear people say about BHPs are their size. BHPs are NOT supposed to be any bigger than 6 to 7 feet. It's very rare that you would see an individual in the wild over 7 feet. And even then...they are very slim and trim snakes in the wild.

The reason they get big in captivity (and the reason 95% 0f the people working with them can't get em to lay eggs or hatch them if they do) is the over feeding on the commercial rodents we feed in captivity.

They require a certain feeding regime to be kept and bred successfully over their life time.

Here's a video I recently made and it shows a good size range that the western BHPs should have. They are slightly smaller than other forms of BHPs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax9HyTecE28

Cheers,
D

Ah thanks! That's great information, and those are some beautiful animals! I had actually wondered about that b/c I'd watched a video of someone handling one he'd found in the wild, and it was not nearly as obese as the captive ones I've seen.

If in the future I decided to get one of these instead of a woma, I will definitely have more questions ;)