Need Info on Macklot Python

[HEVYCHEVY427]

Hi, I need some clear information on a new snake.. I am basically a colubrid person I have 9 snakes of this family, but while at a show I went out on a limb so to speak and purchased a Macklot python hatchling. I asked the normal questions I usually do of people, how are they eating, when, what sex Etc...., But I realized in my enthusiasm I did not ask about habitate rrequirements and disposition. I jumped on the search engines and found very little.." spirited youngsters that turn into good pets as adults" ,"Nippy", Regarding a subadult, " they bite", And finally " She is huge AND SHE'S TAME"
Was this a big mistake or can I tame her. She has already bitten me three times just getting her into her habitat.... Of course she had been in a small container for hours.
PLEASE SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME INFO.:dumb:

[dlucka]

You can try this: http://www.vpi.com/8VPICareSheets/Pythons/freckledpython/FreckledPython3.htm

[reverendsterlin]

hatchlings bite out of fear of being eaten, give it some time bro with gentle handling over time it will calm into a wonderful animal. Like many species from Southern Indo-China, the Macklots Python is Semi-aquatic, spending much of it's time in open grassy swamps and rivers where it catches it's prey, these include mammals, birds, small lizards and baby crocodiles. A basic vivarium set-up is required, with a temperature in the mid 80's F with a gradient from 80f through to a basking spot of 88F or so. A large water dish is required, as they will spend a lot of time bathing and swimming around, also a hide is another requirement, we find that as with most Pythons and Boa's, if they have a "safe" place that they can retreat to then they are far less likely to feel stress. The most important thing with this species is cleanliness, as they can be more susceptible to eye and respiratory infections if their habitat is not kept clean. Most Macklot Pythons that have been acclimatised well become a very good reptile to keep and normally loose any aggression, they also readily breed in captivity given the correct temperature cycling. The gestation period for Macklots is around 60 days, the clutch size can vary from 8 upto 20 eggs, which hatch after a further 56-62 days at a temperature of 90F and a humidity of around 90%. Newborn Macklots are rather irritable when born and are best housed separately until they are feeding regularly and thus have calmed down. Sexual maturity is reached in around 2 - 3 years.

[HEVYCHEVY427]

Thank you for the info. The web site was very informative. I read the input on the savu's and the pictures seem very similar to the Macklot's the description of the temperment seems very much the same... I noticed the family name is also the same except for the subsp. She is so cute and is such a ripper...looks like a little cobra, just sitting in there waiting to tag something. Since my kings and milks eat anything and she was being fed live pinks.. how can I get her switched over ...for convenience..as I have a freezer full of mice of various sizes. Thanks again

[reverendsterlin]

did she turn down a frozen already?

[gonesnakee]

A good trick I learned for getting a snake that was on live pinkies to dead pinkies is as follows: prior to feeding day, take away the animals water for 2-3 days to make it thirsty, place a nice wet warm dead one on a small plastic lid or something just outside where the snake is in it's hide & leave it undisturbed overnight. The thirsty snake will be drawn to the moisture on the pinkie & will hopefully eat it also. Sheila of SCALES zoo taught me this trick. I haven't used it yet, but she has had lots of success with it on baby corns & kings. Sounds kind of mean taking away its water & all, but apparently it works & its no big deal for your snake to be without for a day or 2. Make sure that in the AM that you provide a nice fresh drink though. Mark I.

[Simon R. Sansom]

Hi,
I had a beautiful, big female Macklott's for a while. She was a wonderful snake, with a great disposition. As adults they are extremely powerful for their size, and mine had an excellent, "enthusiastic" feeding response.

Nice animals, in my opinion.

Simon