different woma subspecies?

[Derek Roddy]

None taken. I was just pointing out that there are studies done and researchers who have worked on this stuff for years with no findings of enough genetic differences to warrant subspecies classification.
There are enough regional differences though.... But based on how we classify currently, that's not enough to warrant full status

I do agree with what you said as genetic throw backs as none of the womas we have in Europe or US are of locale decent ( they were but have long since been mixed).
Being that several localities have been brought in over the years and mixed.... It's common to see scalation difference with in a single clutch.

D

[franks]

Hey derek, hope all is well in the snake room. In Australia do the localities show different color and/or size traits? Also, do you know of woma locals where their diet is highly reptile based like a blackhead's?

[Derek Roddy]

Hey y'all sorry was out of town for a couple weeks and haven't had much internet time.


In regards to size..... All depends on their native food sources and what's available.

Most people don't realize that rats are so dependent on humans that unless humans are around..... You won't see rats. Now take a look at Australia's population distribution and the Woma pythons distribution.
The area were Woma and humans interact will be the areas that the womas are the largest as they are eating a more varied diet which consist of rodents ( because of human habitation). Same for the BHPs.
Size range exist because of the access to food sources.

Cheers
D

[brandonh]

That's pretty interesting because the farther away from ppl you get the bigger snakes you find. To many ppl in states see a snake and they just have to kill it on site. If I am right isn't it illegal to kill any species of reptile in Australia? That would also help them get to a large size in around human population.

[SerpentineDream]

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

Hey y'all sorry was out of town for a couple weeks and haven't had much internet time.


In regards to size..... All depends on their native food sources and what's available.

Most people don't realize that rats are so dependent on humans that unless humans are around..... You won't see rats. Now take a look at Australia's population distribution and the Woma pythons distribution.
The area were Woma and humans interact will be the areas that the womas are the largest as they are eating a more varied diet which consist of rodents ( because of human habitation). Same for the BHPs.
Size range exist because of the access to food sources.

Cheers
D

Hmmmm, so my (perhaps misguided?) attempts to calm my hungry hungry juvenile woma by stuffing her with rats twice a week could result in an unusually large adult woma?

Oh my. The thought of Ophelia at 8 feet is... unsettling.

[Captain837]

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

Hmmmm, so my (perhaps misguided?) attempts to calm my hungry hungry juvenile woma by stuffing her with rats twice a week could result in an unusually large adult woma?

Oh my. The thought of Ophelia at 8 feet is... unsettling.

Our baby womas are the only snakes I have ever seen that will readily eat while completely in blue. They will taste first and ask questions later, repeatedly too. I have been bitten multiple times by one of our females who did not strike or act defensively, she simply and non chelauntly reached over while being held and bit/wrapped my finger. They truly are the Labrador retrievers of the snake world as far as appetite is concerned.
I would assume this crazy feeding drive has to do with their natural prey. They probably need to eat far more lizards to get the same calories provided in one rat.

[SerpentineDream]

Yes, Ophelia will wrap and try to swallow me when I take her out. Occasionally she strikes at the glass trying to grab me as I walk past. She is a black hole, always ravenous.

Silver lining: Any rodents that get rejected by my other snakes can be tossed to her. She never says no.

[Derek Roddy]

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

Oh my. The thought of Ophelia at 8 feet is... unsettling.

I've seen 8 and 9 foot woma's in people's collections....yeah. They usually end up dead before their 6th to 8th year but, they're out there. Haha.

D

[SerpentineDream]

Should I cut back on feeding her? She's still a juvenile and is eating rat fuzzies twice a week. I was feeding her only once a week but she was psychotic. She's a little more manageable with 2 meals a week but I don't want to jeopardize her health.

[Captain837]

Everything I have read states 1 appropriate sized meal every 5-7 days. Due to their propensity toward over eating and the health issues associated with it I stay closer to the 7 day Mark. Once ours are up to med rats we will go 1 meal every 19 days.

[Captain837]

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

Yes, Ophelia will wrap and try to swallow me when I take her out. Occasionally she strikes at the glass trying to grab me as I walk past. She is a black hole, always ravenous.

Silver lining: Any rodents that get rejected by my other snakes can be tossed to her. She never says no.

So after the 3rd time Milo bit and wrapped my finger we decided to get a snake hook and start the hook training. Works like a charm. Slight tap to let her know it is there, let her look at it and pick her up with it. Once out of her cage she is chill although she is constantly rubbing her face on your hand/arm like she it trying to find something small enough to swallow.
This got me thinking. I wonder if my scent on the pinky rats (I feed with tongs but have not been wearing gloves while preparing them) is confusing her. I mean if some people can scent rats with other stuff to get finicky snakes to eat, I wonder if a little of my scent gets on the rats and this is what makes her associate me with food. Gonna start using gloves from start to finish and see if it helps.