Considering a woma python

BillyCostume · 02-15-17, 09:50 AM

Hey all, I'm thinking about picking up a woma at an upcoming expo and I was wondering what substrate works best for them. I prefer natural looking substrates when possible. It'll be kept on paper for the first few months I have it. Thanks

and feel free to share any other tips regarding this species.

GyGbeetle · 02-15-17, 10:01 AM

I keep mine on a bathing towel. We had her on forest floor, but had an "episode", and I've been too scared to put her back on it. They come from an arid environment, so their moisture needs aren't as much as other pythons. I wouldn't use a sand substrate, but most other substrates are fine on these guys.

Captain837 · 02-15-17, 10:34 AM

Sand would be the most natural as they do like to do some burrowing however there is always a chance of consuming and impaction depending on the type of sand or sand-like material you use. I personally prefer shaved (not shredded) aspen. It collects moisture well and can hold humidity should you need to bump it up to help with a bad shed.
Womas dont need much humidity and actually are susceptible to skin issues if the cage is too damp. I keep mine between 40-50%. I will lightly mist when they go blue but I make sure it dries out immediately following the successful shed.
As for temps, womas are pretty hearty and tolerant of a pretty wide range of temps. I keep mine on the same thermostat as my balls. Hot side of 89, cool side in the low 80's.
As for feeding, womas will over eat if given the opportunity. In the wild they primarily eat other reptiles that are low in fat and nutrients so they are wired to eat at every opportunity. When feeding rodents you need to be conscious not to over feed. An easy way to do this is keep the meals smaller and increase frequency. The meal should be small enough than it leaves a small bulge once consumed and feed ever 4 to 5 days.
As far as interaction/handling I highly recommend tap training. Womas feeding response in gerneal is insane. Think of a gtp at night and that is a woma all the time. They are very reliant on smell and visual ques and as a result are very inquisitive. If mine see any movement in the room they immediately come out of their hides to investigat the potential meal. Two of them only require a slight tap of the hook on their heads to know I am not food before they can be handled. One female requides a good 10 min of careful hook, hold and dodge before she gets out of feeding mode and just relaxes. None of them are agressive or defensive. I have heard that all of them will go into and out of phases like this (possibly related to growth spirts?). Still waiting for her to grow out of that one.
Disposition, none of them are fearful or show signs of stress. None are flighty or try to get away. Typically the will hold onto you while they explore their surroundings.
Hipe this helps!

Captain837 · 02-15-17, 10:37 AM

Here are our 3, they are about 8 months old.

Captain837 · 02-15-17, 10:43 AM

If you want to see them in action, my daughters and I made a youtube channel. On there they have a video of unboxing them as babies when we got them and a more recent video of their feeding response.
Just search for Stinkers inc. On you tube

GyGbeetle · 02-15-17, 11:27 AM

Here's my baby Charlotte. She's my little explorer. very high energy but she is such a cutie pie. I haven't had an aggressive feeding response that I've heard other handlers talk about, but I've only had her since October.

They are really cool guys to have around.

GyGbeetle · 02-15-17, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain837

If you want to see them in action, my daughters and I made a youtube channel. On there they have a video of unboxing them as babies when we got them and a more recent video of their feeding response.
Just search for Stinkers inc. On you tube

OMG! you're daughter is so cute naming "her" snakes. "Millie!"

GyGbeetle · 02-15-17, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain837

Sand would be the most natural as they do like to do some burrowing however there is always a chance of consuming and impaction depending on the type of sand or sand-like material you use. I personally prefer shaved (not shredded) aspen. It collects moisture well and can hold humidity should you need to bump it up to help with a bad shed.

I personally don't like sand because I'm worried about them ingesting it. I think I'll try the shaved aspen. Forest floor absorbed some kind of toxin (the best I can gather) and she started corkscrewing. I was a complete wreck for the month this lasted, until we got a clean bill of health from the vet we took her to. Is aspen just as absorbent as forest floor, do you know?

BillyCostume · 02-15-17, 12:30 PM

Thanks for the help

beautiful womas you've got there! I'll most likely end up using aspen, as awesome as sand would look I'm a little hesitant mostly because of people yelling "never keeps any snakes on sand!!!!!" Haha. Other than the potential risk of impaction what's wrong with using sand for any snake that comes from a desert or arid environment? After seeing the pics you guys shared let's just say I've gone from considering a woma to completely sold haha!

Captain837 · 02-15-17, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyCostume

Thanks for the help

beautiful womas you've got there! I'll most likely end up using aspen, as awesome as sand would look I'm a little hesitant mostly because of people yelling "never keeps any snakes on sand!!!!!" Haha. Other than the potential risk of impaction what's wrong with using sand for any snake that comes from a desert or arid environment? After seeing the pics you guys shared let's just say I've gone from considering a woma to completely sold haha!

I cant see why sand would be bad for a snske that naturally lives in sand other than the impaction issue. The only reasons I dont use it are that I dont know the exact specifics about the sand where these guys come from so I would not know how to recreate it and I like the ability to conrtol humidity that shaved aspen offers.

Captain837 · 02-15-17, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GyGbeetle

OMG! you're daughter is so cute naming "her" snakes. "Millie!"

Thank you, my girls are youtube crazy. They love learning how to make stuff on there and could not wait to make their own channel.
We are pretty cautious about what they get to watch and what videos they post (too many nut jobs out there not to) but we also do not want to discourage their desire to learn and figure some things out for themselves.

GyGbeetle · 02-15-17, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain837

Thank you, my girls are youtube crazy. They love learning how to make stuff on there and could not wait to make their own channel.
We are pretty cautious about what they get to watch and what videos they post (too many nut jobs out there not to) but we also do not want to discourage their desire to learn and figure some things out for themselves.

My kids have YouTube lock down; only supervision, even with the videos of their favorite songs. they want to do the same thing your girls are doing. We just haven't had the time to spend.

Those baby womas are so adorable!!!! I think I might try to get a male woma in about a year or so, and possibly start breeding Charlotte. I'm still on the fence about this, but you don't see them around that often, and I'm thinking if more of us start breeding locally, then maybe that'll change.

You'll have to let me know when you start breeding yours, and please post pics! Or YouTube with your girls.

Captain837 · 02-15-17, 06:36 PM

Absolutely! You as well, we love pics!

REM955 · 02-15-17, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyCostume

Other than the potential risk of impaction what's wrong with using sand for any snake that comes from a desert or arid environment?

Another guy with a woma here.
My understanding is that the environment is "sandy" not desert. More like some sand in soil. Idk. I just keep with the aspen and buy in bulk.

GyGbeetle · 02-15-17, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REM955

Another guy with a woma here.
My understanding is that the environment is "sandy" not desert. More like some sand in soil. Idk. I just keep with the aspen and buy in bulk.

I think aspen seems to be the preferred choice from the breeders I've seen too. I still have my baby on a bathing towel though. She seems to be ok. It's weird, yes, especially if I start putting her on a Hello Kitty towel. But we won't talk about that