Hello Terry,



I know Your response was to Cindy, but I felt like commenting, too.



Indeed, Acrochordus javanicus and A. arafurae have proven to be quite "easy" to care for in captivity, and my conclusion comes from stories and witnesses, and speaking first-hand with such owners. Also, having worked at Regal Reptiles in late '04 where an employee, Matt, kept his monstruous hypo (!) A. javanicus - it proved quite easy.



But there is a different story and some explanation as to why only a *select few* have successfully kept Acrochordus granulatus. Simply, they have been quite misunderstood for some time. Because they are considered a "brackish snake," most people were all up in the brackish hype. But the facts: they are found just as well in fresh, brackish, and salt water; generally in shallow/"stagnant" waters, but also in rivers and six (6!) miles out into the ocean. In captivity, though, they are stuck with what the owner gives them, and that means finding a 'balance' so to speak, in regards to the flow/current. But because dehydration occurs at an unknown salinity level, and the fact they have been proven to survive long-term in fresh water, they should be kept in fresh water, NO questions!



Frankly, though, I believe Acrochordus granulatus are proving easier than thought as well, and it the select few's goal to 'make it' so this species can some day be kept by the common 15-year-old herper.



I agree that leaving them alone to some degree is the best cure, and when it comes to "white spot fungus" in particular, daily near-100% water changes (= new, fresh, clean water) is the best medicine to get rid of the disease. Have I been able to prove this to myself? No; beause I was lucky enough to obtain an already-healthy specimen.



Anyway...to everybody:



The first key to keeping Acrochordus granulatus as easy as A. javanicus and A. arafurae is, again, to get away from the whole brackish thing; they have proven to survive long-term in fresh water. Secondly, keep the water shallow. My setup is up to 5.5" but which has three (naturalistic) hideouts, a bamboo tree, nice/big piece of driftwood bowing from back corner to back corner, and a lot of top vegetation = stuff for "Flaps", my snake's name is, to grasp onto *when possibly ambushing* and/or cornering prey. Thirdly and lastly for now--and very important!--is to keep the water temperature higher than "marine", and higher than for A. javanicus and A. arafurae: ~86-88, up to 95 if gradual and very brief, then brought down gradually so as to not shock the snake(s).



That is it for now.



Sincerely,

Timothy



>>Hi Cindy,

>>Great Picture! The specimen is an Acrochordus javanicus. I have had him since 2002. I find them very easy to care for and don't experience any of the spotting that afflicts many. Personally, I find neglect to be very beneficial with these guys. They are not as delicate as some think but avoiding regular handling should be rather obvious. Kinda like handling a spiny gob-a-snot...

>>

>>Very cool snakes though!

>>

>>Cheers!

>>T-

>>-----

>>It's what you learn AFTER you know it all that counts!

>>

>>Terry Phillip

>>Curator of Reptiles

>>Black Hills Reptile Gardens

>>Rapid City, SD.

>>

>>www.reptilegardens.com




-----
T.J. Gould

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