Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone, I'm a newbie to this forum. I have 4 years of ball python keeping experience and I want to try something a little different. I was hoping someone could help me wih choosing between Childrens pythons,Savus,or Spotted pythons. I love the look of childrens pythons and their temperment, but I think I might want something bigger. I haven't found much info on Savu pythons or Spotteds, so could somebody fill me in on their care? Which do you guys prefer to keep? Thanks for any responses!
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1.0 Hypo Tang Leopard Gecko
0.1 Normal Leopard Gecko
0.1 SHTCT Baldy Leopard Gecko
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko
0.0.3 Hypo Leopard Geckos
1.0 African Fat Tailed Gecko
1.1 Crested Geckos
0.1 California Kingsnake
1.1 Cornsnakes
1.0 Ball Python

Spotteds (Antaresia maculosa) are very closely related to Childrens (Antaresia childreni) (they are 2 of the 4 species in the genus Antaresia), in fact for a long time they were considered the same species. The main difference is spotteds tend to get slightly larger, and have a darker pattern as adults. The temperament and care of spotteds is pretty much the same as that of childrens. I can't say much about Savus, as I have no experience. However, I know they are sometimes considered a separate species Liasis savuensis and other times considered Liasis mackloti savuensis, one of two subspecies of Liasis mackloti, (thats pretty much a splitter/clumper issue) and the other subspecies (Liasis m. mackloti) is known to generally be pretty aggessive, although I have a female Liasis m. mackloti whos a sweetheart, so thats def. not a rule.

Savu's are awesome. I don't have any, but have buddies who keep them, and they tell me that they can be somewhat snappy sometimes.

But, with those eyes, who cares!!!

Here's a bit of good info from the master:

http://www.vpi.com/5VPIBreeders/SawuPython/SawuPython.htm

If you're interested in the Savu, you might want to check out the Fuscus, too. Jasin has 4 left I think from '06 in the classifieds here on KS- I just bought a pair! He's a great guy!

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=7&de=435452

//Todd

Spotteds I've ehard can be a dice roll. You might get one that tames down pretty good or you might just get stuck w/ a biter for life. I have an '05 female Childrens who's tamed down good. When i first got her she was a nippy little thing. I've never even seen Savus offered in the pet trade out here (SoCal). I've read a bit about them and they are just one of the snake species I'm interested in.

reako45

They have a Savu for sale at the PetLand here in Orlando, FL...
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1.0 Spotted Python
1.0 IJ Carpet Python
0.1.1 Ball Pythons
0.1 Macklot's Python
1.0 Variable Kingsnake

What part of SoCal? There's a savu for sale at the LLL Reptile in Escondido, and they have some really gorgeous baby children's too.
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1.1.1 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
2.1 betta fishes (Vicious, Killer, and Butters)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
2.0 horses (Buddy and Sam)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
2.25 chickens (Jacques the rooster and his harem)

but what I really want is more ball pythons!

I keep and breed spotted pythons and think you could do alot worse than one of them, I've got friends with savu's and they are interesting but not really for handling. Childrens are also good but smaller with slightly different colour and patterning to spotteds.

One of my favourite shots of my male spotted and an okay shot of my female. Very difficult to capture their iridescence on camera!

The Savu will need a larger enclosure. In addition to being the longest of the 3 snakes, they are also climbers. They'll spend most nights perched on a limb, so so you'll want to give extra vertical space, too. The antaresia are ground snakes like your ball pythons.

Savus will tend to be more aggressive when they are in their enclosure, but they should become docile once you get them out and start handling them. They should also calm down more as they age.

Savus eat like garbage disposals. Some of our Children's have been VERY difficult to start as hatchlings. The adult Children's will occaisionally go off feed for a maybe a month, but it seems to just be seasonal.

IMO the Savu is a much more interesting snake.

Savus really do sound like interesting snakes! I have had a puppy tame ball python and cornsnakes, I think it's time I had something that isn't quite as docile. I have two quick questions. Do femal savus get bigger than males like most pythons, and what size enclosure does a full grown Savu require? Thanks a bunch for all of the info!
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1.0 Hypo Tang Leopard Gecko
0.1 Normal Leopard Gecko
0.1 SHTCT Baldy Leopard Gecko
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko
0.0.3 Hypo Leopard Geckos
1.0 African Fat Tailed Gecko
1.1 Crested Geckos
0.1 California Kingsnake
1.1 Cornsnakes
1.0 Ball Python

I have mine in 36x24x18 enclosures, which seems to be fine for them. When they reach adult size, I may move up to 48x24x24. That might be overkill, but I think I have the space for it.

Yes, females should be longer than males.

Mine is as docile as can be.

And how's this for irridescence?

...to all. I've got a pair of Spotteds (puppy tame), and a pair of Macklot's (not so tame). I am definitely looking into a pair of Savus in the near future, and will probably look into children's after that. Decision making is not my strong suit, so I say get 'em all!
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Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
4.4.0 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.1.0 Everglades Rat Snakes
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
1.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
1.2.0 Ball Pythons
1.0.0 Woma Python
1.1.0 Cape York Spotted Pythons
1.1.0 Macklot's Pythons
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.0.0 Western Hognose
0.1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
0.0.1 Sonoran Gopher Snake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.0.0 Yellowtail Cribo
0.1.0 Blacktail Cribo

LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
1.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos
1.0.1 Yellow Niger Uromastyx
FROGS
2.2.0 Southern Bell Frogs
1.0.1 Green Tree Frogs
1.1.0 Striped Walking Frogs
1.1.1 White's Tree Frogs

NUF SAID!