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newest project were working on. Last year I set up my Cuban Boas outside for the entire year. They not only thrived but both females are gravid. So we've decided to and have aquired Diamond Pythons. I intend keeping them outside year round and monitoring them closely. I believe it not only will work but work well[I hope anyway]. We shall see. They will be housed in 8' x 4' x 6' tall cages. Here's a pic of a few in the encosure. I have about 6 of these cages to work with.....TC

I have thought about doing this for some time. I am sure it would have worked with the Central American boas that I use to keep years ago.

I am in Buckingham, Florida, perhaps the herpetocultural capital of the world. (Yeah, I use to go into your shop, Tom, when I was a kid and you would give me free animals- spotted turtles, an alligator snapping turtle, and a bunch of stuff you sold us cheap like savannah monitor, ball pythons, Eastern hognose snake.) Buckingham (okay, Ft. Myers) is probably at a similar latitude as you are perhaps a little further north.

I am just getting back into reptiles but I am acquiring Australian olive pythons, Papuan olive pythons, and green anacondas among others. These three species are not known for their ease of breeding. Before this post becomes too long, let me ask my questions.

1) Did you provide optional supplemental heating like a heated hide box in the cage? Or did you move them inside during cold snaps?

2) How young do you figure would be wise to get them outdoors? Raise them indoors then move them out for breeding or try to raise them in the climate they are going to breed in?

3) De-Worming. I would expect outdoor snakes to be exposed to more parasites. When I was growing up my dad had cattle, and we periodically dewormed just as a matter of good care. Do you think pythons kept outdoors should be similarly treated?

Thanks for any reply,

Bryant King

Well regarding the Cuban Boas they received NO extra heat even on that one coldest night in 10 years at 38 degrees. They were basking when the Sun came out. Anacondas would, I think, be easy because they utilize water for shelter. I would put them outside with no heat box but with a pool. I would on cold nights run water in all night[call me and I'll tell you how to build it]. The well water in Buckingham is 74-75 degrees year round. That is your heat source for Eunectes. For the others I would build a below ground hide box that actually is above ground to keep from being flooded[ again call me if you don't understand the oxymoronic statement I just made] with a heat source to lock them in on cold nights. Other than Eunectes I would raise all others inside until they were subadults because its easier for you and probably doesn't matter to the snakes. I have no intention of providing any additional heat for the Diamonds at all. After all It gets at least as cold where they live as here.......TC

I've enclosed a few pics of other things outside as well...TC

As far as deworming goes "if its not broke don't try to fix it". In other words No I wouldn't deworm unless I thought I had a problem.....TC

Thank you for the thoughtful answers! I hadn't even considered my well as a potential heat source. That is a pretty sharp idea.

My anerythristic anacondas are in the 4-5' range, so I will leave them inside for another year or two, but I am going to pay attention to how this works for you.

Thanks again!

Bryant King

It all depends on if your herps know when to get out of the cold. I think it was the Barkers who had python species with outdoor/indoor cages and the ones that came from climates that got cold, like diamonds, would go in when it got too cold outside, but others would stay outside and die. I guess bottom line is if you can risk losing them to the cold.
Justin
AAR

Believe me I'm well aware of all those factors. In fact I've known Tracy B. longer than Dave. Dave and I were laughing about that a couple of months ago....TC... By the way unless it were to drop below freezing which it might once every 50 years or so with shelter they'll do pretty well here. This is NOT SAN Antonia weather.....TC

Oh, sorry Tom. I kind of hijacked here, but the response was not toward you and the diamonds, as I have no doubt they will do just fine in FL. It was more toward the question whether anacondas and other more tropical snakes could survive. I imagine they would still be fine, but there are no gurantees.
Again, best of luck with the diamonds and let me know when you hatch some out.
Justin
AAR

N/P
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

Tom, I thought Diamonds came from a cooler temp zone. They live further south than any other python in Oz, but I wish you luck at it, anyway.

I assume you'll be at Daytona again. See you there.... Jay
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
2.3 Woma
4.2 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.0 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.2 F2 Carpondros
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I'm not sure its much colder than here. I believe it possibly is. I've monitored weather in Sydney and it routinely in winter gets into the 40's which is colder but they won't have as good of a choice of shelter here as they would in nature. Only time will tell.....TC

We were in Oz in 96 and spent 5 days in Sydney. It definitely was chilly (July) there, but warmed up nicely during the day. Not sure about the summer temps.

I still remember you holding that baby Orang at the Gladys Porter Zoo way back when at the IHS there.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
2.3 Woma
4.2 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.0 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.2 F2 Carpondros
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Best of luck. It is always good to see people working with diamonds. What stock are they from?
Justin
AAR

I believe one is from San Diego Zoo stock which I sold years ago to E. Scov and the other 2 from Germany....TC

I think it will work fantastically, I see no reason why it won't.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto
J&K Reptiles

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, an amel tiger retic female, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!