Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Obviously, I get a good many BHP inquiries. One of the first things mentioned by people is "they get rather large and need a lot of space". And, while that CAN be true....it doesn't have to be.

This is a 6 year old female "Eastern" sitting on a 32 quart nest box. This female has laid 3 good clutches for me...one a day before this shot.
You can see that...she isn't very big.

She eats 3 or 4 small rats a week. While capable of eating much larger food items.....I'm always weary of feeding them too much... because of the fat content problems associated with them.
Just because an animal CAN eat an extra large rat....DOESN'T mean it SHOULD! Ha.

Well, anyway....I just wanted to show.... that they can be kept a moderate size.

Here is another female in a 32 quart nest....this girl is over 18 years old.

She laid 11 good eggs for me the other day.

Cheers,
D.

Informative pics, Derek. I have also read about the high fat content in mongo-sized rats resulting in "fatty liver disease". Mine take about 3 medium rats a week, also. It is tempting to give them more because they always seem ready to eat, but I do not. They are always exploring their cages two days after eating. At first I thought they were just hungry again. Now, I truly believe that these snakes actually have some brains and are just damn curious about their surroundings. I had my largest female out in my back yard yesterday and a mockingbird flew down within 10' of her. She actually raised up her head and stared at the bird! She did not go after it, but just followed it with her head for several minutes. Now, tell me snakes are cold-blooded slugs without any brains!! I do not think so.

You make me happy, Derek. My 3 year olds are still breeding
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

what is YOUR preferred incubation temperature(s)?

Just looking for opinions. I've got my fancy pants incubator fired up but I'd love to hear as many BHP breeder thoughts on the topic as possible.

Doug T

I don't really have a set temp. Sometimes I'll go 86..sometimes 89....I even night time drop them....
I try all types of things. Usually, I just go by what the eggs look like or what it feels like out side. If we have a cooler night....I'll drop the temp. If it's a really hot day...I'll raise it.

Id say my average is 87-88.

Notice anything else with your pair?

Cheers,
D.

My pair is just doing it's thing. The female sits on the hot spot most of the day. The male wants food all the time. That's about it.

Doug T

>>I don't really have a set temp. Sometimes I'll go 86..sometimes 89....I even night time drop them....
>>I try all types of things. Usually, I just go by what the eggs look like or what it feels like out side. If we have a cooler night....I'll drop the temp. If it's a really hot day...I'll raise it.
>>
>>Id say my average is 87-88.
>>
>>Notice anything else with your pair?
>>
>>Cheers,
>>D.

>>Obviously, I get a good many BHP inquiries. One of the first things mentioned by people is "they get rather large and need a lot of space". And, while that CAN be true....it doesn't have to be.
>>

So what exactly do people consider large? It looks about the length of an adult coastal with less girth? Of course this apparently is my husbands next choice of snake, so I must learn a bit more...
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

Hey Cindy.
Well, the BHPs average about the size of a boa constrictor. Between 6 and 8 feet....with a medium build. I like to keep mine on the lean side.
There is a difference in east and west size range, as well.
Actual Pilbara westerns.... only get about 5-5 1/2 feet long (about the size of an adult Woma).
Easterns, NT's and the rest of the "west" animals can reach 7-8... on average.

Of course, a captive diet will cause animals to get slightly bigger...and the fact that BHPs don't eat rodents in the wild very often....will make for larger animals.. (as they don't get that type of fat naturally).

Keepers overfeed them as they constantly are looking for food. They aren't like Carpets.....and sit and wait for something...they actively search for food and seem hungry all the time.
And, in the wild...they are eating prey with very little fat content. Snakes, monitors, bearded dragons, frilled's, etc..

It's all in the diet.
I've sold 07 BHP pairs to guys that have them 7 feet already...not what I'd do but...to each their own. Mine that age.... are 4 feet.

Cheers,
D.

>>Hey Cindy.
>>Well, the BHPs average about the size of a boa constrictor. Between 6 and 8 feet....with a medium build. I like to keep mine on the lean side.

So a smidge larger than they look. Alas having both burms and bloods, they are still what i would say as being a small snake!

>>Of course, a captive diet will cause animals to get slightly bigger...and the fact that BHPs don't eat rodents in the wild very often....will make for larger animals.. (as they don't get that type of fat naturally).
>>

Do you vary and offer things like chicks?

Really be prepared for some questions on these guys closer to October and tinley, in the event that my husband buys one. You know how kids are, they bring home a pet and the "mom" cares for it!
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!