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Where can I find one of these guys at? Anybody know of anybody that has them or will have some? How much do males and females usually go for? What is the average length for males and females and what is a good size enclosure for a baby? Also, how fast do these guys grow?
Thanks a lot everybody in advance.
Alex
I have not seen many babies for sale lately so I wouldn't feel comfortable quoting a price. Males tend to get around 7 or 8 feet while females can get around 12 or so. They grow about as quickly as any other python. A few feet in their first couple years and then slow down. Their size is a bit deceptive since a healthy olive should be slender looking (not skinny though)and long. They usually appear to be smaller than they are because they are not as heavy bodied as some of the other large pythons (burms for example). As a baby mine was kept in a 54 qt sterilite. Now that he is older he is in a 3'x2' python cage (like the ones pictured below).
I know you didn't ask, but I just wanted to mention you should watch your feeding habits with them. Make sure you don't overfeed. Olives will eat anything you give them and they have an intense feeding response. Watch yourself when you open their cage. Other than that mine is very gentle when he is out.
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Well, I will hopefully have some in the 05 season. My trio is raring to go. I also recently saw some babies for sale on Reptibid by a guy that live 10 minutes from me. If your still interested in them hit me up with a PM and I will send you his info.
My adults range from my smaller male around 7 foot and growing to my female which is between 11/12 foot mark. The other male falls in around the 10 foot mark. All are super tame but have a freak like feeding response. I keep them all in 6 foot x 2 x 2 custom cages. The 4 foot cages just were way to small for a adult snakesh of their size. They are very active snakes and seem to have a smartness about them. They are reffered to as gentle giants and that is definetely true. As big or long as they are they retain a very small head size so even if bitten by a rambuncious adult it wouldn't do as much damage as a retic or burm. I have often said they remind me of Giant Green Rosy Boas. If you need more info feel free to also AIM me at TTREPTILE1. Hope this helps.
TT
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Reptile-Pit.com
1.1 Woma Pythons
2.1 Olive Pythons
1.1 Granite Burmese Pythons
1.0 Indian Python
1.1 Eastern Indigos
1.1 Leucistic Southern Pines
0.1 Ball Python (donation / rehab snake)
0.1 Amazon Tree Boa
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
Thanks for the replies guys, I really appreciate it. Beautiful snakes by the way. Yeah these guys seem like they are hard to find or maybe its just because its the end of the breeding season but I'm not sure. I just seen those olive's on repti bid and I'll have to contact him. TT I noticed you said you were only 10 min from this guy but I only seen that he was located in PA. I'm in West Chester, PA. Do you know of any upcomming herp shows? Would love to attend the next one and hopefully pick one of these guys up there.
Thanks again guys,
Alex
it lists a lot of them all across the USA. There are two in October in PA, one in Pittsburg and one In Hamburg (Hamburg has venomous and non-venomous reptiles for sale). Then in mid November you have a big one in Philly, which is the North American Reptile Breeders Conference and Trade Show (NARBC).
Upcoming Herp Shows
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phflame
Both Bob and I are in Reading, PA. So thats only like 45 minutes from you! Next decent show is at the Hamburg Feild house Oct 16th or 17th. Look under events on the main KS page.
TT
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Reptile-Pit.com
1.1 Woma Pythons
2.1 Olive Pythons
1.1 Granite Burmese Pythons
1.0 Indian Python
1.1 Eastern Indigos
1.1 Leucistic Southern Pines
0.1 Ball Python (donation / rehab snake)
0.1 Amazon Tree Boa
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
I don't know who has them for sale. I have a large male myself. They are cool and will eat anything in sight. Once out of the cage, they are very friendly and very curious. You must not overfeed them as they need to remain slender.
I think the reason they are not up for sale a lot is that they are difficult to breed and they need to be much older to breed - 6-8 years or so. At least that is what VPI told me.
The only one who has them listed on their price sheet is Bob Clark. However I don't know if he has any available,but worth a check. They are listed at $500.
Make sure you know what you want. WC papaun's are all over the place. Personally I would recommend true aussie animals.
yeah, the papuans are cool but they aren't olives. I don't even see the similarity in color. I don't know how the name got attached to them. Cool snakes though, but a different animal. Alex, don't let people at a show try to sell you Papuans as Olives.
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Those are completely separate species of snakes--it would be difficult to purchase one in the place of the other if you have a shred of sense.
Everyone who has answered has already given some great information. I just received an adult pair not too long ago myself. The male is around 8', the female is between 11 and 12'. After speaking with Dave Barker (vpi.com), I can't stress enough that you *must* watch your feeding habits with them. Most people that have adults, especially adult females, make them obese. According to Dave, these snakes have extremely efficient metabolisms, so they don't need to eat all that often. When they were breeding olives, they only fed the females 10 to 12 rats per year. Based on that information, you can see how feeding them on a "normal" snake feeding schedule (once a week or even more so for some people), would quickly make a fat snake. Evidently, fat females lay slugs or don't lay at all, which could explain why so few babies are produced. Currently my female is on a diet in hopes to have her ready late this season or early next season. I've introduced the male to her a couple of times and every time, he's interested. Now all I need to do is get her into the correct physical state and wanting to breed. If I'm successful, just keep an eye on the classifieds.
As far as enclosures go, I'd give a very young baby something pretty opaque so as to decrease the amount of stress as much as possible, then increase the size of the enclosure with the increasing size of the snake. Olives, when hatched, are somewhere around 20 to 21" in length, but rather slender. Housing should be pretty easy to figure out. Healthy adults, though long, are not nearly as massive as, say, burms of the same length, and require less floor space accordingly. However, bigger is always better, so go with as big as you can afford. Humidity shouldn't get too high as these are slightly arid climate snakes, and a water bowl should be provided at all times. I've noticed that at least my female drinks quite a bit. Anyway, best of luck with whatever you go with. Olives are awesome snakes, and I personally feel incredibly fortunate for being able to finally have the chance to work with them. If you'd like to take a look at some photos of mine, my gallery can be located here: http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/index.php .
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Chance Duncan
http://www.rivervalleysnakes.com
Thanks everybody for your replies. I really appreciate the help and facts. I am gonna look for one of these guys and one of those upcomming shows in my area or just wait till I see one posted on the classifieds and I have the money to spend on one at the time.
One more question though regarding how I can tell the difference between an Olive and a Paupan?? Really don't want to get tricked into believeing I am buying an Olive when I'm really not. Would appreciate any help on identifying a real Olive.
Thanks again everyone.
Alex
... from a site with Papuan Pythons. This isn't mine, it's just a good example of the species. Like I said, great looking snakes, but just become familiar with them so there is no confusion.
Here is a good link too http://www.vpi.com/5VPIBreeders/PapuanPython/PapuanPython.htm
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The top pic is a small papuan I saw for sale online. The bottom one is an old pic of my male olive.
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Thing is "Papuan Olives" are normally just called "Papuan Pythons". A breeder is HIGHLY unlikely to mislead you as he/she would have plenty of buyers for a Papuan Python or Olive Python.
Just ask for Liasis olivaceous and not Apadora papuanus and you'll be fine.
Doug T
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