Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just purchased an adult female and would eventually like to breed her. The New Guinea Water Python is much more unusual than the Australian Water Python. I just love this snake! Where am I likely to find a male New Guinea Water Python?

Mike Miller

I have one. I tried to sell him for the longest time--no interest, and now he has grown on me...

Anyway, what are the big differences you see?
I was under the impression that most liasis fuscus in the trade right now are in fact from New Guinea, since any Australian bloodlines would have to predate 1978. (I really don't see someone smuggling these nasty, comparatively cheap animals out. Even though I think they are gorgeous).

I had heard rumors in the past of general temperment and size variation--is color noticable as well?

From what I can tell, Australian Water Pythons are much more common in captivity in the U.S. This is not due to smuggling, just much greater numbers os Australians to start with. It is difficult to tell the difference between the two, with the New Guinea being slightly smaller and a much better temperment. I do not see color as a major difference. I see reference to belly color of one being creamy versus a bit orangish in the other one, but this is antidotal information. If you are certain you have a male, I might be interested in buying him, but you are probably too attached to him at this point.

He is certainly a male, but for the time being I'm keeping him. He hatched on July 7th, 2003. I acquired him September 9th, 2003. At that time, he weighed in at 68 grams. He's just shy of 500 gms, and a touch over 4 ft. right now. He would be a very, very, easy snake to overfeed.

He remains intensely territorial--striking at the side of his (opaque) container when there is movement outside it, which translates to about three or four strike attempts a day, just as I pass through the room. He has to be hooked from his enclosure, but after he has been out for four or five minutes he calms right down, and transforms into a reasonably pleasent, very inquisitive snake. As previously alluded, he is a voracious feeder, the best in the my collection. Once he is calm, he moves cautiously and delibrately. If I try to control his movements, he quickens right up, and outside the confines of his enclosure, is far more likely to try to bolt than bite. I'm a horrible photographer, but attached are a few attempts.

And again

His color has changed from a solid orange to a yellowish cream, though in dark lighting (as below) it still appears orange.

Snake-in-arms in terms of irridescense.

Once you've started hijacking a thread, why stop?

Same Papuan male, different day. Anybody wonder why I love these guys?

That's a beautiful snake! I am going to get mine out of the cage for the first time tomorrow. Since she flew accross the country on Thursday, I wanted to give her time to settle in before I disturbed her. I must admit it has taken great willpower on my part. The previous owner said he fed one large rat every other week. Does that sound right to you?

I plan on posting pics tomorrow if she cooperates.

Mike

That sounds about right---these are active snakes, with a really fast metabolism, but since they are such great eaters, the risk of over-feeding (especially if you want to breed them) is almost certainly the greater risk.

Roughly how big is she? A 7' female could probably be fed 1 Jumbo every 10-14 days.

Well, I got her out for the first time today. As soon as I removed the big piece of cork bark she was hiding under, she started zooming around the cage. I thought, oh great, I am really going to get nailed, but I gave her a minute to calm down, then reached in an quickly pulled her out. She appeared to be a bit "nervous" for a couple of minutes, then she calmed down enough for me to get several pictures of her. Wow, she is strong. I have never had a snake of that girth before, and wow, she can really muscle herself around something while she is out, and then she is going nowhere. Whie I had her on the table, she wedged about 6" of her head and neck under the lip of the table, and I just had to wait until she was in the mood to move on. I have four pics to post. I hope that is not excessive. Oh yeah, she will be four years old next January.

another

Nice belly color......

Last one

I especially like the belly shot--as mine ages, he has been developing more and more speckling interrupting the orange/cream.

Looks like a very healthy strong specimen. Good luck with her--these guys can be a handful, but they are a real joy too.

e-mail Paul or Pete at www.LostWorldPetsInc.com They should be able to find you one. I'm not sure of the price though. Do you have any pics of your water python?

I am giving her a few days to acclimate to her new home. Then I will be glad to post a few pics.

males available because they bought all of my babies that I produces this year. They are male heavy also, so you should have no problem getting one. Good luck, they are awesome snakes.
Jasin