Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm highly considering getting one. I know they are known to have a aggressive disposition but they can be tamed, and I just think they are truly beautiful snakes.
-----
1.0 Columbian (BCI)
0.1 Suriname (BCC)
0.1 Longicauda (BCL)
0.1 Bolivian (BCA)

Their reputation for being aggressive came from the WCs that are bought into the country. It's true that you may find a CB like this, all snakes have their own personallity glitches, but in general if you get a young one and handle it often it will tame down. Also, like Burms, you need to be aware that they will get LARGE, therefore can be a bigger threat than say a boa if it has a bad hair day. I've got a Burm I'm lookin' to trade for a Rock just cause I got a thing for African reptiles. Hope this helps.

Quig

I think they're decent looking snakes, but combined with the size and general temperment, I wouldn't suggest getting one. Good luck if you do though, take care!

Paul

snakes that are illegal in MANY cities and states...

They are probably amongst the 5 largest snakes in the world..

Here in NY, where they wanted to ban 'all constrictors', including ball pythons and rubber/rosy/sand boas, they wisened up and chose the dangerous, true giants only.
These are: Anaconda, Reticulated, Burmese, African Rock, and Indian and/or Scrub Pythons.

They will eventually require a HUGE habitat, will literally eat you out of the house, and would be quite a handful, or 10, if upset....

Good luck.
-----
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

Yeah I plan on getting a baby, cbb female. So by the time she reaches 16ft Ill be ready for her.
-----
1.0 Columbian (BCI)
0.1 Suriname (BCC)
0.1 Longicauda (BCL)
0.1 Bolivian (BCA)

My experience is that when they strike, they tend to aim for your face.
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

very true about striking towards the face. when i first got my rock she aimed for my face every single time. she did tame down though, so yes..if you are ready for a huge snake in the future, and you are willing to handle it and tame it down then you should be fine.

Too dang big! Experienced keepers only.

reako45

Personally, I think rocks are great. I've kept more imports than CB, but probably 90 % have tamed down wonderfully FOR ME. With imports, even the tame ones tend to be a bit restless when you try to handle them - meaning that they just don't sit still. You may find that CBs are better in that regard...then again, you may not (mine really weren't, but I sold the CBs by the time they were 6 ft). They do tend to strike toward the face, which is a big no no in my world. They are also, pound for pound, the strongest snakes I have encountered - and I have worked with pi$$y retics, scrubs, and anacondas. Given the strength, and size potential, I would urge you to consider this decision long and hard. Check the legality of owning one in your idea (as Joe said, they are banned/illegal in many areas). Learn as much as you can about them, and if you get one, plan on learning about IT. Rocks can be enjoyable and interesting captives, as long as you take the time to familiarize yourself with their ways. Some people just can't relate to rock pythons...and those people should not own them.

I do kind of see a problem with your statement about by the time it gets to be 16 ft, you'll be ready for it. You should be ready for it before you get it - they grow quickly, and can become problematic by the time they are 5-6 ft. most of the rocks I had, I received because their keepers did not want to/couldn't deal with them anymore (in some cases, they wouldn't even open the cage to clean or feed because they were afraid of it)...many had had the snakes since they were very small. Placement of large constrictors is becoming more and more difficult, so before ANYONE gets one (and this includes boas, burms, retics, anacondas, etc) they should be darned sure they know what they are getting into, and be prepared to deal with their choice.

Just ordered a female 2005 cbb african rock. Do you have any general tips for me on Rock ownership? I plan on handling her everyday to keep her docile. I have 4 boa constrictors including one that is 8ft so I do have boid experience.
-----
1.0 Columbian (BCI)
0.1 Suriname (BCC)
0.1 Longicauda (BCL)
0.1 Bolivian (BCA)

I also am a big fan of African Rocks. I have kept them for the past 21 years and can say they are not like many big snakes. They can get very large (the second largest snake ever recorded was a 27' animal), and can be quite agressive. I have, as others have mentioned, been the owner of both tractable as well as un tractable animals. I am actually seriously looking for South African Rock Pythons (P.s.natalensis) and would love to hear of anyone currently working with them in the states. I hear of some being regularly bred in Germany. The other thing that seems to make these animals different is their speed. They act like a racer and are very fast. They will climb, but not as much. also they can be very sedentary, and like to have a large cave/burrow like area in their enclosure. These guys spend lots of time in these in the wild.
Well just my two cents. By the way, the Bronx Zoo has a beautiful animal in their Congo Gorilla Forest.
-----
Peter Kriz

Sua Sponte

I agree that they are fast. I always thought of them as more of a racer than a python And keep a hockey mask close by. Strong, yes...but not as strong per pound as Apadora, in my opinion. Not a good animal to start with.
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Ahh,

You are so right about Apodora. I have a group and my 13 year old animal is the strongest snake lb for lb that I have ever seen.
-----
Peter Kriz

Sua Sponte

My male is 12' and about 20lbs...female is 12' and 36lbs. The vet hates to see her, lol.... Trying to get her out of a 6' Neo is always fun. Prehensile tail doesn't help They are both currently in shed and although I normally keep them separate, they are ok together. She's laying with the last 7' of her body inverted. Not sure if she's preggars or ovulating.
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

after having worked with all of the large constrictors, and considering them size for size, I would need to give the strength award to E. murinus. Just my opinion.

Kelly

I think you may want to see theese pics before buying one. This rock got himself electicuted in a fence, it just ate an antilop.

Here is a website on that particulat animal. it was 12 feet and it engulfed an impala, not an antelope.
African Rock In Fence

-

n/p
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

A Springbok is also a species of antelope, And a trophy size springbok is about the weight of a typical house cat.... SA

Not to start an argument, but I have worked with springbok and typical adults average 60 to 80 pounds.

Kelly

Isn't a giraffe an antelope?
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

A giraffe is related more closely to the burmese python not to be confused with the elephant genus.... But to answer your question a giraffe is an impala which is related to the antelope so ....... Monkeys do have double chins. NOT TO START AN ARGUMENT........

Not sure why my post was pulled, considering it was factual from a naturistic point of view Maybe someone didn't do their homework.
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I think you may want to see theese pics before buying one. This rock got himself electicuted in a fence, it just ate an antilop.

I strongly suggest you reconsider getting a Rock Python. It's more work than you might think. Snakes that large should not be kept in your home as a pet. I think you'd be much happier with a smaller snake.

Rocks seem really high maintance, and I don't want to take away time from my boas, which are amazing snakes. Plus that comment about them striking your face. I have to keep telling myself that 4 snakes is enough
-----
1.0 Columbian (BCI)
0.1 Suriname (BCC)
0.1 Longicauda (BCL)
0.1 Bolivian (BCA)

i own a rock python and hes 100%tame even when he was a baby and hes now 9feet i use him at shows and all that.....just make sure u get a cb baby...

thanks
spike

are amazing. How can you presume to tell somebody what they want/don't want, what will make them happy, or what they can handle? And to say that big snakes should not be kept in the home as pets???? Put that guy on the platform right next to the lawmakers. I'll admit that I am very sensitive about this, having seen my rights to keep a variety of animals stripped away by people using just that sort of logic. I'll stop that rant before it goes any further.

I am surprised that there were not more dissenting votes cast regarding MY opinion (related to MY experiences) of the strength of Afrocks. I certainly won't try to dispute anyone else's opinion on this. I have had far more experience with Afrocks than with E. murinus, for example. maybe the greens I dealt with just weren't trying. certainly the potential is there, esp considering the size difference - but remember, I did say pound for pound.

And to the person that expressed an interest in P.s. natalensis - I have been out of the loop for some time, but Bob Clark is still selling them. sorry I couldn't be of more help

Recommendations are what he asked for...we were just trying to help. Got my first python in 1973. lol...anyone else alive then? It was a Burm, and I've kept Sebae since. As to strength, remember that Apadoras EAT scrubs and will kill and eat just about any python, including their mates, unfortunately.
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I really didn't have a problem with the way most of the comments were presented - whether they were for, or against, this (or any) person getting a rock. But there were a couple...lol.

Anyway, I'm not disputing the strength of Apadoras - I came right out and stated that I would not dispute anybody's claims, and that my statement was based solely on my experiences. I have, unfortunately, never kept Apadoras...and that is unlikely to change, given the full house and where I am. As for the age thing: yes, I was alive in '73. I hadn't graduated to pythons yet, though...I was 7.

"I hadn't graduated to pythons yet, though...I was 7."

lol
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Apodora

There's a guy on these boards who goes by the name Von Papineau or something like that, and for whatever reason he only posts links to news articles about snakes. If memory serves, sometime earlier this year, on the Burm or Retic board he posted a link to an article about a guy in South Africa, who was attacked and almost eaten by a wild rock. I think the guy's friend had to kill it to save him, or something like that. Anyone else remember that?

Stick with a burm in my opinion! Pretty much same lokk better temperment