Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can someone educate me about these snakes? I'm having trouble finding comprehensive information about them. Some say they are monsters, others say they can be tamed. Some sites say they grow to 25 feet and others say they top out between 10-16 feet. Some recommend you house them separately and other keepers seem to keep them in pairs or trios. And then what do the terms bar neck, Aru, Mollucan, Halmahera, Merauke, and Tanimbar mean?

A huge thank you to anyone who can clear some of this up for me and fill me in on the general info and care for these snakes.

Thanks,

Terry

The scrub python group was revised in 2000 into five distinct species. The names you are listing refer to localities where some of these different species are found. The large Australian amethystine python is now the Australian Scrub python, Morelia kinghorni. It is by far the largest of the group with an average adult size of 13 to 15 feet. There are numerous claims for the largest M. kinghorni, but the largest individual for which there is credible evidence was a female taped at 23 feet.

Kelly

What then are the differences between the localities? Other than size differences I imagine there would be pattern/color differences as well. Which are the most common, readily available in the US? If I were looking at caring for one particular animal for a display "pet" which would you recommend?

Terry

Take a look at these sites:

http://www.moreliapythons.com/forums/index.php

http://www.scrubpythonforums.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php

I keep my pair together year 'round then separate for cycling. My female is 11' and the male is 8'. He's much smaller in girth and I'm hopeful he was producing viable sperm..he was producing sperm plugs prior so we'll see.. 5 good hook-ups to date!

Bill

I love your scrubs, they always look so regal.

I love your scrubs, they always look so regal.

Wow! Thanks for the nice compliment! They sure are easy snakes as long as you have the proper respect!
Bill

Here is an example of a Merauke scrub. From what I have been told these and the Aru stay about 8-10 ft. They are very intense when it comes to watching you. They will track your every move. It's almost weird. If you are thinking of getting into these, I would highly recommend captive bred. W/C can be, but not every case, very nasty and almost seemingly untamable. I have not seen many other pythons with the irridesence these have. Also keep in mind that you need to keep the meals on the small side as they are slender and don't seem to like to be power fed. They can be very cool pets with the right attention.

I have a pair of CBB Moluccan's....awesome animals. No pics but they are one of my favorite. All of the scrubs have a sheen to the coloration that's amazing.

I'd also say they are a handful, active respect deserving animals.

Mine are cbb and I can't free handle the male...yet...

Moluccans are probably the smallest, but they are pretty much the largest arboreal yellow python on the planet. The purple in their tails is amazing...
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0.2 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Anerthrystic
0.0.2 Normal

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis

Thanks for the replies. I'm slowly getting the hang of which locales are which and I've been looking at a lot of photos online. Forums like this sure help alot.

Terry