Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering what people's preferences r when it comes to these two species. What would you say r the main differences? I'm deciding on getting one, I don't mind that they're bitey at first.

You could add Olive python to that list of Liasis.

True, tho Olive's seem a bit less interesting. But I haven't really seen enough pix of them to write them out completely.

Olives get bigger, AND are more interesting

I just heard that water pythons are reallllly messy compaired to other pythons... Is the Olive python or Macklots as messy?

I like macks...they dont cost much and are great as adults. I bred them this year and plan on breeding them again, they sold fast. i think that the olives are higher priced as with the true waters.

Yea I lean toward Macklots too but, the deciding factor for me isn't price since these species are affordable. The thing would be cleanup, and I just saw a vid of a guy talking about water pythons and how the cleanup is demanding.

Anytime you add water to the equation, you double the mess!

I've got both an olive and fuscus, and the fuscus are like miniature olives, except they can be MESSY! Every once in a while, they will spray the walls of their enclosure with poo- not the norm, but their metabolism appears to be much higher.

They definitely travel in high gear compared to my olive. They also have a feeding response that rivals a hungry kingsnake, except neither of my fuscus have tried to eat my finger, although they have tagged me in what appeared to be a feeding response. Once they realized I wasn't food, they snapped out of it.

//Todd

Really beau pic. And thanks for the info. So it seems for me the water python is out... Do you know if the Olive and Macklots have the same clean up issues with each other? Would a Rainbow Boa be easier to clean up after?

Really, none of them, including the fuscus have clean up issues...

All I meant to say was that the fuscus metabolism appears to be higher than my olive, but it's nothing near an indigo!

Both species are an absolute JOY to keep!

Sorry- don't keep macklots, but working on getting a Savu pair!

//Todd

I thought that higher metabolism would mean more poopage lol. So these awesome snakes don't go to the bathroom more than mainstream boas and pythons?

Then what's this guy talking about? o.o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIqKSIjRG8c&feature=channel

Yes, but like I said, nothing near say, an indigo.

It also depends on what you feed them.

I feed all my snakes, including my olive and fuscus mice/rats. (all my pythons get rats)

If I fed my fuscus fowl like they eat a lot of in the wild, then, yes- they would be a LOT more work in terms of clean up!

Also- the guy in that video keeps his fuscus on newspaper- I keep all my snakes on shredded aspen. It's great for absorbing the fluids/odor, and makes it REALLY easy to spot clean instead of changing all that newspaper out!

//Todd

I see, I was also told by someone who feeds his adult macklots once every 2 or 3 weeks and says that cleanup isn't different from a rainbow boa (which is my alternative). As for newspaper, I'd rather be sealed in a terrarium of lark's vomit than look at a snake sitting on newspaper all day o_0 well no not really but u know what i mean.

Todd,

Every time I think about an Olive python, your bottom pic is always the first image that comes to mind. I just love the inquisitive look in it's posture. Awesome picture and beautiful specimen!
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I'm still not sure if it's weird that my best friend is a two year old boa named Ronin. He's quiet, non-judgemental and listens... what more could you want?

Thanks Brandon!

My olive is my favorite, and that's their nature- it's really a trip!

Here are a couple more for ya:

Wow! Sensory OVERLOAD! I'm really crossing my fingers for a deal I have in the works that includes an Olive (my wife would prefer I take the cash... but a good trade is hard to pass up!)

I can't wait!
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I'm still not sure if it's weird that my best friend is a two year old boa named Ronin. He's quiet, non-judgemental and listens... what more could you want?

Hmmmm... an olive or cash.

That's a no-brainer! Crossing my fingers for ya!

//Todd

Oh and btw awesome pix. I love patternlessness of these species. btw I know I asked another couple questions just now but I have just 1 more. Are olives as relaxed as rainbow boas? Calm enough to be content just chilling on your shoulders?

Hmmm- I don't have any experience with the rainbow's, but olives are usually on the move most of the time.

They're not usually in high gear like the fuscus, but they're usually pretty inquisitive and alert- always interested in checking their surroundings out. (Check out the periscope pics of my male above- that's a pretty common occurrence.)

The fuscus on the other hand pretty much motor the whole time. I wouldn't go so far as to say that they're flighty, but you definitely gotta keep your hands moving with them!

//Todd

Ah, hm, constantly on the move is annoying to me... like a colubrid... Is the Macklots like that too? What about a Tanimbar Scrub Python? They look really cool.

Uhmmm, yeah- except 8' !

Don't know about the macks, but I can tell you from second hand experience, if you're worried about a messy snake, a scrub isn't the way to go!

I've heard stories of them SPRAYING poo, a lot of it, and often.(think of the way/when a colubrid musks, except projectile!) Oh yeah- and beware if you don't like to get bit- they're like heat sinking missiles- they don't miss often!

//Todd

Talk about spraying...I have Timors!!

And as far as olives go, I have a spare 08 male and an 05 male, in case you're interested.

*scratches tanimbars off the list* and Olives are out for me since they get too big. I think it's the Macklots I'm going to get, they really rock. Are there any differences between male and female except 4 size? Is one less apt to be scared?

No idea- no experience with the Macks, but yes- they are very cool.

If you like those and are interested in the smaller Liasis, check out the Savu's, too. (start off as orange little things, and turn into what look similar to the macks, except maybe a little darker, but with white/creme colored eyes...)

I got a pair of them en route- can't wait!

//Todd

I have an 8.5' female Mack. Too big?

Hi, I was wondering how your savu pythons r? This big reptile show's coming up now and I'm gonna decide between a savu, a macklots or an olive (altho they're kinda 2 big). Do the savu's chill out at all? or are they skittish n always on the move bc of their size? Any other pros and cons about them when compaired to other liasis?

Thanks