Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Looking to get a new python and I think I've narrowed it down to these two... Love the BHP as well but damn is it expensive...

Anybody have any information that may make my decision easier and well informed?

1. Looking for ease of care, less requirements (ie. UVB light etc.)

2. Temperament / Handling (very important)

3. Other bad traits that may not be widely known (ie. won't eat etc.)

3. Your opinions on which is more beautiful? (love that the Woma doesn't have the classic python look)

4. Your opinions on which is a more enjoyable set up (ie. Green trees would be really beautiful in a naturalistic set-up IMO)

All info is much appreciated.

Thanks

Jesse

both good snakes to own

green tree
you can't really play with them
you can't really sex the kids
you can't watch them roam the cage, they just hang there
they are green (sometimes)
they may bite you ?

woma
you may play with it
you can sex it
it's not too large
they aren't worth squat

...get what you like.......>>>>>black heads not too much cash...too much snake though.......
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........JY

Why do you feel Black headed Pythons are "too much snake"?

Are you referring to size?
Because most of the bigger BHPs you see have been overfed.

Most BHPs found in the wild are under 7 feet with most being around 6. And a skinny 6 at that.
Yes there are bigger ones out there in the wild but, typically they are not "a large bodied" snake.

I have 5 foot breeders. In fact, I know guys that have Womas that are bigger than some of my BHPs. It's all in the feeding and one thing you do not want to do with a BHP is... over feed it.

D

(me?)

I have only seen one pair of adult...old....black heads....thewy were huge.,...like ? 8 foot 9 foot?....he compared to balls and small womas...not comparable to retics or burms...no....I like burms...around 14 footers are big enough...retics maybe 16 foot and not fat ....yes they all grow bigger because I feed a lot....

the black heads I saw were Brad Bauserman's ...they went to Ted Thompson's when I saw them.....I forget the size actually...they were old....nice snakes....and I really don't know how big they want...but they are talking little green trees in comparison....so...

....I like all snakes...I can never make up my mind....actually ...I too am looking for new critters...not sure what I want either......

.....
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........JY

Hey JY
Wow, Brad Bauserman...He goes back a good ways with the BHPs. Back when keepers didn't know that feeding them like most other ambush predators would kill them.

Yes, BHPs are bigger than chondros but, really shouldn't be any bigger than a 7 foot carpet.

I made my statement because I consistently hear other keepers say that BHPs are big animals and they're really not. Yes, they can get very big on an overfed diet but, that's any 7/8 foot snake really.

Here is a large healthy adult in the wild. This is what they should look like in captivity.

Cheers,
D

For ease of care, handling, I think the Woma is tops. They do not need humidity levels to be as high as GTPs, and they are really nice to hold.

To me, they are like a king snake, corn snake and python rolled into one.

I have two Womas. Love them. But like any two snakes, they have very different temperaments. My female Woma will never bite, not even a frozen thawed rat (live rats are another story!). On the other hand, my male Woma strikes first, then asks questions. When he wants to eat which appears to be 8 months out of the year, everything is food. Even if I handle him for a while, he is likely to start trying to ingest a finger (I now ware gloves with him to save myself the trouble).

I find them to be very smart snakes, curious and very adaptable to changing environments. They will keep you interested.

Cheers!

Yvon

Okay...I'll throw my two cents into the hat! I keep both species and like Mr. Roddy said I have seen some pretty large Womas. Barry Miler, (some of the best ramseyi around) has had several females that top out over 7 feet. Most are laid back, but with them food is a sight game rather than smell. Apsidites as Derek Roddy will tell you have no "thermal receptors) in their upper or lower jaws. This feature is unique due to the fact that only the species Aspidites is like this, all other pythons have thermal receptors. And BTW...Roddy has probably the BEST BHP's found anywhere!!
GTP's are NOT as difficult to take care of as most folks would have you believe! Once basic requirements are met, it's very simple. Also I have a female Biak that will push 6 foot or more easy. They are NOT all small green snakes! Aru's are a large island race also as well as Yapen's. Mainland forms tend to be smaller. Biaks can be a handful! Some of the smaller races (ie: Manokwari,Sorong and the like) can be easliy handled. I will say this...NEVER attempt to remove a GTP from it's enclosure at night!! They are nocturnal, and go into a feeding mode once the sun sets! And if you have ever seen a GTP rip a rat off of tongs you know you don't want to be on the receiving end of that strike.
It all comes down to what you like! Research whatever animal you get before you make your purchase!! Now as much about it's needs as possible! And above all... ONLY purcahse captive born and captive bred animals!!!
That's my humble opinion!!
Andy

Let me make a correction here!!!
Barry MILLER will never forgive me if I let his name go uncorrected!!! LOL
Barry does have some of the nicest Womas I've ever seen. My stock comes from his stuff!
Y'all have a nice day!
Andy

Thanks for the comments about my animals Andy.

I would like to point out that a buddy of mine and several colleagues in Australia did some molecular research in regards to the heat pits and did discover that both BHPs and Womas do have a single heat pit under their rostral scale.

Keepers such as myself who are very experienced with BHPs have believed this for quite sometime as they have a very strong reactive response to heat sources.

The link to the paper can be found here...Right click and download

http://www.derekroddy.com/public_html/Dereks_Upload_Folder982645/BHPheatpitstudy.doc

Cheers,
D

Sorry, here it is...
http://www.derekroddy.com/Dereks_Upload_Folder982645/BHPheatpitstudy.doc

Anytime!!!
Anyway...I didn't know that new research had uncovered the rostral pit in Aspidites! That is very cool to know. It is like you pointed out, if you watch them forage, hunt, discover food, you will see a certain reaction out of them.
I am "thankful" to be involved in a hobby where research, observation and attention to detail never ends! My "hat is off" to the researchers!!

Andy

Both are very different animals. If handling is important, go with the woma, they are great. I work with all three species, but have worked with my group of womas for over a decade, so I'm a bit biased. Just jump in with both feet and get a bhp, gtp, and a woma!



By the way as for the thermal receptors, it has been discovered that both Blackheads and womas have a single pit on the upper jaw in the center. Just took this blurry pic above.