Posted by:
inchoate
at Sat Jun 17 13:34:09 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by inchoate ]
I am not Jasin, but in my experience Water Pythons are the specific species that gives liasis their reputation. Unlike their larger cousin the Olive Python, water pythons never grow large enough to become Apex predators. As a result (with many exceptions), they tend to remain territorial and defensive for their adult lives, unlike other liasis which tend to grow out of these traits.
Again, there are a lot of exceptions. I have a particularly defensive adult male water python. He is easily handleable outside of his enclosure, but he has to be gingerly hooked out. To this day I have to paper the side of his enclosure, as he will defensively strike the walls in response to the slightest movement.
Separate from their defensiveness, they have one of the stronger feeding responses of any python I have worked with. In some cases this doesn't decrease with age. Catching them unaware to introduced the F/T prey item can be nearly impossible. On the plus side, my adult water pythons are the garbage disposal units---readily accepting any prey item, regardless of whether its a mouse or a rat, small or large, etc.
I enjoy working with them, and I've met docile adult specimen, but they are one of the rare species that actually deserves its defensive reputation.
Also, as you are probably well aware, they participate in a fascinating mass migration after a certain species of rat in their Australian range.
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RE: Question for you python guys - inchoate, Sat Jun 17 13:34:09 2006