thank you SO SO MUCH for this information!! I had no idea the laws had actually been changed, I just heard talk of it a few months ago!
Yeah it's pretty cool, but what Blighty mentioned does seem to be correct. So while Cat 3 is entry level and technically Cat B is also entry level, If you have Cat 3 and want to own what used to be a Cat 4 reptile you need to re-apply for a Cat B license. Pretty stupid way of working if it you ask me but that's how they have done it.
I definitely love womas too, honestly was just choosing between them and stimsons. Whilst I'd prefer a smaller snake as my first, I also realise that if I buy a hatchling - yearling woma (or bigger species), it's just gonna grow with my confidence? So by the time I'm more comfortable it'll be growing larger? But I also really like stimsons!
That's definitely the case, If you get a smaller one your confidence will grow with it, So if you intend on looking at larger snakes in the future, don't let that hold you back with what you choose now. Obviously if you get an adult Woma right off the bat it may be a bit overwhelming, But in the next month or two a lot of people have Womas coming up for sale as they are in season at the moment. A Woma will cost you more to obtain than a Stimson by a fair bit, But that kinda comes down to what you choose. I definitely don't regret dropping $400 on my Woma back in october, she was 10 months old at the time and well worth the price.
Even last years hatchies aren't crazy huge, Mine was from a January batch last year and shes only now about 70cm long, Nothing crazy. Just make sure you have the correct size enclosure for what you do want to keep, As I said a 1200x600x600 is enough to house an adult Woma.
I was in a similar boat to you before I got my girl, Wondering if my confidence will grow along with the snake and it definitely does. I'm pretty much at the point now where it wouldn't matter how fast she decides to grow, I will still be comfortable with her.
If you do end up deciding on a Woma (you really should) check out the ''West Aussie Womas'' or ''The Banding Effect'' Facebook pages, They have some absolutely stunning Womas up recently, Dan from ''The Banding Effect'' is the one that put me in touch with the breeder that sold me mine, so even if he has nothing he will probably help put you in touch with someone who has.
What's it like owning a woma? I'm not really sure what I mean by that, but it'd be really nice to see some more thoughts on them than already said in your last replies! The fact that they do seem more nippy, but ofc isn't a guarantee bc personalities differ, makes me a little anxious to own one compared to a stimsons or other antaresia that obivously have smaller mouths. But I'd love to hear more about your womas! Do you handle your woma often? Does it sit still when taken out, or is it more inquisitive and curious about its surroundings? Do they communicate their language well? (Like obviously showing they don't want to be taken out, instead of some species I've seen American Youtubers own that just seemingly strike without warning).
Owning a Woma is amazing, Stimsons are cool (my sister recently got one, and hes a character on his own) buuuuut I've fallen pretty hard for my girl.
Womas being more nippy as I said is a snake by snake thing, I've heard lots of people say their Woma is an asshole, but they still love them. But I've also seen lots of people say their Woma is the most gentle thing around. Can go either way but one thing for sure is people seem to love their Womas even if they are asses.
The only experience I have with them is with my personal one, and she is an absolute sweetheart she hasn't struck at me yet, only pulled back to an S pose once and that was cos she kept tryna get into a garden and I kept stopping her.
I handle my Woma every day or two, Kinda depends on how she is being really. I don't handle her within 24 hours of her eating so she can relax and digest, And I don't handle her when she is in shed unless I have to. but aside from that I handle her a good amount more often than she is fed, To make sure she doesn't associate her enclosure being entered with food.
(don't feed in a seperate tub btw, just make sure they don't associate enclosure opening with food by interacting with them enough and its much easier to feed in the enclosure, and you aren't stressing them by moving them right after a feed)
When I take her out though she has different moods, I haven't had to use a hook to take her out yet. I tend to give her a gentle rub on her side so she knows I'm there before I pick her up and at worst shes maybe squirmed a little while being picked up, but once supported is fine.
Sometimes she will just chill and seemingly goes to sleep on my hand, other times she can't stop moving and looking around while tryna get into small spaces so I have to keep a good eye on her. While she is in her enclosure shes usually chilling but goes through days where shes climbing everywhere and checking everything out, she also has times she will sit against the glass looking out into the ''wide world'' of my house and watching what goes on outside her enclosure.
I can't speak for all snakes on how they show their intentions, but mines been pretty good. as I said shes only struck an S pose once but tbh that was just cute. Apart from that she has areas of her enclosure she knows it's harder for me to get her from (like inside her paper towel rolls) and if shes in them I tend to just leave her, Kind of a ''safe spot'' for her and I'm pretty sure she knows they are just that. It's all just about showing them a good level of respect, So finding a balance of giving them their own time and taking them out is pretty important, but that comes with the experience of owning one.
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