To "rough" for a first snake????

[Anton-Crowley]

Too "rough" for a first snake????

Hi to everyone,

I'm pretty new to this site. I've been looking around and it seems everyone's willing to give their opinion on everything....it's great....and now i have a question.

I fell in love with my ex-girlfriend's carpet python, Frankie. She introduced me to the wonderful world of snakes....and now I'm missing Frankie more than i do her :shock:.
At first i was a little scared....but after holding her for 5 mins i was hooked. My ex would leave her at my house for days at a time....and we had a special bond...and i actually believe that her snake loves me more than she does my ex
So anyway.....
It's been about 6 months since we broke up.....and sadly i've been denied visitation rights. So it's about time i got myself a legless companion.....(a snake...not another drinkin' buddy).

I know that for beginner snake owners that childrens pythons are recommended. But i've been looking around and asking friends about Rough Scaled Pythons. I know they can get pretty freakin' huge and they're expensive becoz they're a relatively new python to keep as a pet....but i rekon they're the best looking pythons. I love their eyes.

Can you guys give me some advice on whether or not it would be a good idea to buy a roughy as my first snake??? And any advice from anyone who owns one would be much appreciated.

Anything about their habits, temperament, behaviour, size, enclosure etc.....

Thanx

 

[mysnakesau]

Before you get your hopes too high, check your license regulations for QLD. In NSW roughies are on C2 licence. You need to hold a Class 1 license for two years before you can apply for a C2 and then you can get a roughie.

If you are prepared for the cost of purchasing one of these fellows, ppl I know with them swear by their temperaments. Lovely natured and beautiful animals. However, they do have longer teeth than most other pythons so if you are gonna cop a bite, it will be a good one.

Best advice for a beginner I can give is to do your homework and know that you can committ the time, money & the equipment it needs, look ahead of time and know you can still accommodate him fully grown, then you are already on the right road. Most breeders with roughies are reputable ppl so can offer you all the advice that you need and I would almost guarantee they would look after you to make sure you are happy with your pet.

 

[Mudimans]

Luckily up here in qld you can get them on your rec licence, they are a lovely snake but you do know it when they bite

 

[wranga]

if you can have a roughie, contact slacker from this site as his ladies bred this year. they have dropped a hell of alot in price.

 

[slacker]

Licensing is no issue in QLD for roughies of the Morelia variety, as they're completely unrestricted.

I wouldn't recommend a roughie as a first snake though, even though I consider them to be one of very few Morelia worth keeping. Honestly, I think you're better off going with a woma or Antaresia.

Contrary to what you seem to think, they've quite small snakes. My other half has several, including a pair of adults which at a guess wouldn't be longer than 5ft. In addition, they're very slender animals.

Temperament seems good on the adults and sub-adults I've had dealings with. Hatchlings seem very flighty, although not as prone to biting as some other animals in my experience. Having said that, I don't really handle them and neither does my other half... they're left alone except for when required for cleaning.

 

[daniel1234]

Licensing is no issue in QLD for roughies of the Morelia variety, as they're completely unrestricted.

I wouldn't recommend a roughie as a first snake though, even though I consider them to be one of very few Morelia worth keeping. Honestly, I think you're better off going with a woma or Antaresia.

Contrary to what you seem to think, they've quite small snakes. My other half has several, including a pair of adults which at a guess wouldn't be longer than 5ft. In addition, they're very slender animals.

Temperament seems good on the adults and sub-adults I've had dealings with. Hatchlings seem very flighty, although not as prone to biting as some other animals in my experience. Having said that, I don't really handle them and neither does my other half... they're left alone except for when required for cleaning.

Why not as a first snake? If only for the tagging issues, Antaresia don't exactly have a clean record on that almost as much as Jungles. Surely slightly longer teeth on a hatchling arn't going to make alot of difference. Forgive any perceived overtones, I don't know anything about Roughies only that they look good.

 

[slacker]

Why not as a first snake? If only for the tagging issues, Antaresia don't exactly have a clean record on that almost as much as Jungles. Surely slightly longer teeth on a hatchling arn't going to make alot of difference. Forgive any perceived overtones, I don't know anything about Roughies only that they look good.

Absolutely nothing to do with the tagging issues. More to do with the fact that I know people who've had roughies go off their food for no apparent reason and be quite difficult to get going again.

Even though we've not experienced this ourselves with any of ours, it seems to be more common with them than with other species and as such I don't think they would make an ideal beginners snake.

 

[mysnakesau]

Woma or Anteresia? How boring But I can understand that Slacker might think that a beginner might want to start with a less expensive snake. You will panic at every issue that you face with the likes of a Roughy. While most would say, "Oh I am worried for the snake." In the back of your mind you can't say you wouldn't be more worried about the money you could face losing.

Sorry if I am forcing words in your mouth Slacker, but that's just what I reckon. Otherwise, I am jealous of anyone who can have one and I can't

 

[slacker]

Womas and Antaresia boring? Bah. Best pythons in captivity in Australia as far as I'm concerned.

To the original poster.... if you're dead set on a roughie and can't be convinced to go with something more popularly considered to be good "newbie snakes," send a private message to "blackthorn" (my other half) on this site. Given that we're also in Brisbane, if you were to need assistance, at least we'd be close by.

Woma or Anteresia? How boring But I can understand that Slacker might think that a beginner might want to start with a less expensive snake. You will panic at every issue that you face with the likes of a Roughy. While most would say, "Oh I am worried for the snake." In the back of your mind you can't say you wouldn't be more worried about the money you could face losing.

Sorry if I am forcing words in your mouth Slacker, but that's just what I reckon. Otherwise, I am jealous of anyone who can have one and I can't

 

[Barno111]

mate get yourself whatever you want! people on here can on give advice on what to get! Get something the that has a wow factor to you! With all species of snakes you will get the bad natured one and good natured ones! You have to remember that snakes are wild animals and not cuddly dogs! so just get something that thrills you. And if money nor space is a issue then go ahead on what ever you want!

 

[daniel1234]

mate get yourself whatever you want! people on here can on give advice on what to get! Get something the that has a wow factor to you! With all species of snakes you will get the bad natured one and good natured ones! You have to remember that snakes are wild animals and not cuddly dogs! so just get something that thrills you. And if money nor space is a issue then go ahead on what ever you want!

At the end of the day Barno is right.
Thanks for honesty Slacker, I've learnt a couple things today

 

[serpenttongue]

Hi to everyone,

I'm pretty new to this site.

And i'm guessing by your user name that you're a fan of Anton LaVey and Aleister Crowley!

 

[mark83]

get whatever you want but research it as much as possible first so you know what your in for

 

[Anton-Crowley]

Thanx so much for all the replies!!!!

There's a lot of great advice to take in, so cheers.
I fully understand your concern Slacker.....being a "newbie" and all.....i would start to worry if my new Roughie stopped eating. I know they're expensive....but it's not the money i'm worried about.....i'm more worried about the snakes well being rather than my wallet.
I'm not some crazy cracker that's going to buy a snake....let it die....and then go, "Ohh well, there's plenty more of them.....i'll get a new one next week".
That's sooooooo far from the truth.

I want to gain as much knowledge as i can before i purchase any snake. And i would like to get to know other local's who own Roughie's, so i can ask them about their experiences and find a local reptile vet who has a good rep.

Don't worry.....I'm not going out tomorrow to buy a snake. I think it will be quite a while yet.
I want to wait until i buy a house, and get properly settled before a buy one of these beautiful creatures.

Slacker,
When i am ready to get my first Roughie, i will be contacting you or your other half to pick your brains. Thanx so much.

Serpent Tongue,
Yeah, I am a fan of both Anton LaVey and Aleister Crowley.
But i can't take credit for the name......i actually nicked it off Phil Anselmo.
That's the name he goes by when he's doing all his death/ black metal projects.
But hey.....i doubt Phil will be jumping online on APS any time soon, so i think i'm safe for now. But when he finds out......he's going to unleash the fury on me :evil:

ps. are you a fan of Meshuggah???



Thanx again to everyone!!!!

 

[slacker]

Righto

As for vets, I'd recommend Clayton Knight at Deception Bay.

 

[serpenttongue]

Serpent Tongue,
Yeah, I am a fan of both Anton LaVey and Aleister Crowley.
But i can't take credit for the name......i actually nicked it off Phil Anselmo.
That's the name he goes by when he's doing all his death/ black metal projects.
But hey.....i doubt Phil will be jumping online on APS any time soon, so i think i'm safe for now. But when he finds out......he's going to unleash the fury on me :evil:

ps. are you a fan of Meshuggah???

Oh yeah, Phil will unleash the fury alright!

Believe it or not, but i've never heard any of Messhuggahs music. I'll go check them out on youtube!

 

[Anton-Crowley]

Believe it or not, but i've never heard any of Messhuggahs music. I'll go check them out on youtube!

Do it now !!!!!

Meshuggah are one of the most important bands in modern metal.
No one else like em.

Tracks to download:

Future Breed Machine
Corridor of Chameleons
New Millenium Cyanide Christ
Transfixion
Suffer in Truth
Combustion
Bleed

You'll cream your jeans when you hear these tracks. Trust me.

 

[herptrader]

I am curious to know why you have ruled out a Coastal as your first snake? It was what made you fall in snakes in the first place.

I have found them (or a bredli) to be ideal, great handlers, few husbandry problems etc. .. and less bity than the childreni group generally speaking.

As for RSP's the limited experience I have had with them ( and we cannot currently keep them in Vic but I believe this is to change soon) they make excellent and very interesting captives.

 

[Anton-Crowley]

I am curious to know why you have ruled out a Coastal as your first snake? It was what made you fall in snakes in the first place.

I have found them (or a bredli) to be ideal, great handlers, few husbandry problems etc. .. and less bity than the childreni group generally speaking.

As for RSP's the limited experience I have had with them ( and we cannot currently keep them in Vic but I believe this is to change soon) they make excellent and very interesting captives.

I haven't ruled out any snake at the moment.....don't get me wrong i still love my ex's coastal, but i just wanted a snake that was a bit out of the ordinary. RSP's intrigued me from the first time i saw one. They're not too common, and i've heard nothing but good things about them.

So, i'm still not 100% sure on what type of snake i would like. I'm just exploring my options and trying to find out as much as i can before i make the purchase.

I know the RSP's are not brightly coloured......but how can you not love the shape of their head and those big goofy eyes???? Beautiful snake IMO.

 

[mysnakesau]

I love the roughies. I have a goal to own one in about 3 years or so. A friend of mine has a sexed pair of babies and I am more than happy to wait for his to grow up and start breeding.

Anton have you seen one in the flesh? Have you held one? They are such gorgeous things and feel like sand paper. One of my friends hatchlings bit him and drew blood :lol: I have read that a RSPs teeth are probably the longest of any python. So you are gonna know it when they bite. But their teeth don't scare me. They are gorgeous.