Merauke scrub python female, progression thread

[John1982]

And I didn't realize how slow they strike! I am used to the crazy fast strikes of my other snakes, she is very lazy about it.

Pretty girl and I too am looking forward to watching her grow up with you. As for the slow strike, that might have something to do with the manner of offering. That first strike was definitely more defensive and didn't happen until the rat crossed back toward her(vulnerable) body - you'll notice she was pulling back almost before her mouth even hit the rat with no interest in throwing coils. I'm not saying it's a bad way of offering, I use it a fair bit myself when starting defensive youngsters on f/t, but your method was more along the lines of "tease feeding" rather than "zombie dancing" trickery. It also tends to get a fair number of slower/defensive strikes before the snake gets fed up and decides to simply "kill" the prey. I reckon once she's more comfortable with you, and taking food from the tongs as soon as presented, you'll see what kind of speed she can throw behind that mouth.

[spazhime]

Yeah these guys can get very big, and being arboreal they have larger than average teeth as well! I am incredibly lucky and this female is docile, and I plan on keeping her that way I asked specifically what her temperament was just to be sure. This girl has not done anything defensive other than musk a little bit, even right out of the box.
The slow strike was just a surprise to me, as I am used to species who hit fast and hard when hungry. Considering the negative connotations with scrub pythons I was expecting a flighty bitey baby that would need taming down. But she is very calm, even when taking food it seems

[Gio]

Yeah these guys can get very big, and being arboreal they have larger than average teeth as well! I am incredibly lucky and this female is docile, and I plan on keeping her that way I asked specifically what her temperament was just to be sure. This girl has not done anything defensive other than musk a little bit, even right out of the box.
The slow strike was just a surprise to me, as I am used to species who hit fast and hard when hungry. Considering the negative connotations with scrub pythons I was expecting a flighty bitey baby that would need taming down. But she is very calm, even when taking food it seems

That's great to hear. I've experienced much the same with my new retic, however I have seen him move extremely fast and I'm not fully convinced he's tamed down. He does hit hard and fast for a little guy, and I'm hoping with the right setup he'll be semi arboreal. One of the BIG attractions to scrubs is the semi arboreal behaviors they posses. I think the best display snakes show both arboreal and terrestrial characteristics. I never know what I'm going to see with my boa constrictor or carpet python. They split their time between perching and hunting and chilling out on the cage floor. Although they often chill out up in my man made canopy off of the floor.

Scrubs will certainly fit into that category and I have no doubt a male retic, kept lean and mean will be equally as entertaining.

But because I have a retic and not a scrub, I'll be forever curious as to what the scrubs are like.

You have something special there IMO.

[enginee837]

The only unfortunate quality of a scrub python is the cameras inability to truly capture their velvety and iridescent complexion. If there ever was a snake that photos just could not do justice to it would be the scrub python.

[spazhime]

Even in the first two days I have noticed she prefers her perches to her hides, which is excellent since I would love to show her off without having to lift hides. What surprised me the most is her intelligence, with my other snakes they seem to go forward just for the sake of it, she seems to look around and take in her surroundings with her eyes before going anywhere. She will back up and look at me, not in a strike position but in something that could easily be mistaken for a strike position. She'll do that then sniff for a bit, just looking into her eyes I swear I can see her intelligence. She is a very special snake and I am forever grateful I chose her over a burm or retic, I am excited to get a bit more knowledge about these guys out there. I do also agree, cameras don't seem to capture her colors quite right. Once she is settled in more I will be taking her out for natural lighting photos before it gets too cold

[Gio]

Put her in a display cage and make it nice!!

[Prognathodon]

Very neat girl!


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[spazhime]

For sure! Her adult cage is gonna be a nice 14 foot display cage, I've got an 'office' room I don't use that will be converted in a few years. Expensive project but for sure going to be worth it! I weighed her before feeding her yesterday and she was at 124g. She is settling in quite nicely as well

[Gio]

For sure! Her adult cage is gonna be a nice 14 foot display cage, I've got an 'office' room I don't use that will be converted in a few years. Expensive project but for sure going to be worth it! I weighed her before feeding her yesterday and she was at 124g. She is settling in quite nicely as well
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That's going to be something !!!

[Reinz]

Wow, I'm looking forward to seeing that enclosure as well as the size of your girl by then.