Pet Stores or The Story of the „Reißwolf“

(Note: The word “Reißwolf” in German is a common slang term used to refer to a “paper shredder”, but literally taken means “Rip wolf”, in reference to its ability to “rip” paper into pieces. Also, the word “Reis” is pronounced the same way as “Reiß”, but means “rice”, not “rip”. A “Papiertiger” is another common slang term, used to describe a person that has a pseudo- threatening appearance, but literally taken means “Paper tiger”.)

During a car trip, the author was entertained by a radio show, in which random people are fooled over the phone. In this edition, the host was talking to a pet store employee and explained to her, that he was baby-sitting the ‘Reißwolf’ of a friend, and that he had ran out of ‘Reis’. He was wondering if the ‘Reißwolf’ would eat anything besides ‘Reis’.

Apparently, the dear woman was not familiar with the paper-shredding device that carries the same name. She really thought that the topic here was a rather exotic animal. However, instead of admitting to her knowledge gap, she tried to keep her head above water by spilling out a bunch of general know-how.

The show reached a climax when the employee responded to the question of whether a ‚Reißwolf’ and a ‚Papiertiger’ (which he was also about to get shortly) would get along, with deep Bavarian dialect: "I glab, do derfad nix feihn". Translation: I don’t think that anything can happen.

As funny as the whole thing is, it does shed a marking light on the competence and knowledge (or lack thereof) of some pet store employees. Furthermore, we have also had the impression that in these stores (as in other industries in this country) the customer appears to be the natural enemy of the salesperson. This is not a good basis for customer service and consultation.

Please do not get us wrong, we don’t want to flame an entire industry or make it look bad, especially because we also know some very competent and responsible reptile specialty stores, but the best place to purchase such an animal is in our opinion always a breeder.

Breeder

The healthiest and most agile neonates (since not stressed) can certainly be found directly at the breeder. The little worms stay in their designated enclosures after birth, until the dear person comes by, that will (hopefully) provide them with life-long care.

However, it should be mentioned that even among breeders there are certain differences. We have seen setups of some hobbyists, compared to which a pigsty seemed like the Temple of Aphrodite. In such a case, you ought to do as we do, and go home disappointed without a snake.

But these are exceptions. Normally, private breeders care very well for their animals, and the setups are the cleanest and neatest places in the entire house.

If you are interested in a certain type of snake, it is always best to contact the according breeder. That way, you will get to see the parent animals and get an impression of what the little worms will grow to look like one day. Also, you will get an impression of the breeder’s knowledge on these animals. This is a very important part, since you want to receive sound advise if at some point after the purchase problems come up or questions arise.

By the way, another attribute of a good breeder is the courtesy and friendliness, with which the breeder answers questions, even if the customer calls daily for 2 weeks with a different question every time.

Ordering offspring over the phone and having the animals sent is only recommended if the breeder is truly reputable and well known or if animals have been purchased there previously and the conditions are known.

Which snake is most suitable for me?

Before we jump into a selection of the most ‚common’ boas and pythons and their individual pros and cons, we would first like to talk about the problems involving wild-caught animals.

Captive-bred vs. Wild-caught

We have previously mentioned the negative impact that a change of location can have for a snake, at which point we were referring to captive-bred animals.

This problem is much more dramatic with wild-caught specimen. These animals were born in the wild, and have fully adapted to the conditions provided by nature.

At some point of their life, they are unlucky enough to cross the path of a snake hunter, who puts an end to their nice life in freedom. But, it is a long way until they reach an enclosure in Germany or elsewhere, and many animals never make it there.

The snake hunter puts no effort into caring for the animals, as they are his/her product that will be stored until the dealer takes it. Until then, the snake will be housed with numerous other specimens in a tight space under unfavorable conditions.

The hunting process itself already finishes off some of these poor beings. Those natives, that earn their living that way, are not too squeamish about this. The reptile is caught with a noose, which is pulled together behind the head or at the tail of the snake. The animal is then caught and tied to a branch until the snake hunter has completed his route (which can occasionally take several days). If the boa or python is still alive on the way back, the animal is then collected.

Due to this great deal of stress, the first few animals are now already getting sick, and are infecting others. Hygiene is an unknown term, and the animals are forced to crawl through each other’s feces. Internal parasites, that the boas and pythons harbor naturally in the wild, are now able to multiply readily due to the weakened immune system.

The animals – or better, what is left of them – then go from the dealer in the country of origin to a dealer in the designated country, where they end up at a pet store, and eventually after many months at the customer, where the vast majority of the remaining specimen die within a few months.

Therefore, wild-caught specimen should be destined for very experienced keepers only, who rely on fresh bloodlines and true subspecies for breeding projects. Only this circle of keepers has the knowledge necessary to (possibly) keep these animals alive and nourish them back to full health.

So much for this saddening chapter, to which everyone who buys wild-caught specimen contributes.

We would now like to try to show you the advantages and disadvantages of the species of boas and pythons that are most frequently kept in captivity. We thereby hope to give you a better basis for making the decisions to acquire such an animal.

Getting straight to the point, we strictly advise against the following species right away:

Reticulated python (Python reticulatus), Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus), Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) and  African rock python (Python sebae).

Why? Very simple: These guys have one thing in common: they all put honor to their name, and reach gigantic size!

Should you really want to acquire one of these candidates, it has to be clear to you that your future pet can and probably will reach a length of four meters (over 13ft) or more. As a result, the enclosure should have dimensions similar to those of a small kid’s room.

Zoological institutions are filled with abandoned specimen of the species mentioned above, because customers who purchase a 200g, 30cm (1ft) long newborn snake cannot imagine that this will eventually turn into a 90kg (over 200lbs) giant.

In addition to that, pet store employees do not always present the realistic facts in regards to the size of the animals when advising customers (otherwise, fewer people would purchase Burmese pythons).

Water hogs have been found in the stomach of anacondas, antelopes in the stomach of African rock pythons, and an acquaintance of ours used to feed lamb to his reticulated python. The species discussed in this section belong to the largest boids (family of boas and pythons), and record lengths of 10m (30ft) are considered realistic in anacondas and reticulated pythons. Even though these lengths are not reached in captivity, one is still dealing with an animal that requires three people for handling at mature size. In addition, reticulated pythons, anacondas, and African rock pythons are not exactly known for their docile temperament.

Finding a new home for such an animal can then become next to impossible, since even zoological institutions reject such animals.

We received the following e-mail in early 2001, and it shows what happens to these animals (this was not the first e-mail of its kind, and surely will not be the last):

 „hello
about 3.5 years ago, I happened to get a snake of about 80cm length, when an acquaintance of mine immigrated to Canada, and left me this ‚souvenir’. So-called ‘experts’ have told me that this is a Burmese python. Went and got some literature and built an enclosure. With heater, waterfall, cool and warm part, and hide spot. Still don’t know whether it’s a male or female (how can you figure that out?). The animal is very peaceful and friendly, and I have really started to like it. It should also be very healthy, because it feeds well, sheds, and defecates regularly. Yet, nobody has told me how big it can get. By now, the animal has already grown to 4,20m (14ft), I am afraid that the enclosure will become too small and the animal could become dangerous to me and my family. Also, the feeding costs are playing an increasingly big role. I also found out that it is illegal to keep such an animal in a private home without registering it. (I live in XXXX). Registering it would require a certificate, however, which I did not get, and the enclosure has to be built of earthquake-resistant, bulletproof glass, which I absolutely cannot afford. I am desperate. Ideally, I would love to get rid of the animal. Zoos and aquaristic institutions show no interest. What do you recommend????
g.“

„g.“ Also mentioned to me later that he had been bitten before, and that he was now afraid for his kids. And rightly so.

If you have children, you should not consider keeping any of the species discussed in this section under any circumstances. Children are – as we all well know – unpredictable, curious, and careless. If an adult is involved, an incident with a large Burmese python or reticulated python can still end up lightly.

However, with a child involved – and there is no way to sweet-talk this – a true danger for life and limb exists!

But for those that are really able to keep such monsters (we are referring to the snakes, not the kids!) responsibly for their entire lifetime, here are the advantages: All really large boas and pythons stand out for their robust health and built. The reticulated python is one of the best looking large snakes overall. 

This snake is one of the most frequently kept species in Germany. The ball python does not get very large (about 1,50m; 5ft) and is known for its usually (not always!) docile temperament. It is also an animal of robust health. However, this is only true if you are lucky enough to acquire one of the few captive-bred specimen that are offered in this country. The vast majority of ball pythons offered in Germany are wild-caught specimens, which were discussed earlier.
Even healthy and well-established animals can be the cause of desperation in sensitive keepers. Some ball pythons love taking feeding breaks of several months (the record is 22 months in a British zoo) and can show to be true prey specialists (rodents of the genus Gerbillus). With such behavior, the ball python has already given some keepers a bad taste for the hobby. We therefore point out to victims of Python regius that – not entirely without malicious joy – the ball python is the just punishment for the person that seeks to acquire one.
No really, all jokes aside, it is really not that bad at all. The ball python is a very pretty snake and if one can handle its peculiar nature, it provides the keeper with much joy through its venturesome behavior.

There is a total of 9 species of rainbow boas. In Germany, mainly the ‘normal’ rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria maurus) and the Brazilian rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria cenchria) are kept in captivity. While the former species with its brownish coloration and only slightly visible pattern appears rather inconspicuous, the ladder one is a true beauty. Due to their slim build and relatively small size (up to 1,80m; 6ft), both species are suitable for (somewhat) smaller enclosures. These animals also do not have a reputation for being problematic feeders. On the contrary, there is a risk of overfeeding, since they tend to be – and it is hard to put it another way – greedy pigs. We know this species to be relatively snappy, but we acknowledge that other authors consider them to have a friendly demeanor. The most aggravating disadvantage of these constrictors lies in a skin disease, that especially young specimens are prone to. The reptile seems to be going into shed, but it really does not. On the contrary, the blunt and crusty looking skin splits open, exposing the raw flesh.

After a new theory, about which the author was informed by a breeder of Epicrates cenchria in the U.S., the cause of this lies in defective hormones. Others blame the overly dry and humid housing conditions, the wrong substrate, or the use of mite repellents. 

In conclusion, it should also be mentioned that there are many keepers of Brazilian rainbow boas who have never had any problems with these animals.

 

Green tree python (Morelia viridis)

Next to the "redtail boa" (Boa c. constrictor), the green tree python is one of the most desired boids in herpetoculture. These two species have enough fans to be considered ‘cult snakes’.

Morelia (or even Chondropython) viridis is a feast for the eyes, and a living room enclosure housing this species is the most beautiful decoration that an enthusiastic snake keeper could wish for.

Unlike most other constrictor snakes, the green tree python does not feel the need to hide. It is always coiling around a branch at a visible spot, preying on passing birds (which are admittedly less abundant in captivity than they are in the wild).

Unfortunately, even this species has its catch. Being an inhabitant of the rain forest, it requires a relatively high humidity (at least 75%), which naturally promotes bacterial growth in the enclosure. Death resulting from bacterial infections is not a rare occurrence in Morelia viridis. Furthermore, due to the small size of the hatchlings, gender determination by probing is not recommended until the animals reach juvenile age. When acquiring hatchling green tree pythons, you can never be absolutely sure in regards to their gender.
Those lucky enough to breed this species must be prepared to force-feed a good part of the young, as these often refuse to feed on their own.

It should also be mentioned that Morelia viridis lays eggs. Egg-layers are not for everybody. Many breeders (including ourselves) prefer boas, since they give birth to live young. .

Emerald tree boa (Corallus Caninnus)

This also an arboreal snake looks very similar to the green tree python. The emerald tree boa lies exactly like Morelia viridis visibly coiled around a branch, and also has a large fan community.
However, the emerald tree boa is also notorious for its extremely long teeth, as well as mouth rot, which is a frequent occurrence in this species, along with the regurgitation syndrome. The ladder means that the eaten prey item is regurgitated after 3-6 days. The potential causes for this are numerous and reach from bacterial infection of the digestive track to stress. We will target this issue in more detail later on.
The problems mentioned above occur mainly in wild-caught specimen, though captive-bred animals are not spared completely. The high humidity that these animals require, and the subsequent favorable conditions for bacterial growth in the enclosure play an important role again.
In contrast to the green tree python, the emerald tree boa gives birth to live young. The emerald tree boa is therefore a better choice for those people that do not like “egg-layers”, but yet would like a green snake.

It should be mentioned that both the green tree python and the emerald tree boa are unsuitable for people looking for a “pet snake”, just as a bicycle is for a fish. 

These snakes are (as the name implies) from Madagascar, are listed as a Cites-I species, and are relatively undemanding animals that are very hardy. They are therefore also suitable for beginners of boid husbandry.
Yet, this recommendation is not entirely without concern, since some of the newborn Acrantophis dumerili are picky feeders, as they would prefer birds or fellow mates as prey. A cautious approach is therefore needed when housing several young of various sizes in one enclosure. In addition, and in contrast to most other boids, the Dumerils boa tends to pass urine and urinary calculus almost daily, and is therefore a bit more demanding in maintenance than is the case with most other boids.

There is nothing really negative to say about its northern relative, Acrantophis madagascariensis, except maybe that it grows to be significantly larger and stronger than the Dumerils boa, which on average grows to around two meters (over 6.5ft) in length. Specimens of three meters (10ft) are no rarity in Acrantophis madagascariensis. Interesting is also the gestation period of the Madagascar ground boa: It lasts 9 months.

We now finally get to our favorite snakes. It is really worthwhile to elaborate on this species.

First off, it is to be said that even the Boa constrictors cannot be recommended all-inclusive. There are about 10 Boa constrictor subspecies, of which some can give a person new to the keeping of boids a difficult time.

But don’t worry: If the owner of a redtail boa is able to implement a moderate feeding schedule, then there won’t be any problems with the animal.

Almost all of the specimen of this form that are available in Europe originate from the bloodline of a Danish breeder. Unfortunately, these animals appear to be highly delicate. The “regurgitation syndrome” is even more common in neonates of this bloodline than it is in the so-called “redtail boas”. Many of the “silverbacks” that were raised despite major difficulties later died from bacterial infections or due to other causes that are not normally lethal (for instance, when changing owners). We do not know, as to what degree the inbreeding may play a role in this.

We had always assumed that the „silverback amarali“ on average do not get larger than about 1,60m (a little over 5ft). After a trip to the United States in 2000, the author had to revise his opinion. He was there confronted with specimen, compared to which mature amarali from the “Danish bloodline” would have appeared to be yearlings.

A conversation with Joe Terry, the „Father of amarali“ (he is known as an absolute authority in regards to Boa c. amarali, and first bred this subspecies in captivity), yielded the fact that there are actually two types of “silverbacks”, one of which gets relatively large (about 2.5m; over 8ft) and is very hardy. We have acquired those animals in the U.S., and can confirm these findings through our experience thus far. Of course, there are also healthy specimens that reached an impressive size among the “silverbacks” that are bred here in Europe. However, to be clear, these are exceptions.

But now we get to the downright most recommendable species of all boas and pythons:

The only answer to the question, which boa or python provides the most fun and the least amount of trouble: Boa c. imperator. You truly have to hit this snake with a hammer, if you want to get rid of it.

Furthermore, the imperator boa provides the keeper with such a variety of different colorations and patterns, that there certainly is a suitable specimen for everyone. The same also goes for the size. Female Boa c. imperator from Colombia (Baranquilla or Leticia) can reach 2.5 meters (over 8ft) or more if fed well, and are therefore best suitable for fans of impressive-sized animals. On the other hand, imperator boas from the Crawl Cay Islands off the coast of Belize barely reach 1.5 meters (5ft).

We claim that it is possible to specialize in Boa c. imperator from the various distribution areas, and yet still arrive at a significant collection of vastly different-looking Boa constrictor. This is due to the huge distribution area of this subspecies; the imperator boas look different in every region. This fact alone makes the human-facilitated integration of specimen from different regions a deadly sin, but we will talk about that later.