Afrocks????

[Ian]

Come on! I know other's have to be addicted to "the other dark side"! Is there anyone else that keeps rocks?

[Steve_Ray]

You're not alone! I have 4 right now, I really like having them. All of them are under 10ft though, but hopefully that'll change really soon, especially with the way they're eating!

[Ian]

Great to find another! How are the temperments on yours? I have only had one real mean one, and she would usually head butt instead of biting.

[bogwan]

I have a patternless female. Her temperment is great. She is very docile but extremely active she loves to try to take off for the floor as soon as I let her out.
I have a normal male also.He is very flighty.He has not tried to bite but is a nightmare to try and hold. He squirms and fights to get out of my hands as soon as he is picked up. But I feel lucky, like I said neither one is nasty.
The female is about 6' and the male about 3'. I will try and post some pix this week!

[EvilMorphgod]

I have a patternless female. Her temperment is great. She is very docile but extremely active she loves to try to take off for the floor as soon as I let her out.

Are they simple recessive or co dominant??

I used to breed them and they give HUGE clutches!!! I had a clutch of 88!!! That was a lot of babies!!! kev

[Ian]

Patternless is a simple recessive gene.

[bogwan]

Thanks Ian I did not see Kevin's reply right away. I had heard they had big clutches but 88!. I can't even imagine that many eggs from one female.
Ian how big is your patternless? I think I remember seeing a picture of her once.

[Ian]

I've heard people say that the biggest AfRock clutch was over 100 eggs!
My girl is about 8 feet. Should be a LOT bigger but she isn't the strongest eater and doesn't take rabbits too often.

Ian

[Steve_Ray]

All of mine are tame, I have a hatchling that that will grab me every once in awhile, but thats it. My other/bigger 3 even have great feeding responses for the most part, my biggest (8-10ft) one gets pretty excited with his bunnies though.

[Ian]

I have only been bitten once by a Rock in the last 3 years. I dodged a few hits, but very few have even been attempted by my rocks. The only time I was bit, I had a rat in my hand! :shock:

[varanus]

Well I keep Natalensis whcih are just awsome snakes everyone should see one in the flesh and listen to them hiss

[captainmorgan]

when I do get my own place this year or next. and I can expand and afford on of these eating machines, it will be my first venture into the big snakes. But I go all out on my snakes when I get them. I spoil them habitat wise and stuff....so, that's a future project. love them next to my argentines....

[Ian]

I do NOT recommend a Rock (Indian or African) as your first large python.
And as for the habitat, simple is always better. The KISS method is the best husbandry advice I could ever give. Especially with large snakes, they will just destroy everything anyway.

[captainmorgan]

I know, but I like to make it look good to. I don't do the normal newspaper....I add hides, branches rock hides waterfall's whatever...lol
I'm not to worried about starting with an ARock but I know what your saying....I think I'll be ready for it....only one though...just one.

[Ian]

You're the one cleaning it, not me! I prefer a basic substrate, water dish, and hide box (if the snake needs one). If I had the time and money, I would build something a bit more "showy" but right now it is not important.
As for the AfRock as the first snake, if you think you are ready for it then there is nothing I can do about that. I do strongly recommend people keep a burm first though. But each keeper and each animal is different, so do as you see fit. When all is said and done, is my opinion really that imporant? (the answer is no, its not important.)

[varanus]

at least buy the Rock as a baby and do yourself a favour that way though

[Ian]

at least buy the Rock as a baby and do yourself a favour that way though
I second that, and add: CB baby. WC's are pretty fiesty, and they are breed by enough people in captivity that you should buy CB to avoid over harvesting in Africa.

[captainmorgan]

actually, your opinion is important. I take advice. I've been doing this for a little while now. maybe not as long as some people but...long enough that you can be a good herp keeper with alot of common sense and care. Wow man, you really think your opinion doesn't matter? I don't know you, but if you keep rocks...you must know your stuff. I would start with a burm, but think they're ugly and overrated....I understand the size issue too. I've seen some of Kara's massive retics. I feel like I can handle it. But I appreciate the advice. I'd be the same way to somebody I felt wasn't ready for a large snake like that....

[Ian]

If you think you can handle it, then go ahead. Like I said, each person is different. I place them on the same level as scrubs, meaning that I think people should have some solid "snake years" under their belt. Just make sure you get CB babies.

[Outback Bill]

At NERD most of our rocks are out on exhibit right now they are in Duluth at the Great Lakes aquarium. We do keep one rock female at NERD she was a rescue and she is very sweet She is almost 7 feet and will be a future breeder.

[captainmorgan]

no kiddin. I totally missed her when I was there. Damn! Well, next time I come down that will be a must see!! Maybe when you guys decide to breed her she will offer the CB for me. I didn't think you guys did ARocks.
Just balls, retics and blood pythons...huh, who knew...

[Howard Teitelbaum]

I have three African rocks and 7 Burms. I ike the ARocks the best. They remind my of Retics

[RRusso70]

I have never dealt with Rocks but got a few Burms & Retics. I do not aggree with the Burms are ugly & Overated comment. Nerd has some awesome looking burms over there. The Granite's are awesome. I just got another Albino Burm from them last week.

[herping229]

i actually got my first rock a few years back and named him andy, ironic huh. he was 16 ft and was a rescue pet meaner than hell. he weighed 40 lbs when i got him, he had 4 sheds that had not come off and endles eye caps, he also had a respiratory problem. he was found by my friend who works for local animal control where he had been left in a trailer for 4 months without food or water. It took 3 of us to get him out of the cage. He lived in my bathroom for a few months with a tub full of water to soak,toilet had cinder blocks holding the lid down to prevent escape. he was unable to catch thawed rats from my hand from being so week. he ended up going to 110 lbs and was eating 2 super rats every other day until regaining his weight. it tooks alot of tlc for andy but he became very tame and people friendly. he bit once in the year i had him, (the day i got him from his old home. he now lives with my friend in sunny florida and is still friendly till this day. I am now hooked on these giants, just picked one up again sunday and she is a sweetheart. so no your def not alone in this.

[Rob6656]

That's very cool you were able to completely re-habilitate him. . . AND that he's still such a sweet snake. :biggrin2:

[Dr Alan]

If you think you can handle it, then go ahead. Like I said, each person is different. I agree.
I place them on the same level as scrubs, meaning that I think people should have some solid "snake years" under their belt. Just make sure you get CB babies.

Afrock = (sometimes) A "good feeding response" 'Tic on speed. :newdevil:

They keep you on your toes, but they are active curious snakes who continually test the waters. Somehow - unquantifiably - they give the impression of being smarter than other boids.

[Andrewpythonman]

You guys are not alone I just got a new great kooking male Rock!

[Andrewpythonman]

P.S.
He is dog tame never even hissed at me

[Andrewpythonman]

I keep other Pythons, but African rocks are my favorate but they got a lot of undeserved bad press