Kingsnake.com Bob Clark Large Pythons February 27, 2007 PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com, I'm very pleased to welcome Bob Clark to our Ninth Annual Chat Week. PHFaust: Bob Clark has a Bachelors degree in Biology and a Masters in Herpetology, both from the University of Kansas. He has been breeding pythons since 1973 and says, "I think I was the first full time commercial breeder of pythons. I've developed most of the python color and pattern mutations available on the market today. I'm now working with some interesting boa morphs and I've got some interesting python traits coming up as well." PHFaust: Thank you so much for joining us, Bob, and welcome! bobclark: Thanks, Cindy. NewVisionDragonZ: What is your favorite species of snake and what is you favorite morph of that species? bobclark: I'm a python guy, I like all pythons but lately I think retics are my favorite. I think the albino types are the nicest looking snakes on the planet. Unique_Herps_nr: Do you think albino retics will hold their value in 4-5 years? Also, what would be a good mate for my lavender when she is old enough? bobclark: Everything that is rare will become common and everything that is expensive will eventually become cheaper. Albinos are a desirable animal and they will always be desirable. bobclark: It's probably best to breed your albino to another albino but the trait can be combined with the other morphs out there and to date that hasn't happened yet. snake_gal: What is the most recommended large python to work with...considering hardiness etc.? bobclark: All the large species are hardy and easy to breed. Retics have a reputation for being more difficult than Burmese to keep and breed but I'm not sure that reputation is deserved. ssshane: Do you still use w/c animals for new bloodlines? bobclark: Yes, I'm always looking for new morphs and most of these come from the wild. Wh00h0069: Bob, do you feel that it is better to breed an albino to a het albino, or 2 albinos together? bobclark: It doesn't matter if you breed two albinos together or to a het. You'll get more albinos from albinos but the snakes will be just as healthy. markl_75: I just wanted to say thanks for what you do. I love reading and seeing your projects, your skills are what has brought me to me passion for my snakes and has kept me from a lot of trouble, thank you and hope to see you at Tinly park this year. loconorc: How did you like your appearance on NG and letterman? Oh, and fluffy too :-) bobclark: Thanks, that's always nice to hear. The Letterman show was really an experience! loconorc: Did fluffy ever stress out on TV...with the audience and all that? bobclark: No she's really tolerant of this sort of thing fireladie: thanks... are the smaller pythons a good alternative for someone who can't house a large one? fireladie: *dwarf bobclark: I think so . Every kind of dog isn't for every person and situation and snakes are no different. RiseAbove: Have you ever gotten tagged by a huge African rock python? like the size of the one in this picture.... http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/animals/assets/rock_python2.jpg Sven_nr: Hi Bob, genetically what do you end up with if you breed an albino male with a female sunfire? Thx bobclark: Sometimes one bites me but I've been fortunate never to have had a really bad one. If I had I probably wouldn't talk about it anyway.......bad for business! Lankey5050: Have you been able to breed the striated boa? If not, is it available? bobclark: Unfortunately , no. The snake grew to maturity, bred and then died without producing any offspring. Lankey5050: Thank you very much, just curious. N_Arms: Do you have any experience with locale specific retics, like sulawesis? ssshane: Hi Bob, what snake did you first start out with? bobclark: Yes, I've had some experience with retics from different localities. Retics have a huge range and there is a lot of variation across that area. I think there are probably a lot of variants we haven't seen yet. GA reptilerock: Hey, I currently own a corn snake & a ball python, & I'm thinking about getting a retic, do you recommend that? bobclark: I think every new owner snake owner should make sure they are prepared for a new animals. If you've done your research and are ready for a retic get one. ob1knabe: What is the temperament of the tigers compared to normal retics? bobclark: Retics are all the same regardless of color o pattern. bigretic: With the increased fever toward more restrictive legislation on large constrictors, where do you see the retic market going in the next several years? Have you already seen a decrease; and if so, do you attribute it to the ball craze or the bad press on large constrictors? From the breedings you have done in the last few years, is the "dwarf" blood influx substantially reducing the size of retics to more manageable pet levels? How old is Fluffy and she was WC, correct? Hredder: Thank you. Good evening Bob, pleasure to talk to you this morning. Just wondering, have you or do you know or ever plan on working creating a breeding program to increase natural populations in the wild because so many of them are dying from natural and human causes? bobclark: Hi Howard. I don't know of any projects in the works to reintroduce retics into the wild. As with most species I think any problems retics have are probably due to habitat destruction not overexploitation, but I don't know for sure. bobclark: Bigretic, Fluffy is captive born. I've only seen increases in retic sales despite restrictive legislation in some areas. Remember its your job, not someone else's to fight these regulations when they are proposed. bigretic: age? bobclark: Fluffy is now 20 krn: Hey Bob, I am going to be entering college in a couple of years and I am seriously considering going into the field of herpetology. How hard is it to become one? How many years does it generally take? And what kind of jobs does it offer, are there many? Thanks a lot for being so dedicated to Herps! bobclark: I studied herpetology without any idea of how I could use my education to get a job. I think there are jobs in education, zoos and research. Its nice to work for yourself as a commercial breeder, though! markl_75: Any thought on writing a book on retic care, or any python care? bobclark: I like to write an occasional magazine article but I don't have any plans to write a book. bobclark: I've got some new projects cooking for this season. I should have some blond Burmese, quadruple het Burmese, Blond retics, striped albino retics, etc. phaetonnn: Hey bob, I'm excited as this is my 1st year breeding large pythons, I read your well written article on breeding and got great ideas and tips. Where should the nest box be placed? bobclark: Make sure the nest box isn't placed in close proximity to the heat source. This can interfere with the female's ability to regulate temperature. Eggs laid on a heat pad can be killed in a few hours. phaetonnn: They're going to an incubator, so I just wanted to make sure. bobclark: As long as they aren't laid on a heat pad or under a heat light you should be OK. Hredder: Bob, you know how my snake is being a picky eater, won't eat rats. Some people told me to tie a rat to a mouse using string, others tell me to get young quail or pinky rabbits. What is your opinion on using string to tie mice to rats and what do you think about using pinky rabbits? Will a 4 ft retic eat pinky rabbits or quail? bobclark: If the snake isn't interested in a rat (this is unusual) try something different. Eventually the snake will need a rabbit. If you have access to pinky rabbits, I'd say give them a try. loconorc: Bob, I read you use maternal incubation for your snakes. Do you still do so, and do all pythons do it? bobclark: I use maternal incubation sometimes. Female pythons are perfectly prepared to hatch their own eggs under the right conditions. Remember every python in the wild is hatched this way. It works, don't be afraid to try it! loconorc: When do you use artificial then? HighEndHerpsInc: Howdy Bob! What kind of hybrid projects do you have going this season? Anything albino in the works? As you already know we work on many different multi-morph trait hybrid projects here and I am curious if other breeders are working on producing them as well. Thanks. bobclark: Hybrids are difficult to produce, first the different species don't want to breed together, fertility is low as is egg viability. Once the babies hatch some are difficult to raise. Most attempted hybrid breedings will not be successful. I don't have any projects currently in the works. HighEndHerpsInc: I have good results. Thanks crash01151: Hello, Bob. I have a dumb question. I have a ball python now and I want to get a red tail boa. I built a tank it is 6 feet long and 3 feet deep and 3 feet high. Is that too much for a baby red tail? bobclark: Smaller snakes do better in smaller cages. I'd start a baby boa in a smaller cage. They appreciate a place to hide especially if the cage is bigger. Sometimes they just don't feel secure when the cage is too big. PHFaust: On behalf of Kingsnake.com, Jeff B, and myself, I want to take a moment to thank Bob Clark for being part of our chat week. Bob, thanks for taking the time out to chat with us on Giant Pythons. RiseAbove: thanks bob crash01151: OK, thanks. bobclark: Thank you Cindy! PHFaust: Thank you so much for giving of your time bob. We appreciate it! |
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