Customer Reviews

Pythons (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a good book for the beginning python owner and a good source of general information from choosing, housing, breeding, and caring for pythons. It also has a section describing the care and characteristics of different species. One great section actually illustrates rather than decribes the sexing of pythons, which is impressive for a book this size. I have herp books in my collection costing 15x as much that do not illustrate this process. For the cost, a very good book.

9 main topics about 95 pages , understanding pythons , acquiring your python , caging , general husbandry , medical problems , breeding , incubation , species , useful addresses . A good book for the beginning python owner and a good source of general information . Full-color photos !

Helps in choosing a species, but offers little care advice relating to the care of specific species. Still, I consider this a must-have for its basic information on sexing snakes, helping them shed, and ensuring a proper feeding schedule.

Initially, I was happy with this book. It seemed to have general information about a variety of pythons and their care requirements. However, this was only at a glance. Once I sat down and actually read through it, I learned how wrong I was.

The information may have been sufficient and up to date at the time of the original publishing, but this book is very outdated. The advances in python keeping and breeding as well as the general knowledge we have of the individual species described in this book are light years beyond what is discussed here.

Most of the information provided is less than any person could find by doing a simple web search (and some of it is less reliable than a random web search).

The species descriptions as well as their care requirements are far too brief (often only 3-4 paragraphs in length). The amount of (current and correct) information offered would not be enough for most children to do an essay on any of the individual species highlighted.

My biggest complaint (by far) was the author's complete inability to be objective when describing the various species. To write that one type of python is "the best", "most beautiful", "favorite", "worst", "meanest", or any of the many other adjectives the author uses is not really helpful to anyone looking to learn (in a non-biased manner) about these animals and it is REALLY detrimental for someone looking for assistance in picking out their next pet.

Do yourself a favor - move along, find a book specific to the species you are interested in and then find someone who actually works with these animals and spend some time holding them and learning about them first hand. If you are looking for your next project or pet... go to a reptile show and talk with some of breeders there. At least then you can see the animals first hand and get some up to date information about them. (Your opinion should be what counts... not the author's.)

Since I don't have a pet python yet and i don't want to have an accident so I bought this book in order to familiarize everything before buying one or two if possible.

For me, this is the most comprehensive book about pythons on how to select, care, breed and medical nutrition and behavior on such lovable snakes.

So, hobbyist or the like... buy this book first in order to be a more effective and good caretaker of your own python... =)

Like most herp care books currently on the market, this is a good once over the world look at the captive care and husbandry of pythons. Though a bit outdated in some areas, the beginning reptile enthusiast will find value in the husbandry information, while more experienced herpers will find the species guide a useful quick reference.