By Andrew Paris
The German bloodline (GB, moving forward) of Jungle Carpet Pythons is relatively new to U.S. collections as importation from Germany didn’t occur in earnest until recent years, and in relatively small numbers. Consequently, the GB is a relatively new player on the jungle scene to U.S. hobbyists and breeders. What a perfect subject, I thought, for this issue’s spotlight. I have a small group of GB jungles, so I’m often approached with questions about them ranging from size and behavior to questions of ancestry– breeder and line information. In this brief spotlight I’ll begin by discussing the origin stories of the GB and touch on why it’s difficult for keepers to find answers to questions regarding origin stories, something most long-time keepers and breeders of Morelia know all too well. I’ll conclude with some remarks on behavior and appearance that are characteristic of this line.
Jungles in the U.S. have a history with certain founding lines, though they are few. The difficulty in talking about the origins of these bloodlines relate to legality issues, given exportation from Australia has been illegal for years, so the information is still kept hush-hush. When these origin stories are exchanged, it’s between friends and confidants. Sensitive information is not made public. However, where there is a hobby, a market and money involved, people understandably want information and proof that the snake in question is pure and can be traced back to founding animals. They may also wonder where the founding animals came from, and how they came to be in U.S. collections. At that point, answers to questions are often kept intentionally vague and cryptic, or information has been “lost”. Sometimes red herrings are thrown out, such as “I purchased them from some guy at X show years ago– can’t remember who it was”, or by referring to the line as something else altogether. It’s understandable, as sensitive information is held in confidence.
Such has been the case with GB Jungle Carpet Pythons. The prevailing theory over the years has been that Schuett line jungles were exported to Europe years ago, and are now trickling back into the U.S. market, dubbed “German bloodline” jungles. I personally preferred this theory for several years, until new information came to light that cannot be ignored. I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is a fellow collector across the pond in Europe. He’s worked with this bloodline since it originated in the collection of a friend of his around ’03-’04, and the very first clutch was hatched in 2006. My source, who I’ll call “Don” (yes, again with the cloak-and-dagger), purchased the whole clutch that year and continued his friendship and business relationship for years with this fellow breeder. When asked, Don’s friend would claim the group were Schuett jungles, but throughout the many years Don was close with his friend and his friend’s business partner, he never got a straight answer as to the source for the supposed Schuett jungles.
The answers were always vague. Don realized over the years that the deflective and vague nature of the answers more likely meant they simply didn’t want to divulge their source. After working with the bloodline for years, unsatisfied and hoping for clarity, Don contacted his friend’s ex-business partner, who revealed to Don that they got “a bag full of F1 Australian stuff”, but he supposedly couldn’t remember the source. The German bloodline jungles were in that bag. What is the likelihood one would forget where and from whom they acquired F1 Australian reptiles? Slim to none, but there’s always more to the story though, isn’t there?
Thankfully, for those who prefer not to get caught up in debate, the German bloodline brings more to the table other than their mysterious and dramatic past. Best to turn it over to the photos at this point. This line is stunning, with incredible yellow hues ranging from electric to a rich, almost orangey canary yellow that has to be seen in person to be believed. These are accompanied by deep jet black tones that together create some striking patterns, notably a strong striping influence and tendency toward wider patterns, often resulting in a “50/50” look, equal parts yellow to black. “Luther”, pictured, has a killer stripe that he generously passed along to his offspring from two different dams. The “head stamps” (black head markings) are often bold, with reduced yellow inside the classic jungle “skull”, and black bars run laterally from behind the eyes through the nasal scales, wrapping around the front of the top jaw, creating an unbroken black “U” shape around the head that is void of any yellow. While some jungle lines are known to be on the larger size, GB jungles tend to stay on the smaller side, with adults between four and five feet in length.
The head markings, black nasal scales, striping tendencies and smaller size peak my curiosity as wild caught specimens from the lower Palmerston rainforest regions, such as the Innisfail district, Daradgee, Mission Beach and Southwest of Babinda are known to produce populations of smaller, stunning black and yellow jungles. It has been reported that pure GB hatchlings can be more stubborn to get going than other lines, though outcrossing is said to negate this. To date, I have only produced 50% GB jungles and have experienced nothing outside the norm. In the next season or two, if all goes well, I may experience pure GB hatchlings and be capable of reporting back. From “started” juveniles through to adulthood, my small group have demonstrated no difference in feeding preferences such as type of prey or frequency of feedings, from U.S. lines I have kept and have been a joy to add to the fold here at Paris Reptiles.
Both enigmatic and visually arresting, there’s little doubt why the German bloodline is making a splash in U.S. collections, breeding groups and projects. It finds itself at the table with other storied, beautiful, intact jungle lines that so many keepers are trying to preserve here in the United States. My current plans for the coming years will include both pure GB pairings and pairings outcrossed to U.S. lines, which have resulted in some remarkable looking offspring already. Time will tell how the GB will be woven into U.S. collections and lines, but they sure are enjoying the spotlight thus far. Willkommen in Amerika, Deutsche blutlinie.
