Burmese Python Care Sheet

Life Span: 25 years or more

Size: of 15-20 feet long

Weight: 100 to 200 pounds or more.

Range: Old World, especially in India. It lives in grasslands, swamps, marshes, rocky foothills, woodlands, jungles and river valleys, and requires a permanent water source.

Temperament: generally considered quite docile especially compared to other large snakes. These guys do get huge and usually are aggressive feeders. They can inflict serious injury. Always be gentle and try to avoid sudden movements. If the snake wraps around your arm or neck, you can unwind it by gently unwrapping it starting at the tail end, not the head. A second person should always be present when handling or feeding constrictors over 8 feet long. Daily contact helps to establish a level of confidence between you and your snake.

Housing: A 55 gallon tank is fine for a baby but as the snake grows, a larger and stronger enclosure will be necessary. Burmese Pythons are especially powerful when it comes to breaking out. Your snake will grow fast so you must always buy or build an enclosure much bigger than the present size of your snake. For a substrate you can use ground cover such as commercially prepared shredded cypress or aspen shavings; do not use orchid bark. Pine, cedar and redwood shavings should not be used as they can become lodged in the mouth while eating, and due to the oils may cause respiratory infections and other problems. The substrare must be monitored closely and all soiled and wet shavings pulled out to prevent bacteria and fungus growth. Paper towels, newspaper or indoor/outdoor carpet makes a good substrate for young snakes. It is easy to maintain. Linoleum is also a good option for large snakes as it is easy to clean and disinfect.

Young snakes will need a half log or other hide (even a cardboard box will suffice). Plastic storage bins make or a dog house make good hides for larger snakes. Make sure there are no sharp edges. Hides should be provided at both ends of the temperature gradient.

No special lighting is needed.

Temperatures: Daytime temperature should be 80-88 F, with a basking area at 90-93 F (32-34 C). The temperature can drop to 72-75 F at night. Spotlights, ceramic heat elements, and heating pads can be used to maintain temperatures. The light fixture should not be accessible to your snake to prevent burns. Large heat pads are a good choice for a safe source of heat. (here is a link to a site that offers them:  http://osborne-ind.com/petsub/heatpad/heat_pads2.htm)

Water: Provide a bowl of fresh water at all times for both drinking and soaking (for smaller snakes). The water will need to be changed frequently. As the snake gets larger it will no longer be able to soak in its dish - it will have to be taken out and bathed in a tub or pool of water.

Feeding: It is expensive to feed! ... Pythons swallow their prey whole because of their hinged jaws. These jaws separate and this allow them to intake an "object four to five times as wide as its head. Hatchlings can be fed mice or fuzzy rats, moving up to rats and eventually rabbits or domestic pig as the snake grows (feed prey pre-killed to avoid snake's injury). The prey should be no larger than the the widest part of the snake's body. Burmese Pythons would often eat prey that is too large for their size but, they will regurgitate the prey item after a day or two. Hatchlings can be fed 1-2 times a week but adult snakes only need to be fed every 2 weeks or so. Just feed enough to keep it healthy, not obese. Care must be taken not to overfeed or you will end up with an obese snake.

Breeding: The python reaches sexual maturity at about 3 years of age, and mates between December and January. Gestation lasts approximately three months at which time the female lays 8-100 eggs encircling the eggs with her body and remaining so from the time the eggs are laid until they hatch. The female python can raise its own body temperature. While coiled around the eggs, the muscles of the snake will tremble. These movements help the female to increase the temperature around the eggs. She does not leave the eggs to eat. When hatched, the young measure between 18 and 24 inches long and grow rapidly.