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P. molurus is most commonly referred to as the Burmese Python. The Burmese Python is found throughout south-east Asia in countries such as Indonesia, China, Burma and Thailand. They are found in swamps, jungles and woodlands but will occassionaly venture onto grasslands and rocky foothills.
Taking on a Burmese Python as a pet is a huge commitment and a serious responsibilty. Anybody considering purchasing an animal of this size should be well prepared for a snake that can grow to 25 feet and live for 25 years or more in captivity. These animals, understandably, require a huge amount of space and demand a lot of care and maintenance. The financial commitments of owning such an impressive creature cannot be underestimated.
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Choosing your snake
Health checks for any snake:
- Firm rounded body.
- Clear eyes (may be a little cloudy if about to shed). There should be no sign of discharge.
- No evidence of mites – check especially around the head and eyes, check for faint specks on body and check your hands after handling the snake
- The snake should not have to open its mouth to breathe and should not appear as if it is gasping for breath.
- The inside of the mouth should be a uniform pink – reddened areas or cheesy looking matter may indicate mouth rot.
- Shiny smooth skin with no scabs or sores.
- Clean vent with no swelling in area
- Should move smoothly with no tremors
If you are unsure about the health of a snake, you can ask the vendor for a demonstration feeding, usually on pre-killed mice. If your new snake appears distressed or overly active, be patient but not ignorant, snakes will be agitated until they settle in to their new environments but if the problem persists it may be necessary to seek veterinary advice.
Description
Steve Irwin seen handling an albino Burmese python
As previously mentioned, a Burmese Python can grow in excess of 25 feet and achieve weights of over 100 kilograms. Their development is just as impressive, as a healthy specimen is expected to reach twelve feet before their second birthday. Their physical description is difficult to summarise, with the sheer numbers in captivity resulting in a huge variation in colours, patterns and morphs. The majority usually have a light brown colouration with a pattern of darker blotches covering their bodies.
Habitat
Enclosure
An ideal 55 gallon enclosure for a juvenile Burmese python
It is possible to begin housing your Python within a suitable vivarium relative to their size, i.e. a 25 gallon enclosure may suffice until the snake reaches a length of over 5 feet. However, with the development rate in these animals it is recommended that your snake is supplied with as large an enclosure as possible from the beginning. The minimum size for a habitat for an average snake measuring 15 feet would have a length of atleast 10 feet, a width of 5 feet and a height of 5 feet. Although, with any specimen potentially reaching lengths of 25 feet, there should always be sufficient space to extend the animals enclosure so as to best provide for your pet.
Hiding Place
Whatever the size of your snake, a comfortable hiding place is an absolute necessity. The provision of a hiding place will help the snake feel safe and secure, and is essential in preventing stress. A hiding place should not be too large and obviously, not too small. The snake should be accommodated comfortably within the space with freedom of movement, however, the space should be small enough to create a feeling of security. Hence, the size of the hiding place will have to be adjusted continuously to provide sufficient space for a growing snake.
In the early years, the easiest option would be to modify existing household objects such as plastice trays/boxes or to simply use cardboard boxes that can be handily disposed off if they become soiled. In later years, it may be necessary to build purpose made shelters within the vivarium itself.
An ideal enclosure for an adult Burmese python
Substrate
A popular choice amongst experienced keepers is to have the main platform for your snakes enclosure comprised of decking material and slightly raised a few inches above the true floor that would be covered in a durable and waterproof material such as linoleum. The reason for this is that any urine can run through the gaps in the decking and onto the waterproof linoleum beneath. This makes for an easier maintenance routine as the linoleum can be removed and cleaned relatively easily, and your beautiful snake is kept as far away as possible from its own excretions for obvious health reasons.
A layer of substrate should be added on top of the decking to provide a comfortable home for your Burmese Python. Firstly, Cedar is not an option. Cedar is toxic to these animals and should be avoided at all costs. Similarily, wood chips although safe enough, if used then the animal should be fed on a different surface to prevent them from swallowing shavings which can lead to dangerous intestinal blockages. Further to this, wood chips can hold mites, which can be potentialy fatal for a Burmese Python.
Newspaper cuttings are an option, however, as many proud owners of albino specimens will tell you, the ink will quickly transfer on to your python. Leaving a less than desired affect.
Astroturf is an excellent option that can be cleaned and disinfected easily enough and also proves to be amongst the most attractive options. Rubber mats are by far the most practical solution, being durable, relatively cheap and waterproof, and they can be used year after year with no degradation in quality.
Temperature
Maintaining the temperature conditions to suit your pet’s needs is absolutely essential to ensure the health and well-being of your snake.
For the Burmese python, an ambient daytime temperature of 29-32°C (85-90°F) must be maintained with a basking area of between 32-34°C (90-93°F). During night hours a lower temperature of approximately 27°C (80.6°F) should be created, but must not fall below 25°C (77°F) at any time.
To achieve these demanding conditions, a range of appliances are available. Specially designed heating pads for this purpose are available on the market and help to maintain consistent ambient air temperatures within the enclosure. Traditional incandescant light bulbs can be used in co-operation with these pads to provide your python with a suitable basking spot. If these bulbs are to be used, it is very important that they be shielded effectively to prevent your snake from burning itself.
Depending on the size of the enclosure itself, it may be necessary to adopt an array of thermometers so that internal temperatures can be accurately determined. It is important that atleast one thermometer be used at substrate level and another within the snakes basking area, so that the temperature difference between the two is sustained.
Humidity
A Burmese python mating with a rare albino specimen
To successfully maintain the desired humidity conditions for your Burmese Python you are going to need a hygrometer. A hygrometer is a device used to measure relative humidity within the enclosure. Humidity for the Burmese python should be kept at a consistent 65-70%. This can be best achieved through the use of an automatic vaporiser, which will spray a fine vapour of water into the enclosure to reach the required standard.
Unfortunately, the high humidity environment provides not only an excellent home for your snake, but will also provide molds and bacteria with optimum conditions in which to strive. Therefore daily cleaning is an absolute necessity!
Too high a humidity will accelerate the growth of bacteria exponentially and on the other hand too low a humidity will undoubtedly cause problems during the shedding process. The importance of proper humidity levels should not be unappreciated.
Lighting
Your Burmese python does not have any real need for exposure to UV light, however, artificial lighting should be used if necessary to reproduce the day/night cycle. Likewise any bright lights must be turned off atleast 12 hours a day to simulate night time conditions.
Ensure that any light sources used are properly shielded from your snake as they are particularly susceptible to burn injuries.
Maintenance
The enclosure should be cleaned daily to prevent build up of bacteria as previously mentioned. A 5% bleach solution should be used to disinfect any surfaces, but care must be taken to remove any trace before returning your pet to its home. Water should also be changed daily and it is essential that you wash your hands and any other surfaces after coming into contact with your python.
Feeding
In it’s natural habitat a Burmese pythons diet would consist of birds, mammals and reptiles. In captivity an adult specimen will require approx. five adult rabbits a month, although this will differ for each individual, and exact amounts will have to be determined depending on the snakes charachteristics i.e. gaining excessive weight. It is highly recommended that you feed your snake pre-killed food to reduce the risk of exposing your python to live prey in a relatively small environment. Any food should be preferably thawed from frozen as the freezing process will kill most bacteria and parasites that may be present.
A Burmese python feeding on a large rat
Juvenile pythons should be fed small adult mice, progressing onto rats and other large rodents as their increase in size demands larger prey items.
Many experienced keepers use a seperate enclosure at feeding time to segregate the emotions associated with food and to reduce the risk of being bitten when approaching the snake within its usual environment. This method also has its health benefits as left over food is not being left within the primary enclosure.
If you have any problems feeding your snake please refer to our snake feeding problem page for further information.
Water
Burmese pythons are big fans of soaking for long periods of time in shallow water. Therefore the provision of a suitably large water pit to accommodate the whole body is also essential.
Behaviour
Handling your Burmese python
Burmese pythons are renowned for their docile and easy-going temperament. However, this can be dangerously deceptive and their true potential is usually only seen during feeding time. Their formidable size should be a suitable warning to anyone. Yet Burmese pythons are one of the least aggressive snakes and will happily interact with familiar humans. Frequent interaction is the key to establishing a bond between the two of you, as is showing respect for when the animal is most sensitive such as a couple of days just after eating.
Beware! No matter how comfortable you may become with your pet python, these are still incredibly dangerous animals and should be treated with the most sincere respect. If you are ever handling a specimen over ten feet in length, you should always have atleast two people in the room for safety.
Veterinary Care
Regular visits to a veterinarian reptile specialist is essential especially for new-born and juvenile specimens. A sample of faeces should be taken and sealed in an appropriate container, noted with details such as the time and date. The vet will then screen the matter for parasites and signs of infestations and infecions that can prove fatal to your pet. This practice is not only for the sake of your snake, most parasites that can infest snakes and reptiles are easily transmitted to humans and can prove equally if not more devastating.
Special
Due to the immense size and longevity of this species specialist care needs to be given to Burmese pythons and is not recommended for all hobbyists. Taking care of a snake this large is a long-term and often expensive commitment. This species has been known to cause death to people due to ignorance and improper handling. These snakes, like all snakes, should NOT be handled around your neck.