Care Sheet for Burmese PythonsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 2.50 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 07/30/2007 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Burmese Pythons |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Solo |
Years Experience: | 10 to 15 Years |
Species: | Burmese python |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | burmese python, indian python, african rock python |
Sexing and Characteristics: | To determine snakes, there are 2 common methods ’’popping’’ and ’’probing’’ they should be performed by vets and experts but some people use these methods at home. but females are almost always larger than males-
-Females average 17’- 20’ adult size.
-males average 10’ - 15’ adult size. |
Mostly Active During: | Night |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Newspaper- Newspaper is a very cheap and clean and easy substrate for large snakes like burmese pythons and one of
the most common substrates used for large snakes.
astroturf(TM)- asrtoturf(TM) is also a clean substrate to use
and is cheap and is very functional and gives more of a natural look to the vivarium.Extra pieces of Astroturf(TM) can be kept in reserve and used when the soiled piece is removed for cleaning and drying (soak in one part bleach to 30 parts water; rinse thoroughly, and dry completely before reuse). Remember: the easier it is to clean, the faster you’ll do it! Linoleum is easy to clean and disinfect and, when used on the floor and a couple of inches up the walls of wooden enclosures, will help preserve the wood from the acidic urates.
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Lighting and UVB: | No special lighting is needed. You may use any incandescent bulb in the enclosure during the day, and a suitable red, blue or nocturnal reptile light at night. Snakes do not require ultraviolet B wavelengths. Make sure the snake cannot get into direct contact with the light bulbs. If they climb into the fluorescent tube fixture, they may pop out and break the bulb--an expensive and potentially lethal accident.
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Temperatures and Humidity: | -day temps should be between 85° to 90° F.
the warm end should be roughly 90°F, and the cool end 85°F.
-night temps should be between 78°F - 80°F in the warm and the cold end of the vivarium. |
Heating and Equipment: | Heat mats are commonly used for snakes and should take a third of the vivarium, heat lights are also common for snakes and should only be used on one end of the vivarium(HEAT LIGHTS AND HEATMATS SHOULD BE ON THE SAME SIDE IN THE VIV).Thermostats ans matstats are very good for all reptiles as they can provide the appropriate temps, there should be multiple hides 2-3, one on the warm end, cool end, one in the middle(OPTIONAL). Large snakes do not need branches but they are great for exercise all branches should be secure and stable or your snake could injure itself. A water bowl is essential and does not have to be large but then your burmese python will require more baths, but if you do prefer to use a large water bowl your burmese python will be able to soak itself which is great for their skin. Live plants are no good for large snakes like burmese python (except when young but there is no point to keeping live plants in the vivarium as they will not last long as your burmese python will grow very fast and within a year of you have your burmese python he/her will be roughly 6ft and will crush live plants. But there is an alternative PLASTIC PLANTS! these are great you can hang them on the wall of your vivarium and they will give your vivarium a more natural look. |
Caging Provided: | Hatchlings-
should be housed in 2’x1’x1’ vivariums.
juveniles-
should be housed in 4’x2’x2’ vivariums.
adults-
should be housed in 6’x3’x3’ or 8’x4’x3’ vivariums. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Start hatchlings on fuzzy rats every week, older species can be fed on large pre-killed rats every week, as your burmese python comes into adulthood you should feed them adult rabbits but some people use pigs (they are as equally as good as each other).But there is a general rule of thumb on how to feed any snake, its food should be the width of the widest part of your snake. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Calcium supplements are optional, but are great if your snake has problems with growth. |
Maintenance: | You should replace newspaper everyday as your burmese python will normally defecate every few days, you can clean your vivarium with a solution of (5% weak bleach and 95% warm water) it is best to use sponges as they don’t scratch glass.once you have covered all of your vivarium in this solution leave it for 30 mins then get some cold water(mineral water is best as it doesn’t leave smear marks) to wash all the solution off, then get some paper towels to softly dry the water off. your water bowl will have to be cleaned out everyday and if your snake has defecated in its water bowl clean it out straight away, its best to clean them with just normal washing up liquid. |
Some Words on this Species: | Burmese pythons are large snakes which can be a great family pet or a breeding project, i have seen burmese pythons caught as second snakes and have been raised by its keeper to adulthood healthy, so my opinion is if you do your homework on them you can have one as MAYBE a first snake!!! they are great snakes to have and i would love for everyone recognize how beautiful and amazing animals these are. Thank you for reading this care sheet. |
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