Burmese Python
(Python molurus bivattatus)
Adult Size: 15-20 feet     Lifespan: 25+ years

Did You Know:

  • The Burmese python is one of the six largest snake species in the world.

  • Hailing from India, China and Southeast Asia, it is an excellent swimmer and is equally comfortable on the ground or climbing trees.

  • It is a long-lived animal, reaching into its twenties in captivity.
     

The material below is a general guideline, and is not intended to serve as your sole source of pet care information. Visit a veterinarian trained in caring for reptiles and consult a broad range of literature to ensure that your pet receives adequate care.

Only People With A Lot Of Time, Resources, And Expertise Are
Suitable Burmese Python Owners
 

Things You Should Know About Burmese Pythons

They're Very Big:

Although hatchlings weigh only about 4-ounces and measure less than 2 feet in length, Burmese pythons grow quickly. By their first birthday, they're about 7 feet, and by the time they're four, they've reached their adult size of 15-20 feet and 200-
pounds. Females are larger than males.

Enclosure They Have Special Housing Needs:

A Burmese python can start off in a 55-gallon tank with a very secure top, but it will outgrow this enclosure after a little over one year. At that point the snake will need a secure enclosure the size of a walk-in closet or small room (a minimum of 25 square feet). These enclosures are often custom-made. An
enclosure must be spacious enough to allow the pet owner to walk in for cleaning, since the snake's large feces will have to be removed with a shovel. Burmese pythons do grow
very rapidly, so during their early years they should be kept in enclosures that are larger than what is needed for their current size. All enclosures must be well ventilated. If a Burmese python is housed in its own room or walk-in closet, care should be taken to make doors and windows escape proof, since this powerful snake can push through these
openings. Burmese pythons should never be allowed to roam free in a room with people. Aside from being a pet, a python is also a wild animal. If it suddenly feels threatened, or mistakes a person for food, it can attack.

They Need Covered Hiding Areas:

A Burmese python needs at least one (and preferably two
or three) covered hiding areas in its enclosure to provide it with a safe and secure sanctuary. Given this snake's large size, hiding areas for an adult will have to be constructed by the owner. An enclosure housing a hatchling or young snake should also include climbing branches. It is also critically important to provide young snakes with a hiding area.
Substrate:
Their Substrate Must Be Easy To Clean: 		Newspapers are a good substrate for young Burmese pythons because they are simple to clean -- just discard when soiled, and they make it easy to check feces for signs of potential problems. Good substrates for adults include cypress bark (it absorbs moisture well and helps maintain humidity levels),
as well as fir bark, mulch and Astroturf™. Many Burmese owners use linoleum on the floor of their snake enclosure, since it's easy to disinfect. Cedar must be avoided, since its
oils promote respiratory ailments. Pine and aspen substrate can cause problems if it is ingested. Any substrate should be monitored closely and discarded or cleaned when soiled.

Temperature:
Their Enclosure Should Have A Variety Of Temperatures:

The ambient temperature in a Burmese python's enclosure should be roughly 85 Fahrenheit with a basking area in the low 90s during the day and 75-80F at night. The enclosure should offer a range of temperatures, so the snake can go to a cooling area. Maintaining proper temperature is necessary for the health of the Burmese python. A Burmese python's enclosure should have at least two thermometers: one in the basking area, and one elsewhere in the tank. Thermometers should be positioned one inch over the floor of the enclosure. Important - see the Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating below.

They Need Large Heat Sources As Adults:

When the snake is young, and kept in a tank, ambient temperature can be maintained through the use of a heat mat placed under two thirds of the tank, and a heat lamp for the basking area. However as the Burmese python grows and is moved into a room, different heating sources, such as large rigid "pig blankets" will have to be secured by the owner (pig blankets should be placed on a surge protector.) Burmese pythons are very susceptible to skin burns when they come into direct contact with a heat source. Lamps, mats and other heating elements should always be "screened off" to protect the snake from burns. Never use heat rocks in the tank of a
Burmese python. A rheostat or thermostat is a good idea for regulating heat mats and lamps.
They Like It Humid: The Burmese python requires a relatively high humidity level of between 50% and 70%. Insufficient humidity can cause skin problems, while over humidifying the enclosure can promote bacterial infections. Proper humidity can be
maintained by placing a water basin (use chlorine-free water) in the enclosure. A hygrometer should be used to measure humidity levels. It is especially important to maintain adequate humidity during shedding periods.

Lighting:
They Should Have Full Spectrum Lighting:

Burmese Pythons should be exposed to supplemental UVB light 10-12 hours a day, using a fluorescent bulb designed for snake enclosures. Keeping lights on constantly will stress a Burmese python, and leave it more susceptible to illness. Nighttime temperatures can be maintained through heat pads, heat emitters and lamps that emit little or no visible light. Important - see the Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating below.

Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating:

All reptiles, including this pet, must have distinct day and night periods in their enclosure to maintain their biological rhythms. (See the lighting entry above for the specific length of this animal’s day/night cycle.) The day period must be light; and night must be dark. A timer should be used to set day/night periods. If a heat source is required to maintain correct nighttime temperatures, use heat mats or strips mounted below or on the side of the tank, infrared heat lamps, ceramic heat emitters, or a combination of these products. This will allow the enclosure to be heated while remaining dark. Follow directions carefully with all products. If ceramic heat emitters are used always choose fixtures with porcelain or ceramic sockets and to protect against fires do not place them by dry wood or flammable fabrics. Ceramic heat emitters must be kept out of the reach of children and all pets, including dogs and cats.

Diet:
As Adults They Need Larger Feeder Animals:		 Young Burmese Pythons can be fed feeder mice and small rats. As the snake grows it can be given larger prey animals, such as frozen and thawed rabbits. Feeder animals can be fed to the snake live, fresh killed or frozen. It is recommended that owners try to avoid feeding their snakes live animals. In addition to being more humane, feeding thawed animals poses fewer health risks and may result in a calmer pet. A live feeder animal should never be left with a Burmese python unsupervised, since it can injure the snake. Frozen feeder animals should be thawed to room temperature (never heated) before feeding. No snake should be given food that is wider than it is at its widest point. Burmese pythons should not be handled for 2-4 days after eating or during shedding periods.
They Should Never Be Fed By Hand: Always use a tongs or long-handled forceps to place a
feeder animal in a Burmese Python's enclosure. Never offer feeder animals with your bare hand. Snakes identify prey by scent, and they are liable to attack your hand, if it has the
smell of a feeder animal on it. At least when young, Burmese Pythons should be fed in a separate enclosure (it is too difficult to move large adults for feeding).
Feeding Schedule: Young Burmese Pythons should be fed 1-2 appropriately-sized rodents once a week. Feed adults one large food item such as a rabbit, or 2-4 smaller animals such as rats every 2-3 weeks. Owners should exercise care not to overfeed pet Burmese Pythons.
A NOTE ABOUT WATER: All water given to this pet for drinking, as well as water used for misting, soaking or bathing must be 100% free of chlorine and heavy metals. (Not all home water filtration systems remove 100% of the chlorine and heavy metals from tap water, so check your system's specifications before using it to filter water for your pet.) We recommend that you use unflavored bottled drinking water or bottled natural spring water and never untreated tap water. If tap water is used, you should treat it with a dechlorinating treatment or allow it to stand for at least 24 hours before being introduced to the pet's enclosure to allow the chlorine to escape. Do not use distilled water, which can cause severe medical problems, since it lacks minerals that are essential to important body functions
They Need Constant Access To Water: Fresh chlorine-free water should always be available to a Burmese python in a spill resistant bowl or a large basin. The water should be deep enough to allow the snake to immerse itself. Burmese pythons sometimes defecate in their water, so
their water bowls should be checked and changed regularly throughout the day.

How to Handle A Burmese Python:
Wash your hands before lifting a snake to remove the scent of any other animal. If a Burmese python smells another animal on you, it may regard you as prey. Be calm, steady and gentle when approaching a Burmese python, and avoid sudden movements that can surprise the snake and cause it to react defensively.

Approach the Burmese python with relaxed motions, and gently slide your first hand about one-third the way down from the head and the other further down the body. Hold the snake loosely and lift slowly. If the snake is comfortable, it will "grip" you. Allow the snake as much freedom of movement in your arms as possible. You can support the Burmese python's weight with your arms and torso, but never allow it to wrap its coils around your neck or torso. If the snake is startled, it will naturally tighten its very powerful grip on you, potentially causing serious medical problems.

Never grasp a Burmese python by the neck or tail tip, or attempt to lift it from the tail first. Do not grab or pinch the snake when carrying it. A snake that is over 7-feet should never be handled by one person alone. It is necessary to have one person handling a snake for every five feet of body length. A Burmese python should never be held close to your face or allowed to wrap itself around your neck.
Although Burmese pythons are relatively passive, they can become fairly anxious and aggressive at feeding time. With this in mind, you should be careful around this snake when feeding it. You should avoid approaching an adult Burmese python if you've handled a feeder animal or if a prey animal such as a dog, cat, bird or rodent is in the area.

Always be aware of a Burmese python's body language, a snake with a flickering tongue that fixes you in its gaze and approaches cautiously might very well be looking for prey. A snake that hissing or breathing heavily and is drawn back with its neck in an S shape is fearful, and can strike you in self-defense. In either case, a snake that is exhibiting this body language should not be approached.
A snake that has just eaten, is getting ready to shed or is actually shedding should not be handled. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling a snake.
 
Bright Idea:
 Increase the humidity level in a snake’s enclosure during the shedding period. You can tell when a snake is ready to shed its skin because its eyes will have a milky look, and its scales will become duller. A few days after you observe this, shedding will occur. When shedding begins, humidity
levels should be increased. Complications during shedding and incomplete sheds are typically caused by insufficient humidity. You can raise humidity by misting the cage or adding a humidity box. A humidity box is a snake safe container lined with moist moss or paper towels that has an access hole cut into it to allow a snake to enter. (Use chlorine-free water to moisten material in humidity box.) Burmese Pythons should not be handled when they are shedding.
 


Look Out For This:
Due to their impressive size and strength, Burmese Pythons are excellent escape artists. Great care should be taken when housing and handling these massive snakes.
 

Recommended Burmese Python Supplies:

  • Glass or plastic enclosure with secure lid

  • Heat mat

  • Heat lamp for basking area

  • Three thermometers

  • Substrate

  • Logs or other items for hiding areas

  • Climbing branches

  • Spill-resistant water bowl

  • Hygrometer

  • Feeder rodents (frozen)

  • UVB light source