Burmese pythons are among the largest snakes in the world and are often found in zoos, pet stores or are domestic pets. These large and beautiful creatures are certainly appealing to the eye, and for those who don’t have a fear of snakes, they can prove to be an interesting pet. You are probably thinking that there is no right-minded person that would want a snake that can grow to be 20 feet long and weigh more than 100 pounds! Well, there actually are, and we were two of those people who had an albino Burmese python, which is especially popular, and we learned that owning one brings far more responsibility than we could have anticipated. There are five critical things that you need to consider before buying one of these beautiful snakes.
Veterinarians: There are not many veterinarians who specialize in treating reptiles. Like any other animal, your python will need wellness visits and, yes, they do get sick. If you feed them a food that they are not used to, they will vomit everywhere! Also, a snake that exhibits unusual symptoms, say lethargy at a time of day when they’re usually active, will need to be seen. Be sure you not only have a veterinarian near you, but also a way to transport your python.
Accommodations: Pythons, like any snake, need a temperature controlled aquarium. Many pet stores who sell reptiles will have specialized lights that will go in the aquarium as well as heating pads designed for snakes. Your aquarium should allow enough room for your snake to grow and should have a 85-88 Farenheit degree temperature during the day. Night time temperature should not fall below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to provide a hiding place for your python as well as clean water at all times. Please do not use a black light as this can blind your snake. Incandescent light bulbs are fine. Talk to your pet store and get in touch with other python owners for lighting advice.
Feeding: If you purchase a small python, begin feeding him small fuzzy mice. I strongly suggest that you begin with dead mice or rats because once your snake kills his food, he will become more aggressive the older he gets. We learned this the hard way when we purchased rats from our local pet store and threw them over the cage. Not only is this highly unpleasant for all involved, except the snake, you are establishing aggressive behaviors that can be avoided. Find a site online or through your pet shop that will allow you to purchase frozen dead mice or rats. You can thaw them in warm water when feeding time comes. Rule of thumb; do not feed your snake prey that is larger than the largest part of the snake. They will vomit if you do. Also do not force feed your snake. Your snake will get large soon enough! You will have to learn cues as to when to feed. We fed our python when he began to get unusually active. If he would seemingly pace his cage, we knew it was time to feed him.
Sanitation: When you first buy your snake you can use newspapers for the bottom of your cage because they are easily removable when soiled. If you begin to smell ammonia, be sure to change your snake’s cage because they, like any other animal, can become ill. Also the larger your snake, the larger his bathroom droppings are going to be! As soon as your snake has a bowel movement, clean it up immediately. You should sanitize bowls and toys by using a simple solution of bleach and water.
Educate Yourself: Know everything there is to know about Burmese pythons before purchasing or adopting. For example, you should know how long your snake will grow over time, usually up to 20 feet, and how much your snake will weigh. This is important because you will become your snake’s handler. It is no fun to need three people to lift a snake and there are so many who have snake phobias. Why would you need to lift a snake? All animals, including reptiles, need exercise and should be allowed a space to slither. How are you going to get your python back in its cage? So weight and length are two important considerations to keep in mind. Safety is everything. Respect your snake, they are not like other pets. Being bitten by a Burmese can cause serious damage despite the fact that pythons are constrictors and are not poisonous. Pythons have many tiny teeth that will cause open wounds in your flesh if bitten. If you are seriously considering buying a Burmese, talk to your local zoo and see if you can arrange having a handling session. See if this snake is truly right for you. When you handle a snake you are buying from a pet store, your python should be very mobile and squeeze your hand as it curls its body around you. Additionally, some communities even have herpetological societies that connect snake owners. If you have access to this please utilize it. Knowing all you can before you purchase this beautiful animal could mean you and your python will be long lasting friends.
These are just some useful tips to consider before adopting a python. We adopted our python when he was very small, about five feet long, and did not know a single bit of information. This was not fair to our snake or to us because as he got larger, he grew to be 10 feet, he became more difficult to handle and take care of. There were many opportunities that he could have eaten our cats or squeezed us to death. Chances are if you treat your snake well, he in turn will do the same. Thankfully we found a reputable snake specialist who truly loves snakes and can properly handle them. However, not every snake owner is that lucky. Unfortunately, so many python owners have the misconception that larger pythons sell very well and are more concerned about money than the snake’s welfare. It is simply not true that larger pythons sell all the time. If you read the classifieds there are more adds to sell pythons than there are buyers. Your zoo probably does not want a large Burmese because they already have one or two. Your pet stores usually sell very young pythons. So, be sure to know the facts before getting your Burmese python because it can provide you and your pet with a long and lasting relationship.
