Other Pythons Archives - ReptilesSales

Ball pythons, also known as royal pythons, are one of the most popular pet snakes in the world due to their docile and friendly nature. As a prospective owner, there are a few key points you’ll want to consider before acquiring one of these snakes.

First, ball pythons can live 30-40 years, so they are a long-term commitment. Be prepared to properly care for your ball python for potentially decades. They require a varied and nutritious diet of pre-killed mice and rats, averaging 1-2 feedings per week for adults.

Second, you’ll need an appropriately sized enclosure. A 20-30 gallon long aquarium or tub with a secure mesh or screen lid is a good size for most adult ball pythons. Include hiding spots, climbing areas, and other enrichment. Maintain the enclosure at 75-82 F with 50-60% humidity for optimal health and activity levels.

Finally, handle and interact with your ball python regularly and gently to help socialize them, but be aware of their body language to avoid stressing the animal. Ball pythons may live up to their name and curl into a ball, hiss, or strike out if they feel threatened. With regular, positive interaction, a ball python can become quite tame and tolerant of handling.

With the proper habitat, diet, and handling, a ball python can make an extremely rewarding lifelong pet. However, they do require daily and long term care and commitment to keep healthy and happy. If you are looking for an interactive and personable pet snake, a ball python is an excellent choice.

Carpet & Jungle Carpet Pythons – Beautiful & Docile

If you’re looking for a docile yet beautiful python, carpet and jungle carpet pythons are excellent options. These pythons are some of the most popular pet snakes due to their vibrant colors, manageable size, and easygoing temperament.

The carpet python, also known as the diamond python, is found in coastal regions of Australia and New Guinea. Adults typically reach 3 to 6 feet in length. Their scales have a distinctive diamond pattern in colors of brown, black, and yellow. Carpet pythons tend to be curious and enjoy interacting with their owners. However, they may nip if stressed or hungry, so daily gentle handling and regular feeding are recommended.

A close relative, the jungle carpet python inhabits rainforests of Australia and Indonesia. They are slightly smaller, reaching up to 5 feet, and tend to be more arboreal. Jungle carpets come in a variety of bright colors and patterns. They can be shy, so owners should move slowly and deliberately around them until they become accustomed to handling.

Whether you choose a carpet or jungle carpet python, you’ll have a stunning snake that can live 20-30 years. Provide a large enclosure with climbing opportunities, heat lamp, and hide box. Feed juvenile pythons every 5-7 days, while adults only need food every 1-2 weeks. With the proper care and environment, these pythons will reward you with years of enjoyment as a fascinating and docile pet.

Children’s Pythons – A Great First Snake

If you’re looking to get into pythons but want to start small, a children’s python is an excellent choice. Children’s pythons, also known as spotted pythons, are a small species native to Australia. They rarely exceed 3 to 4 feet in length, making them easy to house and handle.

docile and Easygoing Temperament

Children’s pythons have a very docile and easygoing temperament. They are hesitant to bite and become tame quite easily with regular interaction and handling. Their small size and mellow disposition make them ideal for beginners and children under proper supervision. Always exercise caution and proper handling technique when interacting with any snake.

simple Care Requirements

Children’s pythons have simple care requirements that are easy to accommodate. They do well at room temperature with a heat lamp for basking. A 20-30 gallon long aquarium with a secure mesh or screen lid is sufficient for their enclosure. Provide branches or other climbing areas, as they are semi-arboreal. Spot-clean the enclosure regularly and change about 25% of the bedding every week or two.

Readily Available and Inexpensive

Children’s pythons are readily available from reputable breeders and pet stores. They are also relatively inexpensive, often under $200. Their small size means feeding them is also very affordable. They eat appropriately sized rodents, such as mice and small rats. Always feed pre-killed prey to avoid injury to the snake.

Long-Lived and Rewarding Pets

With proper care, children’s pythons can live 20-30 years or more, so they can make a long-term rewarding pet. Many owners find them entertaining to observe, and their docile nature allows for frequent interaction and handling. If you want an easy pet snake to care for, a children’s python is a wonderful choice.

In summary, children’s pythons make ideal first snakes. They have a small size, simple care needs, docile temperament, and are readily available at a low cost. While any pet requires a serious long-term commitment, children’s pythons can make very rewarding lifelong companions.

Spotted Pythons – Small & Manageable

Spotted pythons are a smaller species of python that make great pets for beginners. They are easy to care for and handle due to their smaller size. Spotted pythons, also known as children’s pythons, are native to Australia and New Guinea. They are non-venomous constrictors that grow up to 5 feet in length.

Housing

A 20-gallon long aquarium with a secure mesh or screen lid is suitable for a single spotted python. Provide multiple hiding spots, climbing branches, and a shallow water bowl. Spotted pythons are semi-arboreal, so include vertical space in the enclosure. The enclosure should be misted to maintain 60-80% humidity. The ambient temperature should be 82-88 F with a basking spot of 95 F.

Feeding

Spotted pythons eat pre-killed mice appropriate for their size. Hatchlings can start with “fuzzy” mice, progressing to hoppers and small adult mice as they grow. Feed juvenile spotted pythons 2-3 mice per week. Adults require 1 appropriately sized mouse every 7-14 days. Always feed pre-killed prey to avoid injury to your python.

Handling

Spotted pythons tend to be docile and tolerate occasional handling. Limit handling to 15-30 minutes a few times a week. Be sure to support the entire length of the snake’s body. Never handle your snake after it has eaten, as this can cause regurgitation. Always wash and rinse your hands before and after handling to avoid transferring oils and scents to your snake.

In summary, spotted pythons make wonderful pets due to their small size, easy care requirements, and docile nature. By providing the proper enclosure, temperature, humidity, and diet, a spotted python can live up to 30 years. Their manageable size and temperament make them ideal for beginners and children under adult supervision.

Green Tree Pythons – Arboreal Beauties

Green tree pythons are stunning arboreal snakes that inhabit rainforests in Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea. These pythons are commonly known for their vibrant green coloring and slender bodies. As ambush predators, green tree pythons coil around tree branches and lie in wait for unsuspecting prey like birds, rodents and lizards.

Due to their arboreal nature, green tree python enclosures should include multiple sturdy branches at varying levels for the snake to climb and coil upon. Providing multiple basking spots with UVB lighting and heat lamps allows the snake to thermoregulate as needed. A mister or fogger helps maintain the high humidity green tree pythons require in their enclosure.

When handling a green tree python, it is important to do so gently and deliberately while supporting most of the snake’s body. These pythons may bite if stressed or startled, and their bite can be painful due to their long teeth. Only experienced reptile handlers should attempt to handle a green tree python.

There are two subspecies of green tree python – the Biak green tree python and the Aru green tree python. The Aru green tree python tends to display more vibrant green, yellow and blue coloring. The Biak green tree python has darker green scales with white and blue markings. Females of both subspecies are generally more dull in color than the males.

As striking as green tree pythons appear, they can be challenging to care for properly and are generally not ideal for novice reptile keepers. However, for experienced herpetologists seeking a visually stunning reptilian companion, a green tree python can make a rewarding lifelong pet.