Care Sheet for Reticulated PythonsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 11/28/2005 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Reticulated Pythons |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Weston Hubele |
Years Experience: | 15 to 20 Years |
Species: | (python reticulatus)reticulated python |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Reticulated python
|
Sexing and Characteristics: | You must have your snake sexed by a professional. Most likely your local veterinarian. It is almost impossible to tell what sex it is by the looks of him or her. |
Mostly Active During: | N/A |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Any substrate will work for reticulated pythons besides sand, cedar, and pebbles, etc. Paper towels is the best but news paper, wood chips, fake moss, and things like that work perfectly. I use wood chips with moss covering the top. Make sure that your substrate is not hazardes to your snakes health. |
Lighting and UVB: | No special vitamin bulbs are necessary, it can be used though. Heat lamps is an option to keep the cage warm. You never should have it blinding bright in your snakes cage, it sort of stresses them out. Other than that, any kind is OK. The lamps should be on 12 hours and off 12 hours. in winter is should be off 16, on 8. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | the temperature should range between 75-90 degrees Fahrenheit. At night time the temp should be between 75-80. in day time, the basking side should be between 84-89. The other side should be between 78-84. The humidity should stay between 40-70% Its best to keep it about 55% |
Heating and Equipment: | I use heat laps, and digital thermometers to keep their cage warm. if you do that make sure that they are not too close to anything, it is sort of a fire hazard. Other than that you can buy climate control, heaters, and ground heating pads. I don’t recommend lava rocks because they overheat easily and can burn your snake, and its a fire hazard. No special vitamin light bulbs is necessary. your local pet shop will tell you anything just to make a sell, i know mine did. |
Caging Provided: | I bought my snake a 175 gallon terrarium. that lasted a few years then i had to get a bigger one. Always provide several hiding spots for your cage or they will get stressed out. As they grow, the length of the cage should Be at least 1/2 the size of the snake. the width needs to be the same too if you really want a happy snake. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | As a baby, retics are large enough to eat medium and medium adult mice. as they mature they will gradually eat bigger and bigger food. In there entire life, there will probably eat mice, rats, birds, and large adults will eat small pigs. You will have to expect some price food if you purchase one. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | I use 2 different supplements on my snakes, because i have to order frozen mice. Frozen mice aren’t allways that healthy, so i boost them with vitamins, 1 has the vitamins in it and the other protects against vitamin A poisoning. Your snake will do just fine without it though. |
Maintenance: | You need to keep your reticulated pythons cage clean at all times. you can use pretty much any substrate, but no matter what kind it is it requires constant cleaning. Feces and skin is the main thing, allways watch for that. Your substrate can last for 3 months if you watch for feces and anything that is not healthy for your snake. even if you clean up the feces, urine is absorbed by the substrate. Water needs to be changed daily, to keep it fresh and healthy. do not let algae or anything form in the water dish. If you mist the cage, watch out for mold. |
Some Words on this Species: | OK, when you buy this snake, be very cautious. You must realize that this particular snake holds the world record for length.They can grow 6-8’ a year! As adults, they are very large and powerful, and they absolutely demand respect. They are very snappy, especially when your trying to pick them up out of their cage. with lots of handling, they will become tame and gentle giants. As you get used to your snake you will learn what it likes and dislikes. You will learn your snakes personality left and right over time. |
How Members Rated
This Care Sheet | Rate This Care Sheet
Please keep all comments constructive to (python reticulatus)reticulated python husbandry methods and care. Any degrading, sarcastic, or disrespectful comments will be removed. |
Total Members Rating: 6
| 1 |  ( 0 ) |
| 2 |  ( 0 ) |
| 3 | ( 2 ) |
| 4 | ( 2 ) |
| 5 | ( 2 ) |
|
|
