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rodents.

A well fed healthy rodent is an excellent source of nutrition for pythons in captivity. Contrary to many myths, snakes do not need to be fed live food. Most snakes, pythons in particular, will readily accept dead food items. All forms of python food are available frozen. Just thaw as necessary and your pet python is happy as a clam in sand. Do NOT feed your python frozen or cold food.

Smaller pythons will generally need to eat more often than larger pythons. A weekly feeding is adequate for pythons under six feet in length, bi-weekly for those six to ten feet in length and bi-weekly to monthly for those over ten feet. This is a VERY general guideline. Your individual snake may not want follow it. It doesn't take long to figure out when your snake is hungry. Once you know, you can set up a regular schedule.

A few species of pythons should not be kept by beginners. Aggressive species such as the Scrub and Rock pythons are not only large, but known to bite. Green tree pythons are difficult to keep because of their environmental needs; temperature and humidity need to be artificially maintained. Reticulated and Burmese pythons get huge, ten to twelve feet, in a relatively short time, occasionally in less than one year from hatching. Little 8 year old Billy may have a bit too much snake a bit too quickly with one of these. Blood pythons are beautiful. Blood pythons are also somewhat unpredictable as far as temperament. None of the mentioned species are recommended for beginners.

Ball, also known as Royal, pythons are excellent beginner snakes. They are easy to keep, don't get too large, a six footer is rare, and are known for being tame. Childrens pythons and Spotted pythons are also small, though not as well tempered as the Ball pythons. Carpet pythons can reach the ten foot range in length but being a semi-arboreal snake are also good starters. Ball pythons are highly recommended for those wanting to experience snake keeping personally.

If you can house and feed a large snake, both the Burmese python and the Reticulated python are easy to keep and do not generally mind being handled. These two are the true giants of the Python world easily reaching lengths of twenty feet and weighing over 200lbs. Plan ahead if this is the snake for you.

Pythons have personalities. It may not be easy to see, since they are not mammals and have none of the body language that we are used to associating with certain behaviors, but they definitely have minds of their own. Small minds, but minds none the less.

Learn more about this author, Wes Pollock.
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