Reticulated Python

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

The longest snake people try to keep

Reticulated pythons, Malayopython reticulatus, are the length record holders in the pet trade. Mainland animals are often 10 to 20 feet or more. That length comes with a 15 to 25 year lifespan, and the care is expert. Island localities sold as dwarfs or super dwarfs stay shorter and are still powerful constrictors. A seller who will not name the locality is selling you a surprise.

They are injurious wildlife under US federal rules, in the same large-constrictor category as Burmese pythons. Import is still illegal, and so is shipping them to Hawaii, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territories. After USARK v. Zinke in 2017, federal law does not forbid transport between states in the lower 48. Some states ban keeping them at all. A cage of 8 by 4 by 4 feet is not an adult mainland cage. An adult needs a locked room, a temperature gradient of about 78 to 92°F, and humidity around 60 to 70 percent.

Intelligence cuts both ways

Retics learn routines. They also learn that the cage door means food. That is the unpredictable part. Feed with a plan, tongs, and your hands out of the way. Never alone with a large adult. Never around the neck. Large prey is the diet. A rabbit-sized meal is a housing and a safety problem of its own.

Have a reptile vet before the animal is huge. ARAV lists clinics. This is not a display animal for a first house.

Reticulated python questions

What does dwarf reticulated python mean?

Island and super-dwarf localities stay smaller than mainland retics, which often pass 15 feet and can pass 20. Dwarf is still a large, strong snake. Ask which locality the parents were.

Are reticulated pythons legal to transport?

Import is still banned, and so is shipment to Hawaii, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territories. After USARK v. Zinke in 2017, federal law does not ban transport between states in the lower 48. Possession rules still vary by state and city.

Are they predictable pets?

They are intelligent and sometimes unpredictable. A calm juvenile can be a dangerous adult. Expert care includes a second handler and a cage you cannot improvise.