Burmese Python

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

A room-sized snake with a legal fence around it

Burmese pythons, Python bivittatus, are among the largest snakes in captivity. A typical adult is 12 to 18 feet, they can live 20 to 30 years, and care is expert. An adult female is a heavy, strong animal that eats rabbits and needs more than a bedroom closet. The 8 by 4 by 4 foot minimum is a juvenile description. The adult needs a room built as a cage, with a thermostat you can trust and a door that locks from the outside.

In the United States they are injurious wildlife. 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 ban moving them between states in the lower 48. States and cities still add their own possession bans. A cheap hatchling at a show can be an animal you cannot legally keep where you live. That trap is how large pythons get dumped, including into the Everglades.

Heat, food, and a second person

They need about 78 to 90°F and humidity around 60 percent. Large rats and rabbits are the adult diet. Feed in a way that does not teach the snake that a person is the prey item. Two adults should be present to handle a large Burmese. A bite or a wrap from an animal this size is an emergency, not a story.

Respiratory infections and inclusion body disease are reasons to have a reptile vet before you need one. ARAV is the directory. This species is a poor choice for almost every private home.

Burmese python questions

Are Burmese pythons legal in the United States?

Import into the United States is still banned, 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 ban transport between states in the lower 48. State and city possession rules still vary. Check before you believe a seller.

How big do they get?

Length runs 12 to 18 feet. Females are often the giants. A hatchling is not a preview of the adult or of the room it will need.

Are they safe because they seem calm?

They are often called docile, and they are still powerful. Calm is not harmless. Adults have killed keepers. Never handle a large Burmese alone, and never put one around a neck.