Pet Pythons:
What Will You Need?

Pythons are some of the most impressive animals you can own. They are strong, sleek and generally owner friendly.

As always, it's worth looking at the facts before diving in.

General Behaviour

These snakes are generally nocturnal, meaning they sleep in the daytime and move around at night.

They are all carnivores, which means you will need to feed prey items to your pet python. These are typically mice in various stages of growth or rats. In the US gerbils (another type of small rodent) may be readily available from pet stores.

Prey items can be fed live, freshly killed or thawed and warmed up. If you're considering this type of snake as a pet, you'll need to be prepared for many years of dealing with the prey animals.

Cage Requirements

These snakes must be kept in cages. Any idea to the contrary is just fiction. The cages need to be secure, as all of them are good climbers and also good escape artists. In addition to general security, cages will more or less require the following items:

* a water bowl; this regultes humidity and provides a bathing area. If covered with a lid with a hole in it, this dish can double as a hide.
* a thermal gradient. The tank needs to offer a variety of temperatures and humidity levels. These are called microclimates, simply meaning "very small climates".
* a light cycle. In order to get the right amount of rest and activity, they need the right day / night cycle provided to them. Luckily setting this up is a fairly simple affair.
* Hides. These are hidey holes that the snake can retreat into if it chooses. These will help the snake feel more comfortable and less stressed. At least one hide should be humid.
* Climbing Opportunities. These snakes love to climb. By providing them with tree branches or an artificial equivalent, you will be doing the right thing for your pet.
* Hemostats. These are tongs specially designed for removing snakes from their cages. Unless you want to risk the snake thinking your hand is either a prey item or a threat, this tool is a must.

Good Pet Species

Some pythons make better pets than others. The more docile and easy to handle, the more reward you will get from your pet.

As with all pets, the initial purchase price of the animal is only a tiny fraction of what it will cost in the long run.

Ball Python

This species is a fairly hardy and very decorative snake. It can be found in several different skin patterns and grows no larger than 50 inches (1.3 meters). It is labelled as a good beginner snake, but it still has very specific care requirements in order to thrive.