The reticulated python is a snake that claims to be the largest reptile. Its maximum documented length to date is 7.5 m. The python is a non-poisonous animal that is often kept in pet terrariums and displayed at exotic exhibitions.
Appearance
The body of a python is decorated with complex patterns consisting of a chain of light triangular and diamond-shaped spots on a basic black, orange, brown or yellow background. As a rule, the head is lighter than the body and may have a golden color. The scales are characterized by a rainbow tint.
Pythons have a very thin but extremely muscular body. When in a relaxed state, they remain round and tall, and do not float on the surface like other giant snakes.
Reticulated Python Sizes
There are many stories about the length and mass of the reptile, but many of them have no visual evidence. A significant number of wild representatives of this species, measured in Flores and Sumatra, reached 6 m and weighed no more than 75 kg. Found in Indonesiaone of the largest reticulated pythons. A photo of the animal is located below. The weight of the reptile was 59 kg, length - 6.95 m. At the same time, the individual remained hungry for three months.
There is a direct relationship between the size of a reptile and its habitat. Pythons that inhabit the mainland are larger than those living on small islands. The largest reptile that was brought from Borneo lived in the New York Zoo. The length of a female named Samantha, who passed away in 2002, was 7.5 m. As for age, today the first documented record holder is the python Grid, which was in the zoo of the city of Nikolaev (Ukraine). The reptile lived for 23 years (June 1990 - August 2013). The animal died from intestinal coprostasis.
Habit and lifestyle
The reticulated python is a widespread snake in east and south Asia. Also, representatives of the species can be found in Thailand, Singapore, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Burma and other countries. Pythons live in woodlands, tropical forests and on mountain slopes. These snakes lead a terrestrial lifestyle, but they can also move through trees. In the mountains of the island of Java, a python was found at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level.
Snakes congregate along riverbanks and any other wet places. The species has the ability to move quite quickly in the water, due to which it sometimes swims into the open sea. At night, individuals stay in search of food, and during the day they rest in shelters (tofor example, in a cave).
Wild pythons eat vertebrates (monkeys, rodents, civet and birds). It often feeds on dogs, pigs and goats, whose weight does not exceed 15 kg. In caves, bats become prey for snakes, which they catch in flight, clinging to uneven walls with their tails.
Despite the absence of poison, aggressive pythons can attack a person, considering him as food. For adults, they practically do not pose any danger, because they understand that they will not be able to swallow such a large prey. Individuals of this species pose a threat to he alth and even life to children and adolescents.
Propagation of reticulated pythons
These reptiles become sexually mature about a year and a half after hatching. Females molt two weeks after ovulation. The laying process lasts a little over a month (38 days on average). The minimum quantity is about 10 eggs, the maximum is 100 pieces. Offspring are born at an optimum air temperature of 31-32 ° C. After laying, the female curls up around the eggs, thereby warming and protecting future pythons from predators. At hatching, the body length of the reptile is approximately 60 cm.
Several new color morphs of the python have been bred through breeding. In captivity, the breeding process usually begins in November and ends in March. At this time, reptiles do not eat. In a terrarium, sexual behavior is stimulated by spraying the body, as well as reducing the duration of daylight hours (up to 8 hours)and night air temperature (up to 23 °C).
Natural enemies
The most dangerous for the reticulated python are gharial, Siamese and combed crocodiles. They are able to eat a snake of any size. Young pythons are exterminated by small predators, including striped monitor lizards and feral dogs.
Man is no less a threat to the number of reptiles. For the inhabitants of Southeast Asia, catching large snakes is a traditional trade. The meat is used in cooking, and the skin is used in haberdashery.
Basic rules for captivity
Quality care makes the reticulated python, the photo of which is located below, a majestic and tame animal. Since snakes of this species drink a lot, at any time they should be able to quench their thirst. The size of the drinker depends on the desire of the owner, but it is worth remembering that if the container is large, then the python will eventually begin to bathe in it. Many reptiles defecate into the water from time to time, so a careful owner should frequently disinfect the pool.
Young reticulated python feeds on small rats and adult mice. Portions of food consumed increase as the reptile grows older. When a python reaches one meter in length, it can eat a large rat. During the day after the meal, it is advisable to leave the animal alone so that it does not burp food. Prey must be served inanimate. The frequency of feeding should not exceed once every 10 days. This is especially true for young individuals. Frequent feeding (1-2 times a week) provokes rapid growth.
It is dangerous to touch a python after the owner has held its potential prey in the hands, as the owner risks being mistaken for food. Over time, dead food objects should sometimes be hidden in a terrarium. This will soften the hunting instinct of the snake. Pythons, whose body has reached three meters, must be fed with large animals (for example, rabbits).
Terrarium setup
The pet's home should be cleaned as needed (meaning the removal of urine, feces and uneaten food). It is enough to carry out one general cleaning per month. The surfaces of the terrarium must be treated with a 5% bleach solution with the addition of chlorine. The most important accessory that will make the prudent python happy are two hiding places in opposite corners.
Melamine shelving and plastic containers for clothes are suitable as housing. You can also always purchase a special terrarium for large snakes. In this case, it is desirable that the container is plastic. The optimum air temperature for the reticulated python is about 32 ° C with a humidity of at least 50 and not more than 60%. If you plan to use artificial lighting, then you should remember that the animal should spend half the day in twilight.
