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Federal restrictions apply In-depth sheet

Burmese python

Python bivittatus

Reptiles › Snakes (Serpentes) › Pythonidae (Pythons)

Burmese pythons are massive, heavy-bodied constrictors. Captive-bred Burms are often calm, but even a gentle adult is powerful enough to be dangerous, and they need large enclosures and experienced keepers.

Pet trade
Experience: Expert / facility
Burmese python
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Adult length10–22 ft (avg ~16)
Lifespan20–25+ years
ActiveNight
DietWhole prey

Warnings

Federal legal status: Federal restrictions apply. See the federal legal snapshot and check your state rules before getting one.

Care guide

Enclosure

  • Same sizing rule as other giants: length equal to the snake, width half, height as tall as practical. A 16 ft python needs about 128 sq ft of floor space.
  • Good ventilation, a hide and sturdy climbing branches.

Sources 1718

Climate

  • Warm side 80–88°F with a 90–92°F basking area, and humidity around 60%.
  • Too much humidity without ventilation can lead to respiratory infections.

Sources 17

Feeding

  • Hatchlings every 1–2 weeks, juveniles every 2–3 weeks, young adults every 3–4 weeks, adults every 4–6 weeks.
  • Obesity is the most common problem in captive Burms.

Sources 17

Handling & safety

  • Two-person rule for snakes 10 ft and up. Never lift by the tail; support the body with both hands.

Sources 17

Show the group care guide for giant constrictors
Group care guide

Giant constrictors

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Tropical forests, wetlands and savannas. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

  • Room-sized or custom enclosures: plan for an adult that may exceed 12–20 ft and 100+ lb.
  • Large, filtered or frequently changed water features for anacondas; heavy, chew-proof hides and locks for all.
  • Plan for the full adult size before buying a baby.

Sources 113114

Climate & lighting

Warm side / daytime86–92°F
Cool side78–82°F
Night75–80°F
Humidity60–80%

Sources 113114

Diet

  • Large rodents, rabbits and poultry; adults may eat every 3–6 weeks.
  • Use feeding tongs or a hook to separate feeding from handling.

Sources 113114

Social life

  • Solitary.

Sources 113114

Handling

  • Never handle a giant constrictor alone; one person per 4–5 ft of snake is a common safety rule.

Sources 113114

Health watch

  • Obesity, respiratory infections and blister disease from dirty, wet conditions.
  • Bites from large constrictors need medical attention.

Sources 113114

Understanding the animal

In the wild

In the wild

Researched for this exact species, not its family. Good care copies these conditions.123456

Where it livesSouthern and Southeast Asian rainforests, grasslands, marshes, swamps and rocky foothills. It is frequently associated with water and wetlands, including agricultural landscapes with abundant prey.
Ground it lives onForest floor, grass-covered soil and wetland margins; exact preferred soil texture is undocumented in the sources used.
Water it lives inUses freshwater wetlands, marshes and swamps, including standing and slowly moving water. Species-specific water chemistry and wild water-temperature ranges were not established.
ActivePrimarily nocturnal, with daytime basking also documented.
Social lifeSolitary except for mating.
Wild dietMammals, birds and reptiles; agricultural prey includes domestic fowl and pigs. In introduced Florida populations, documented bird prey includes wrens, ibis and herons.
Behavior to plan forA large, nonvenomous constrictor that swallows prey whole. Females remain coiled around their eggs and generate additional warmth through muscle contractions.

What this means for care

  • Plan floor space, barriers and fixtures for the full adult's length and strength.
  • Include a substantial clean soaking area reflecting its wetland association.
  • Provide basking access and retreat options for digestion and thermoregulation.
  1. Smithsonian's National Zoo: Burmese python
  2. Smithsonian: Scientists Find That Non-native Snakes Are Taking a Toll on Native Birds
  3. IUCN Red List: Python bivittatus, habitat and ecology
  4. Cleveland Zoological Society: Species Spotlight, Burmese Python
  5. The Reptile Database: Python bivittatus
  6. Burmese Python Care Sheet
Native climate (measured)

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highsabout 91°F (up to 91°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lowsabout 57°F (down to 54°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature74–76°F across sampled records
Relative humidity72–74% on average (driest month about 69%)
Rainfallabout 1346 mm a year

Measured at 41 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

Profile

Profile

Researched for this exact species. Sources are listed under In the wild above.

History

Python bivittatus has historically been treated as a subspecies of Python molurus but is recognized as a separate species in the supplied taxonomic source. Its taxonomic distinction has been discussed partly in relation to characters such as the presence of subocular scales, despite the ability of related forms to interbreed in captivity.

Keeper tips

  • Plan for the space requirements of a giant snake before acquiring one.
  • Provide meaningful enrichment rather than keeping the animal in an enclosure sized only for basic containment.
  • Use appropriate safe-handling precautions for a very large constrictor.

Behaviors reported

  • Evidence has been published indicating that the species may be capable of parthenogenesis.
  • Python bivittatus readily interbreeds with closely related pythons in captivity.

Unique adaptations

  • Heat pits are present on the snout and lips.
  • The species has smooth scales.
  • The pupils are vertical.
  • The head bears a distinctive arrow-shaped marking.
  • Its body is proportionally thick, with greater girth than the reticulated python as described in the diagnostic source.

Remarkable facts

  • The Burmese python is a giant, thick-bodied constrictor.
  • Wild-type animals generally have brown blotches with dark outlines on a beige to golden background.
  • Numerous color and pattern morphs have been produced in captivity.
  • The species was formerly treated as a subspecies of Python molurus.
  • Evidence has been presented that Python bivittatus may reproduce parthenogenetically.
  • Captive hybridization with Python sebae has been documented.

Stories

  • Researchers cited by The Reptile Database reported evidence suggesting that Burmese pythons may be capable of parthenogenesis.
  • A documented captive cross between Python bivittatus and Python sebae produced offspring whose scale arrangement did not simply match either parent's diagnostic condition.
From the sources

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

OverviewThe Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is one of the largest species of snakes. It is native to a large area of Southeast Asia and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Until 2009, it was considered a subspecies of the Indian python, but is now recognized as a distinct species. It is an invasive species in Florida as a result of the pet trade. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it livesRange: SE Nepal, India (Assam, Tripura, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh [A. Captain, pers. Comm.], Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland), S Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam (Hoa Binh), S China (S Yunnan east to Fujian, incl. Hainan and Hong Kong; Sichuan, Guangxi, Guangdong), Indonesia (Java, Bali, Sulawesi). — The Reptile Database
BehaviorBurmese pythons are mainly nocturnal rainforest dwellers. When young, they are equally at home on the ground and in trees, but as they gain girth, they tend to restrict most of their movements to the ground. They are also excellent swimmers, being able to stay submerged for up to half an hour. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
ReproductionGROOT et al. (2003) and KUHN & SCHMIDT (2003) presented evidence that this species may be parthenogenetic. — The Reptile Database
Appearance and sizeDiagnosis: Large serpents; labials separated from eye by sub-oculars; arrow-shaped mark on head distinct; girth proportionally greater than in reticulatus. (Taylor 1965: 666). — The Reptile Database
History and namingThe species epithet, bivittatus, comes from Latin (bi- "two + vittatus "ribbon or decorated with ribbon").It might be a reference to the color pattern of the species. — The Reptile Database

Data and studies

The numbers

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Basking spot

Average of sources90.5–92.5°F
ReptiFiles 1790–92
Reptiles Magazine 1891–93

Reptiles Magazine suggests a basking spot 5–7°F above an 86°F day temperature.

Night temperature

Average of sources79–81°F
ReptiFiles 1778–82
Reptiles Magazine 1880

Maximum recorded lifespan

Reported34.2years
Myhrvold et al. 16334.2

Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter.

Typical adult weight

Reported37.7lb
Myhrvold et al. 16337.7

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Clutch size

Reported27.5eggs
Myhrvold et al. 16327.5

Average per litter or clutch.

Incubation

Reported64days
Myhrvold et al. 16364

Female maturity

Reported3years
Myhrvold et al. 1633

Cool side

Reported80–88°F
ReptiFiles 16980–88

Species-specific values from keeper care sheets. Basking figures are often surface readings taken with an infrared thermometer, which run hotter than air.

Night temperature

Reported78–82°F
ReptiFiles 16978–82

Species-specific values from keeper care sheets. Basking figures are often surface readings taken with an infrared thermometer, which run hotter than air.

Care articles for this species

Care articles for this species

Written by keepers, breeders and vets 168169

Veterinary & husbandry research

Veterinary & husbandry research

Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 13 on PubMed → 170

Sources for this sheet

  1. ReptiFiles: Burmese python care Experienced keeper or breederWell-researched care guide citing literature and experienced keepers.
  2. Reptiles Magazine: Burmese python Experienced keeper or breederLong-established reptile hobby publication; this entry is brief and general.
  3. Clint's Reptiles (YouTube): Burmese Python, The Best Pet Snake? Expert educator & keeperClint Laidlaw, PhD in Biology Education and MS in Evolutionary Ecology; owner of Clint's Reptile Room and a longtime keeper. Rates each species on handleability, care, hardiness, availability and upfront cost.
  4. Myhrvold et al. (2015). An amniote life-history database. Ecology 96: 3109 Peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed compilation of life-history data for over 21,000 birds, mammals and reptiles.
  5. ReptiFiles (care guides) Experienced keeper or breederWell-researched reptile care guides that cite herpetological literature and experienced keepers.
  6. 50 CFR Part 16: Injurious wildlife (Lacey Act) Zoo, university or veterinaryCurrent federal regulation, read from eCFR.
  7. U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers v. Zinke (D.C. Cir. 2017) Zoo, university or veterinaryAppeals ruling that the Lacey Act's shipping ban does not cover moves between the continental states.
  8. Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and the CITES Secretariat) Zoo, university or veterinaryThe official database of species listed under CITES.
  9. USFWS International Affairs: CITES Zoo, university or veterinaryFederal agency that issues CITES permits.
  10. Merck Veterinary Manual: Management and husbandry of reptiles Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
  11. Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional, metabolic and endocrine diseases of reptiles Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
  12. Clint's Reptiles (YouTube): Burmese Python, The Best Pet Snake? Expert educator & keeperClint Laidlaw, PhD in Biology Education and MS in Evolutionary Ecology; owner of Clint's Reptile Room and a longtime keeper. His "Best Pet?" series reviews each species' care in depth.
  13. The Reptile Database Peer-reviewed researchScientist-curated catalog of every reptile species, with taxonomy and literature.
  14. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
  15. Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
  16. PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
  17. iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
  18. Reptiles Magazine (care articles) Experienced keeper or breederEstablished reptile and amphibian hobby magazine; care articles are written by breeders, keepers and veterinarians.

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