“A tame tiger python will not attack its owner”

The tiger python is a non-venomous snake of a very beautiful coloring. Our python is already an adult, its length is about 3-4 meters. As a rule, in captivity, pythons do not grow longer than 5 meters. Our python works in the circus and lives at my house. 

In the photo: tiger python

Why snakes?

I love different animals very much, and I have a lot of different living creatures. So the tiger python has become another addition to the home and work zoo.

Isn’t it scary to deal with python?

Our tiger python is handmade. If pythons are taken from a very young age (up to 6 months – at this age their length does not exceed 1 meter), they, like any other animals, get used to the owner and will never attack him. As a rule, tiger pythons have a very good, docile nature.

But all the same, you need to handle the tiger python carefully, make sure that it does not crawl out of the terrarium, does not climb anywhere, because if the python hides, for example, under a sofa, it can die from hypothermia.

Are pythons trained or just taught to behave calmly?

Pythons are simply tamed – that’s all. It is easy to tame a python. If you buy him small, take him in your arms for a week and let him crawl on you, nothing else is needed.

In the photo: tiger python

The main thing is to make sure that the python does not twist into a spring. If the python begins to curl up into a spring, then a throw will follow. In this case, you need to immediately grab him by the neck.

From experience: Once I was bitten by a python, left a scar. The python was still small, and when I threw a mouse at him, I did not have time to withdraw my hand in time. Pythons have hooked teeth like fishhooks so they can cling to prey. To get rid of their teeth, there is a special technique: if you press the python on the ears, it opens its mouth. 

It’s hard to know if a python understands you. But I can say for sure that they do not respond to the name. We named our python Pharaoh purely symbolically.

The python treats both the owner and strangers equally. The main thing is to accustom him to a person in principle. But if you have a baby at home, you need to be careful – a python can consider a very small child as potential food.

One of my friends was given a python. She talked to him all the time, slept in an embrace, allowed him to crawl around the house. But one day the girl noticed that the python began to lose weight. She turned to the veterinarian, who turned out to be literate and asked if the python was sleeping in bed. And, having received an affirmative answer, he stunned the unlucky python owner with the news that the pet was going to … eat her! Like, he loses weight, then to get enough of a person. After that, the python settled in the terrarium and began to gain weight again.

Is it true that snakes are deaf?

Most likely, snakes do not react to sounds, but to vibration.

In the photo: tiger python

How to feed a tiger python?

We feed the python 1 time in 2 – 3 weeks with a medium or large rabbit. If the rabbit is too small, the python will not eat it – it will expend more energy during the throw than it receives.

From experience: Be sure to give the python a live rabbit, because it is a predator, and he will not eat if the victim was killed by someone before him. The python needs to make a sharp throw, strangle the prey, and only then eat. 

The python swallows the rabbit whole, then digests it for 2-3 weeks, remaining full all this time. He digests everything, including bones and wool.

When the food is finished digesting, the python molts. The scales at this time become cloudy. Preparation for molting begins 3-4 days in advance, and the molting itself takes about 1 hour more. We put the python in the bath, he molts there, and after that he is ready to eat again, becomes hungry and aggressive. Therefore, before working with a python, it must be fed.

Python can eat not only rabbits, but also large rats, guinea pigs, chickens, etc.

Is it true that the python hypnotizes the rabbit?

Yes, when a python crawls up to a rabbit, it looks into its eyes. The rabbit at this time stands motionless.

How to care for a tiger python?

Tiger python care is not difficult.

You will need a terrarium. The length of the terrarium should be equal to the length of the python, the height should be at least 70 cm, and the width should also be about 70 cm.

We use newspapers as bedding.

The temperature in the terrarium should be at least +23 degrees.

It is important that the terrarium has a deep pan (preferably plastic) with water so that the python can go to the toilet and bathe there.

It would be nice to equip the python terrarium with a snag or a tree so that the snake has the opportunity to crawl and wrap itself around the tree.

From experience: Be sure to give the python the opportunity to bask in the sun. I live in a private house and sometimes I let my python crawl through the grass – he will not run away. 

The length of daylight hours for a tiger python is not critical, but the more sunlight, the better. Artificial lighting is not suitable for them.

How to tell a male tiger python from a female?

Male and female tiger python differ only in size. There are no other differences between them. And no matter who you take – a male or a female, they are the same in character and care.

What diseases are python prone to?

Our previous python died from stomatitis. A rabbit or a rat scratched him, an infection began, and it was not possible to save him.

Unfortunately, snake veterinarians are hard to find.

How long do tiger pythons live?

The average lifespan of a tiger python is about 15 years. A python at the age of 10 – 12 years old is already considered old.

Who would like a python as a pet?

Python is suitable for absolutely anyone, regardless of lifestyle. You can even go on a business trip for 3 weeks, leaving your pet alone. The main thing is to provide the python with enough water.