Burmese pythons are native to Asia, though they are seldom imported, because it is more cost effective to breed them in captivity.  They are a large snake, often exceeding 15 feet, and over 150 pounds.  Because of this, they are not a beginners' snake.  An animal over ten feet long is lethal, and deaths have been reported.  They are popular however, and the color and pattern mutations available make them impressive, attractive animals.

People generally buy Burmese pythons when they are hatchlings.  They are about 14 inches long when hatched, and seem to be a snake that is easily managed. They are generally good feeders, and can usually be converted to dead rats almost immediately.  They may or may not go off feed in the winter, so it is best to offer them food throughout the year.  As they grow, they will require larger prey.  Big Burmese will need rabbits or goats on a regular basis.

They require a setup similar to most other pythons.  They will require an escape-proof cage with a temperature gradient.  They will do well if the temperature at the warm end of the cage is 85-88F during the day.  The cage may be cooled in the evening.  Heat can be provided from above with heat lamps or from below with a heat pad.  Do not use a hot rock for heating, as they are generally too small to do much good, and will only succeed in burning the snake.

Burmese pythons grow quickly, and will soon outgrow their cages.  A way to keep from buying cages as often is to buy a large cage, and section off part of it until the python grows into it.  Unlike ball pythons which like to feel confined, you may use a larger cage for a Burmese.  Be sure that it is not so large that the animal cannot find food items. Be sure that a large cage has adequate heat.

To aid in cleanup, there should be a generous amount of substrate on the bottom of the cage.  You may use newspaper when the animals are small, but a big Burmese will do best on a thick layer of cypress mulch or other loose substrate.  It will also make cleanup much easier, as you can spot clean between the major cage cleanings.

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