Python bivittatus (Tiger python)

Age: Around 25 years old
Origin: Southeast Asia
Length: 3 to 5 meters

Care
Experience: Advanced snake keeper
Food: Live or dead prey
Feed adult: Every 7 to 14 days
Feed young: 3 times a week
Water bowl: Yes
Water change: 3 times a week

Power supply
There is the choice to offer the prey alive or dead. It is advisable to offer dead food. This is more practical and prevents the food animal from injuring your snake. In addition, it is advised to offer the food animal with feeding tongs and to feed your snake outside the enclosure. This ensures that your hand is not associated with food and prevents your snake from reaching for your hand during feeding. If you do go for live food, you must supervise during feeding. The prey animal can also injure the snake. Feed the python separately, because when two snakes take the same prey they can injure each other and sometimes even eat each other. The ideal prey is about as wide as the widest part of the snake.

Water
The Tiger Python, like other Pythons, is a real lover of water. In addition to drinking it, they also bathe in it. The water bowl must therefore be large enough for the snake to bathe with its entire body. This bathing can cause the water to become dirty, so it is not a problem if the water is changed more than 3 times a week.

Cleaning
To prevent diseases and bacteria accumulation, the accommodation must be kept clean. This can be done weekly, in addition, it is wise to thoroughly clean and disinfect the accommodation a few times a year. This prevents the build-up of bacteria. When cleaning, make sure you also clean the climbing branches and elevations.

Handling
When the animal is handled regularly, the animal will become calmer through habituation. Given the size of this species, it is wise not to handle individuals longer than 2.5 meters on your own. Handle the hose with a hose hook or lift it with two hands. Do not hang your hose around your neck, because if the hose falls it will clamp itself around your neck. In addition, there are some important things to pay attention to when handling a reticulated python. First, make sure that your snake understands that you are going to handle it and move slowly when handling it. Also make sure your hands are washed and don't smell like food. Finally, do not handle your snake when it is shedding and do not handle it in the dark.

Housing
Minimum size enclosure for 1 snake: 3x1x1 meter
Lying area: 0.75m2 with at least one raised lying shelf per snake on which the snake can lie.
Day temperature: 27-35 degrees Celsius
Night temperature: 25-28 degrees Celsius
Hours of light: 12 hours a day
Humidity Level: 65-80%
Soil cover: Bark, peat litter or coco peat

Design
Climbing branches are appreciated in the enclosure, and they also like to have a lying board at a height. It is also important that the animal can always hide, so make sure that there is a hiding place that the animal fits in as a whole. Furthermore, a large water area is needed where the python can lie in its entirety to bathe.

Behaviour
Hunting method: Strangler snake
Lifestyle: semi-aboreal and nocturnal

Character
Calm animals that are usually in a good mood. This makes them easy to handle and great pets. Juveniles can be defensive.

Points of attention
The Tiger Python is a constrictor snake and can eat prey larger than its head. Therefore, keep in mind that you do not leave him alone with small children or pets. This is because he can also see them as prey.

Cost and Purchase
Legislation: This species falls under CITES II, to own this snake you need CITES or transfer papers. You should get this with the purchase
One-off costs: This includes the costs for accommodation, lighting, heating, water bowl and decoration. This can cost a few hundred euros to a few thousand euros in total. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.
Fixed costs: Fixed costs include the costs for the feed, which is a few tens of euros per year.
Unexpected costs: Costs are incurred when your snake happens to get sick or your equipment breaks down.