Reticulated Python - World's Longest Snake

Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) is the longest snake in the world, and among three Old World Pythons. It is relatively slender and characterized by an attractive pattern - diamond-shaped outline highlighted by white spots with light brown background. They are native throughout coastal Southeast Asia, from Myanmar to Nicobar Island, east of Peninsular Malaysia, Vietnam and most of the islands of the Indonesia and Philippines.

The reticulated python can be found in variety of habitats, including open woodlands, dense forest, rocky areas, lakes, rivers and swamps. This species is rarely found far away from water bodies. They are excellent swimmers and rarely attack humans. The snake can attain considerable size, some adult specimens are measured to be about 28 feet long, making it the world's longest snake and reptile. However, the average length of a reticulated python is about 10-20 feet.

Description
The longest snake in the world, the reticulated python has a very slim build. They are not as heavily built as the anaconda. One of the longest snake to be measured was a female reticulated python residing in the Pittsburg Zoo & PPG Aquarium. She was about 28.5 feet in length. These snakes have a complex geometric pattern. These patterns are mostly irregular diamond-shaped on the back with smaller markings. They have many variations in color, size and markings. This is called disruptive coloration, that helps them camouflage themselves and catch prey in the jungle.

Variations in Reticulated Python
This species has wide variations due to hybridization in captivity. Two wild subspecies are Python reticulatus saputrai (Selayer retics) and Python reticulatus jampeanus (Jampea retics). Current variations due to breeding in captive includes, super tiger, tiger, albino (dark lavender, lavender, white, and purple phase), genetic stripe, albino super tiger, albino tiger, golden child, sunfire (this morph may be soon renamed), ivory/white flame, calico, and several others. These snakes have the ability to transform its shades and intensity of the colors. Eye is normally of orange color.

Behavior
It has been reported that the temperament of this species varies according to different geographical areas. For example, the reticulated python of the Lesser Sundas Islands of Indonesia and central Thailand are more docile and calm snakes in captivity, than in other areas, like the reticulated pythons of Sulawesi Islands of Indonesia are typically irritable and defensive.

These pythons normally resides in humid forest with temperatures ranging from 80-92 ºF. Due to excessive dependence on water these snakes are often found besides small ponds and streams. They avoid daylight. Distinguishes its prey by their movement and odor. They have heat sensing pits, that is, small rectangular openings in the scales on its lips which help them to sense the warmth of its prey.

Diet
The snake is carnivorous in its food habits. Due to large size the reticulated pythons have built-in capacity to devour large variety of prey. Warm blooded creatures like waterfowl, nesting birds and small to medium animals; also pigs, dogs, goats, large deer and occasionally human being are included in its diet. However, it depends on the size of the snake while eating the size of the prey.

In captive, hatchlings should be given rat pups and small mice, with their growth lager rats should be offered. Other to it, hatchlings should be fed in short intervals, that is, seven days could be ideal. One full diet for adult can be ample for 3-4 weeks. But, egg-laying female's diet should be double to its normal amount.

Breeding
Reticulated male pythons breed when they are about 7' to 9' in length and 18 months in age. In case of females, they breed at 12' in length and about 3 years of age . In captivity these snakes breed between September to March. Like all snakes, the female reticulated python lays eggs and wrap their powerful bodies around them for two or more months; this is known as brooding and it prevents the eggs from getting too cool or too warm. The female python alternatively contracts and relaxes her muscles and "shivers" to raise temperature of the eggs as well as her body.

The eggs are yellowish or white, shiny, soft and sticky which allows sticking together and prevents from drying out. The eggs measures 10-13 cm (4-5 in) in length. Clutch size can be between 25-100 eggs, and once they hatched they are abandoned.

Housing
The popularity of reticulated pythons has increased due the pet trade largely for skin, meat, and parts for folk medicine. Apart from it, due to easy feasibility of mutation in captivity it has added to attraction. This snake is extremely rewarding captive, but the owner should have previous experience of handling such a large pythons. This is necessary for both the animal and the keeper.

Inexperienced keeper may enable the python escape, which could inflict injury to the keeper, neighbor or other pets. By nature they do not attack humans, but may constrict or bite if mistaken a hand for food or feel threatened. Although, they don't have venom, but can seriously bite and some time large python may even kill.

So, it is recommended that if you decide to have a large snake as a pet, you should be very careful about its enclosure. Try to provide natural surrounding and never use sticky tape in an enclosure or it may cause injury to the snake. Always feed with one more person so any sudden accident could be avoided.