White-lipped python - a description of where it lives, features

By python is meant a non-toxic snake, which is classified as a scaly family and a class of reptiles. The python received its name in translation from the Greek language, since then the name has not changed. These representatives are distinguished by iridescent scales and a special pattern in the lips. The reptile seems to smile due to the alternation of black and white stripes along the edge of the oral cavity. In today's article, we will study everything regarding this type of snake.

Description

1. Discussed members of the family are considered the most beautiful of their kind. They can be either pure golden or orange with overflows or greenish-gray in color.
2. The format of the body is taut, the snakes are not too thick, but also not thin. Individuals grow to a length of 1.7 m along the body, but representatives are often found much less. Although 2 m pythons were found in the natural environment.
3. The reptiles of the species under discussion are famous for overflows on the body, they are somewhat similar to rainbow pythons. But those are one of a kind, unlike anyone.
4. Black or white tubercles are scattered along the body. The head is delimited from the cervical region, it is purely black or pigmented with a shade close to this color. Snakes look extremely impressive, so they are often kept at home.

Habitat

1. The above breed group of reptiles is more common in African countries and other territories of the Eastern Hemisphere. Representatives of the family are found in Asia, they are found near Laos, Thailand, Pakistan, India, China, etc. It cannot do without island states such as the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, New Guinea or Malaysia.
2. Everyone is well aware that Australia is literally teeming with different creatures. Therefore, it should not be excluded from the list, since pythons live in this territory. Some states of America also include the habitat of these individuals. In particular, we are talking about Florin and various national parks.
3. The discussed group of reptiles prefers to settle near water sources. Pythons live near a mountainous area, but there must necessarily be some kind of reservoir. Some of them climb up 2 km. from sea level, they are found in tropical forests and arid zones. Some individuals prefer a land-based lifestyle, while others hang around trees.

Characteristics

1. A distinctive characteristic of this variety of snakes is that they have a complete set of teeth in their mouth. Despite the fact that the individuals themselves are not too large, their bites are quite powerful and painful. However, they do not tear the skin. Young growth by nature is more calm. But if the goal is to approach an adult, it must be done slowly and calmly.
2. Before you take a python, you need to put on gloves and protect your hands with clothes with long sleeves. If a person tries to grab an individual by the cervical spine, then it will encounter mass resistance. When people try to take an individual with a hook, it jumps to the side. However, some reptiles will prefer to run rather than attack. These pythons have a habit of hiding in a tight ring.
3. Young animals are more tolerant of human manipulation. The adult generation will not tolerate a constant presence on their hands. In the process of how a person tries to get an individual from the terrarium, the snake hisses and kicks in every possible way. But as soon as she is in her arms, calm immediately sets in.These individuals are characterized by the fact that they hiss without reason while in the terrarium.
4. The presented snakes are the most talkative among the like-like. They make a lot of short sounds, thereby showing their friendliness. Of course, the royal representatives of the species can boast of these features, but they are not as sociable as white-lips. In addition, snakes can change in color in just half an hour. They do not become golden, but purple with brown.

House maintenance

1. It is worth noting a very important fact, if you are going to contain the individual in question at home, then a fairly large terrarium will be required for python. For adults, it should have dimensions of about 150x100 cm.
2. In this case, in the terrarium, it is necessary to maintain constant humidity at around 75%. To do this, it is recommended to spray the aquarium every day from a spray gun. Keep in mind that water should not fall on the individual itself. It is best recommended to build a special moisture chamber with wet moss for the snake.
3. The bottom line is that the skin of the reptiles in question is particularly sensitive to both dryness and humidity. Therefore, the skin should not be wet or wrinkled. You can leave the substrate moist, but it must have good properties to restrain high humidity.
4. It is strictly forbidden to use sand and other similar compositions as a substrate. Small particles penetrate the snake under the skin. Soon, this leads to the development of infection. Separately, it is worth mentioning that a rather large water tank should be installed in the terrarium. The snake should fit completely in it.
5. Such conditions are especially important and necessary for python during molting. Keep in mind that such snakes photoperiod lasts about 12 hours throughout the year. At this time, the reptiles in question give preference to warmer corners in the terrarium. Therefore, be sure to protect the lamps so that the python does not burn.
6. It is worth noting that young individuals tend to bury themselves in the ground and turn the tank with water. In the terrarium, the total temperature must be maintained at a level not lower than 26 degrees. In the warmest corner, such indicators should reach about 32-33 degrees. Be sure to keep the terrarium clean, the problem is that these individuals constantly develop fungal skin diseases.

Feeding

1. Often presented reptiles are fed at night. Once a week, a python should be given 1 medium-sized rat. Youngsters, give 2 small mice twice a week. When an individual grows up and is about 1 year old, the number of mice increases to 6 at a time. In most cases, wild snakes adapt to captive conditions for 1 year. Therefore, there will be no problems with nutrition.
2. After the python swallows the victim, after a while he burps the wool. At such a moment, you can see that the python lifts the front of the body along with the head. The snake opens its mouth wide and we can say that it is convulsing. Often all these actions take no more than 1 minute.

Breeding

1. If you are going to breed individuals yourself, it is worth knowing that they reach puberty from 4 to 8 years. In addition, such snakes are quite difficult to breed. Some females never mate at all. Other females simply do not form eggs.
2. Therefore, to find a full-fledged couple that can give offspring is extremely difficult. Pythons can often mate, and the female can even bring eggs, but they are almost never fertilized. In addition, after laying, females often get sick from respiratory ailments. Their immunity is weakened.

Molting

1. Like all reptiles of this kind, pythons also moult.As for the frequency of skin changes, it all depends on what conditions are created for these representatives. For example, young growth changes every 15-30 days. Over the course of life, the number of skin changes decreases to 1 time in 60 days.
2. Initially, the skin begins to slide from the head, then the stocking is pulled from the entire body. If it is surrounded by parts, then individuals rub against driftwood, wanting to alleviate the condition. It is not difficult to catch the approach of molting; skin with eyes becomes cloudy.

It should be immediately said that, despite the distinctive external characteristics and a peaceful look, pythons are not famous for their kindness. They are quite aggressive, do not go away from a fight, do not hide, and without the slightest hesitation throw themselves into the attack. To date, these reptiles are one of the fastest, they do not hesitate before throwing and dig into the victim.

Video: white-breasted python (Leiopython albertisii)