Python is the name for all non-poisonous snakes of the boa and python family.  Pythons are found in Africa, Asia, and Australia, with one species found in Mexico – the Calabar Burrowing Python.  This snake is the only python that does not have heat sensing pits on the upper lip.  Pythons range in length from two feet to thirty feet, and can weigh as much as three hundred pounds. 

Pythons living in the wild tend to eat birds, lizards, frogs, fish, insects, mice, rats and rabbits.  They do not need to be fed live food, contrary to popular belief.

Pythons, ambush predators, capture prey by lying motionless in a position where they blend in with the background.  Then they strike at unsuspecting prey.  The snake’s one hundred sharp teeth, which are curved towards the back of its mouth, hooks the prey.  Then the hapless animal is pulled into a constricting embrace.  The python’s jaws unhinge and the lower jaw works independently, allowing the snake to swallow its prey whole, usually head first.

Female pythons lay eggs and incubate them until they hatch.  After the long fast during incubation, the female is very hungry.  She leaves and forages for food right after they hatch.  In search of prey, the hatchlings head for the trees.  The first few months are the most dangerous for them because of their small size which makes them vulnerable to predators.

Many people like to keep pythons for pets.  There are several things to think about when choosing the right python.  The first thing to consider is the snake’s size – think about how much room you can give up to keep it.  Second, consider others in your home, especially children and pets.  Third, snakes cannot be domesticated.  Fourth, remember, pythons are carnivorous reptiles that only eat once or twice a month.  Finally, not all veterinarians treat reptiles so think about what you are going to do if your snake gets sick.

Summarizing, pythons are constrictors that like to eat prey like lizards and rats.  They are ambush predators that reproduce by laying eggs.  The most important thing to think about when choosing a python for a pet is the size of the snake.