The scrub python (Simalia amethistina) is non-venomous and might make for a stunning unique pet.
An necessary observe earlier than we start: this text is concerning the amethystine python, generally often called the scrub python. Nonetheless, “scrub python” additionally typically refers back to the Australian scrub python (Simalia kinghorni), a considerably bigger snake that’s far more tough to supply and look after.
In the event you’re trying to find a scrub python, ensure you’re getting the suitable one and observe the suitable care pointers.
Proudly owning one among these wonderful creatures is just not for the faint of coronary heart, however for those who’re a real fan of reptiles, it may very well be an awesome expertise adopting one into your house.
Please proceed studying to study extra about this glorious pet and the best way to look after it!
Fast Reality
| Widespread identify | Scrub python, amethystine python |
| Scientific identify | Simalia amethistina |
| Grownup dimension | 7′-13′ |
| Tank dimension | Minimal 4′ x 3′ x 2′ (L x W x H) for a snake lower than 6ft. Size must be as much as 6′ for bigger snakes. |
| Humidity & temperature | 55-60%; 80-85 °F (90 °F for basking space) |
| Care stage | Skilled |
| In style alternate options | Widespread boa, reticulated python |
What’s a Scrub Python?
This species belongs to the Simalia genus, together with six different species listed under:
- Oenpelli Rock Python
- Halmahera Python
- Tanimbar Python
- Southern Moluccan Python
- Boelen’s Python
- Australian Scrub Python
Native to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Australia, scrub pythons are one of many longest snakes on this planet and might develop properly over 10 toes lengthy.
You’ll undoubtedly want to contemplate this earlier than committing to proudly owning one among these wonderful creatures as a result of it’ll imply you’ll must have ample room for it in your house.
Scrub Python Care Sheet
What Does a Scrub Python Eat?
When feeding your new pet snake, you need to feed it small mammals, comparable to rats, mice, or possums. You possibly can additionally feed it small birds or bats.
If you feed your reptile, please don’t give it reside prey. Stay prey might struggle again and scratch and injure your snake, resulting in different well being problems.
Of their pure habitats, bigger specimens will catch and eat wallabies and cuscus.
Learn how to Hold Your Scrub Python Wholesome
One of many key methods to make sure your python is wholesome is to buy it from a good breeder and convey it to a licensed reptile veterinarian to examine for early indicators of illness or dangerous parasites.
By no means put multiple snake in a tank collectively as a result of this might trigger the python misery since they’re not social animals.
Tank Measurement
You additionally wish to be sure that you buy an appropriate tank to your reptile good friend that’s created particularly to accommodate it. The tank must be at the least two-thirds the snake’s physique size to be on the safer aspect – 6′ is mostly a great size for an grownup python.
Lighting and Heating
Normally, daytime temperatures of 80-85 °F will suffice. Keep away from cooler temperatures as a result of they hurt your pet snake’s well being.
You may hold the tank heated with particular reptile heating pads or incandescent gentle bulbs in reflector hoods. Keep away from any direct contact with these things and your snake.
You’ll additionally want to supply a basking space within the tank to your python. This space must be round 90 °F and have a branch-like construction to your pet snake to climb.
Substrate
A correct substrate is essential to the snake’s well being and well-being.
Selecting the best substrate may prevent and your snake numerous hassle.
The highest objects you need to contemplate earlier than buying substrate embody every of the next:
- Good water retention to maintain correct humidity ranges
- Capability to repel mould and parasites
- Permits snake to burrow comfortably below it
- Straightforward to wash
- Cheap
- Availability (simple to search out and buy)
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Won’t hurt your pet if ingested
Irrespective of which one of many choices you determine to make use of for substrate, you will need to often clear out your tank to make sure it stays protected for them to reside lengthy, wholesome lives.
Some nice choices to your pet scrub python can be:
- Bio-active soil
- Coconut fiber
- Coconut husks
- Cypress mulch
- Newspaper
- Butcher block paper
- Paper towels
You wish to keep away from utilizing pine and cedar shavings as a result of they might probably launch dangerous oils and compounds into the air which are detrimental to your pet’s security and well being.
Moreover, sand ought to by no means be used to your snake’s bedding as a result of it promotes the expansion of mould, reduces humidity ranges, irritates the respiratory tract, and should trigger impactions on account of clumping.
Scrub Python Conduct
Like most snakes, scrub pythons aren’t social animals. They like to be in their very own house.
It isn’t advisable that you just put one in a tank with one other snake or animal if you need them to really feel essentially the most snug.
They are often up in bushes however, as adults, are inclined to favor being on the bottom. Nonetheless, it’s a good suggestion so that you can present a branch-like object they’ll climb onto to make them really feel extra at dwelling of their tank.
Normally, these reptiles aren’t particularly aggressive and won’t assault except they really feel threatened.
Nonetheless, these snakes may pose a threat to young children and animals, so it’s greatest to not have any youngsters or pets round one.
They’re extra lively at night time, so don’t anticipate them to do a lot in the course of the day.
Look
Scrub pythons are a sight to behold not solely due to their dimension but in addition due to their wonderful scales and colour.
Their easy scales fluctuate in colour however are inclined to have related patterns. They usually have black or darkish brown bands that kind net-like patterns on their midsections.
Generally their scales can look iridescent, making for a mesmerizing look. The underbelly is often a flat colour.
Their head is triangular and usually smaller than their neck. They’ve gentle eyes (often greenish-brown) and a flickering, forked tongue.
Measurement
As talked about above, these reptiles can develop very massive. Some have even claimed that they’ll attain over 20 toes in size (though that is uncommon).
More often than not, the males are smaller/slimmer than the females however can nonetheless develop very massive. On common, a male tends to succeed in 11- 24 lbs, whereas a feminine tends to be round 33 lbs.
Colours
These snakes vary in colour from a lightweight golden yellow to a muddy greenish-brown. They’ve a blackish-brown net-like sample on their our bodies. Additionally they have a good looking iridescent look that displays gentle.
The underside of the snake is often a creamy beige tone. These snakes can camouflage properly within the wilderness.
Scrub Python Infants
Within the wild, scrub pythons are inclined to mate from late July to September. Throughout mating season, it’s not unusual for males to interact in battles to breed with their feminine counterparts.
As soon as a feminine has mated with a male, she will produce 5 to twenty-one eggs. Eggs will incubate for round 80 days. The mom snake will coil across the eggs throughout this time to maintain them heat.
The mom snake will very seldom go away her eggs alone. That is to guard them from potential predators and to maintain them heat. She’s going to even forgo meals to maintain her eggs protected.
If the eggs drop too low in temperature, it may hurt the embryos and result in severe points or loss of life. Due to this, it’s important for the mom to stick with her eggs always, utilizing her physique to maintain them on the proper temperature.
After the eggs hatch, the infant pythons are roughly 10–16 inches lengthy. These child snakes will eat bugs, very small rodents, eggs, or different vitamins that may match of their mouths. As soon as massive sufficient, they’ll devour larger prey to fulfill their rising appetites.
They received’t often wish to after their first pores and skin shedding, which typically happens 20–30 days after they hatch.
How A lot Does a Scrub Python Price?
The worth for a scrub python varies from tons of to hundreds of {dollars}. The associated fee usually is determined by the snake’s age, gender, colour, size, and mating capacity. In the event you do determine to buy one, make sure you go to a good breeder with intensive information about this reptile.
By no means buy from somebody who’s illegally breeding or promoting snakes. Additionally, examine your native legal guidelines to make it possible for proudly owning a scrub python is permitted and below what particular situations.
For instance, the state of New York doesn’t allow people to personal sure species of snakes, together with scrub pythons.
Care Information Abstract
| Execs | Cons |
| Non-venomous | Additional warmth and lighting required |
| Non-aggressive | Can’t be housed collectively |
| Adaptable to captivity | Can’t have young children or pets round it |
The scrub python may make an awesome pet for many reptile fanatics! In the event you don’t thoughts their dimension, they’re stunning, majestic animals to witness.
Though they could require a number of additional lodging, they’re comparatively simple to look after and nurture.
In the event you’re enthusiastic about buying one to your dwelling, be prepared with an appropriate tank with applicable heating and lighting to maintain it wholesome.
