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Burmese python 'Albino'
Python bivittatus "Albino"
The classic, incredibly popular albino Burmese python. It features an iconic, striking yellow and orange pattern over a white background with vivid red eyes.
- Taxonomy
- Class:SquamataOrder:SquamataFamily:PythonidaeGenus:PythonSpecies:Python bivittatus "Albino"
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
50 - 70 %
Day temperature
24 - 35 °C
Night temperature
24 - 27 °C
Adult size
450 cm
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Python bivittatus is native to the rainforests, coastal swamps, wet grasslands, and river valleys of Southeast Asia. The 'Albino' morph was one of the first color mutations selected in captivity and is now very common among enthusiasts, though extremely rare in the wild due to the loss of natural camouflage. It requires warm, humid environmental conditions with constant access to water.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the family Pythonidae, genus Python. Albinism in this species is a simple recessive genetic mutation (amelanism) that blocks the synthesis of melanin. Consequently, the snake lacks all dark pigments (black and brown), revealing vibrant yellow, orange, and pink shades, accompanied by red or pink eyes.
Behavior and Habits: Exhibits diurnal habits as a juvenile and nocturnal or crepuscular habits as an adult. It has a peaceful and docile temperament if handled regularly from a young age, but due to its rapid growth rate and the gigantic size it reaches within a few years, extreme caution and respect are required during handling, which should always involve a second person.
Morphology: Features an extremely muscular, cylindrical body and a broad head distinct from the neck. The 'Albino' morph is characterized by a pattern of large, geometric yellow or golden-orange blotches distributed over a white or cream-colored background. The eyes are red with vertical pupils. Adults can reach lengths of 3 to 5 meters, with significant weight.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a giant terrarium for an adult, with minimum dimensions of 240x100x100 cm. The enclosure must be sturdy, well-insulated, and equipped with thick glass doors and secure locks. The ideal substrate is coconut fiber or dust-free bark, which can retain moisture. Include large hides and a heavy water basin for soaking.
Lighting and Heating: Thermostat-controlled heating is required: warm zone at 32-34°C (90-93°F), cool zone at 26-28°C (79-82°F), with nighttime temperatures not dropping below 23°C (73°F). Use only shielded ceramic heaters or radiant panels to prevent burns. Moderate UVB lighting (2-5%) is recommended, keeping in mind that albino eyes are sensitive to intense light.
Humidity and Hydration: Requires a humidity level between 60% and 75%, which should be increased to 80% during shedding. Mist regularly with lukewarm water. A large water basin is essential to allow the reptile to rehydrate and to facilitate the complete removal of the old skin during shedding cycles.
Feeding and Supplementation: A strict carnivore. Feeds on mice and rats as a juvenile, transitioning to rabbits, chickens, and guinea pigs as an adult. Feeding pre-killed, defrosted prey is recommended to prevent parasites and injuries from live rodents. Adults should be fed every 3-4 weeks. No vitamin supplementation is required if prey quality is high.
Compatibility: It is a strictly solitary animal. Cohabitation is highly discouraged as it causes high stress and potential conflicts over space or food, alongside the risk of cannibalism in young specimens. Specimens must be housed individually, except for controlled breeding purposes.
Health and Common Diseases: Main risks include respiratory infections due to temperature fluctuations, infectious stomatitis (mouth rot), and scale rot if the substrate is kept too wet or dirty. Albino eyes are sensitive to bright light; avoid using overly strong basking spots directed at the snake to prevent retinal damage.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Python bivittatus is native to the rainforests, coastal swamps, wet grasslands, and river valleys of Southeast Asia. The 'Albino' morph was one of the first color mutations selected in captivity and is now very common among enthusiasts, though extremely rare in the wild due to the loss of natural camouflage. It requires warm, humid environmental conditions with constant access to water.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsNorth AmericaSouth and Southeast AsiaTropical oceans and reefs
Reptile profile
- Diet
- Carnivore
- The Burmese Python is a large, powerful constrictor and a strict carnivore. In the wild, their diet consists of appropriately sized birds and mammals. Juveniles typically feed on small rodents and frogs, while massive adults are capable of taking down much larger prey, including pigs, deer, and large waterfowl. They use heat-sensing pits along their lips to locate warm-blooded prey, striking rapidly to capture the animal before subduing it with powerful coils that restrict blood flow and breathing.
- Adult size
- 450 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 450 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 500 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- While juveniles are adept climbers, adults are heavily terrestrial and semi-aquatic due to their immense size and weight. They require a room-sized, incredibly strong enclosure with a massive pool of water, as they love to soak for hours.
- Activity cycle
- The Burmese python is primarily nocturnal and crepuscular. They spend their days resting in hidden, secure locations, becoming active at dusk to patiently ambush prey. They are highly efficient ambush predators, relying on stealth rather than active pursuit.
- Sociality
- Solitary
- Burmese pythons are highly solitary animals, only interacting with others of their species during the breeding season. They are ambush predators that spend much of their time hidden in underbrush or submerged in shallow water waiting for prey. Despite their solitary and wild nature, they are often known for a generally docile temperament compared to other large constrictors, which has made them popular in captivity. However, due to their massive size, they require specialized, solitary housing and expert care.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- These massive snakes are oviparous, laying some of the largest clutches of any reptile. After mating, a female will lay anywhere from 20 to 50 large, leathery eggs. Uniquely among many snakes, female Burmese pythons exhibit maternal care by wrapping their bodies tightly around the egg clutch. By rhythmically twitching their muscles (shivering), they can raise the ambient temperature to incubate the eggs successfully. Once the neonates pip and hatch, the mother's parental duties conclude, and the young are independent.
- Handling tolerance
- Due to their colossal size (often exceeding 15 feet) and immense muscular power, they require expert handling protocols. Interactions with adult specimens must always involve at least two trained individuals to prevent fatal constriction accidents.
- Brumation
- Not required
- Native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, they do not require brumation. They need a large, reliable thermal gradient to properly digest their massive meals and maintain their health.
- Molting
- Regular
- They require high humidity (60-80%) to shed their skin in one massive, continuous piece. Providing a soaking pool large enough for their entire body is crucial, as they will often submerge themselves entirely to loosen the skin prior to shedding.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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