Royal Pythons originate from West Africa. They are a small to medium size python with adults ranging from 3 to 5 feet, females are generally larger and heavier bodied than males

The Average Life Span of a Royal Python is 20 - 30 years

Vivarium:
Royal Pythons prefer a smaller rather than larger environment as this provides them with the security they need. As a ‘rule of thumb’ the total length of the enclosure’s two longest sides should be about equal to the length of the snake. All snakes need a selection of environmental enrichment such as places to hide, branches and rock to climb on.

There a few different types of substrate you can use from newspaper, aspen and orchid bark.

Temperature:
Royal Pythons are cold blooded and get heat from their surroundings. Ideally the daytime temperature should be 80-90F at the warm end dropping to 73-75F at night. Thermometers at each end of the Vivarium can be placed to monitor the temperature range. The overall temperature can be controlled by a thermostat which will keep the tank at a consent temperature. These temperatures can be obtained by using either a ceramic bulb, a heat mat or a normal heat bulb which come in many different varieties such as infa-red, clear and moon-light. If you use a heat bulb rather than a heat mat a bulb guard must be put in the tank to prevent the snake from burning itself.

Lighting:
Unlike lizards, Royal Pythons do not need UV light to survive so no light is actually needed in the vivarium but a strip light on 8-12 hours a day promotes the natural day/night cycle. 

Cleaning:
Royal Python’s are relatively easy to care for, as they defecate rarely, so with regular spot cleaning a full vivarium clean out should only be necessary every 3-5 weeks. When you clean out the housing, disinfect the inside of the vivarium with a weak disinfectant solution or a reptile safe product.

Feeding and Water
Royal Python’s feed on mice appropriate to the size of their mouth. A prey item should be approximately the same width as one and a half times the size of the  snakes head.

Hatchling Royals start on pinky mice, one every 5-6 days and graduate up to an adult mouse and rats every 7-14 days as they grow. You may also feed your Royal on chicks and fertilized quail eggs to provide a variation in diet, although these are not recommended as a staple diet as these will not contain all the beneficial nutrients and minerals that rodents have.

A large bowl Fresh water should always be available for drinking and bathing in.

Handling
It is important to handle your Royal Python regularly to help build a relationship with him. Saying this it is best not to handle him/her on the same day as you feed it as this could stress the snake and deter it from eating or make it regurgitate its food.

 Shopping List
ü      Vivarium
ü      Heat Bulb/heat mat
ü      Thermometers x2
ü      Water bowl
ü      Thermostat
ü      Substrate
ü      Pet-Safe Disinfectant
ü      Environmental enrichment

Some reptiles carry a form of salmonella, but is usually contacted by ingestion. Good hygiene and washing your hands after handling or cleaning out your lizard should be good enough to prevent any risk of infection.

We guarantee all animals purchased are healthy and feeding unless noticed at the time of sale. As we cannot be held responsible for their husbandry requirements once they have left us, we only continue this guarantee for 24 hours after purchase. To deter impulse buying we will not give full refunds/exchanges for animals returned for non-health related problems, we reserve the right to charge up to 50% of the purchase price as a handling fee. Please note: this does not mean we will leave you high and dry! We will do our best to help whatever the circumstances.