Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Its odd that considering these are the main Molurus species that there is so little about them on the net. What are the size averages for adult Indians? Do they grow as fast as Burmese? Are they calmer than Ceylonese? Does anyone have any pics of large adult Indians or of Indians in general? They seem to really be in the shadow of the Burmese which I suppose is related to their protection status.

There really is no main species of molurus. Indians are the nominate form as P. molurus molurus only because they were the first of the subspecies to be described and named. They are not as well known in captivity due to your observation that they have been listed under endangered species status since 1973. They are intermediate in size between burmese pythons and P. molurus from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), with a maximum recorded size of about 19 feet. Full grown adult indian females probably average 12 to 15 feet, with adult males being smaller. They appear to grow slightly slower than burmese, and probably average a better disposition than most Sri Lanka molurus. However, there are Sri Lanka specimens that are quite calm, as the young adult female I am holding in the picture below illustrates.

Kelly

Very nice. Boy she's thick!

That photo was taken about a year ago when she was about 10.5 feet. She is now between 11.0 and 11.5 feet and her growth has slowed considerably over the last year. I really don't expect her to go much over 12 feet. That is about the average for female Sri Lanka pythons in their natural habitat. She has been feed well, but not heavily. Her sister is the exact same size and weight, although a little darker, and just as easy to handle.

Kelly

Hrer are my 3

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19 years in the hobbie/business.
in my personal collection at present;
1:2 p.m.molurus
1:2 chondro python viridis
1:1 dasypeltis medici