Reptile & Amphibian Forums

looking to buy one if at all possible

Indian Pythons are the nominate form of the P. molurus complex.

Indian Python: Python molurus molurus

Cites Listing: Appendix I. (Most threatened status.)

This status forbids this species to be taken, molested or hunted in the wild. It also limits to trade of the species within state lines freely, although to cross state lines or to ship across state lines calls for a special permit.

Sri Lankan (Formerly Ceylonese) Python: Python molurus pimbura.

Cites Listing: Appendix II.

Although the Sri Lankan Python does not achieve the large adult size of the Indian Python, and it does have more vibrantly colored facial hues of pink. I would not recommend them for very many keepers. They can be a handful, and have proven to be some of the more difficult pythons to work with. In my experience, I've owned quite a few of these. I lost a female one year to being egg bound. I had her skinned and tanned, then mounted on the wall of the snake room. It was an ongoing joke, that she was the last pimbura I had and I had just "had enough of them" so there she was. They can be great snakes, and I did enjoy them greatly. I would reccomend a nice Indian first.

Finding true pure Indians may be a difficult task though and I wish you the best. Be prepared to pay top dollar for a nice Indian, that can be proven to be pure.

take care,
J

Hi Jordan,
The way I understand the status of Python molurus pimbura is that both C.I.T.E.S. in their appendices and the U.S.F.W.S. consider pimbura to be synonymous with the nominate form Python molurus molurus. Both of those agencies do not consider pimbura to be a valid subspecies, but both do consider the Sri Lankan population to be on Appendix I and the Endangered Species List respectively. As such, a permit is required for interstate commerce of P.m.pimbura. This seems to be rarely enforced, but that won't help whoever gets caught doing it.
Take care, Neal.

Hi Neal,

There is a certain amount of validity to that. Fish and Game, Fish and Wildlife or whatever dept. you happen across can be a stickler and pull that. ALTHOUGH if Cites lists Pimbura not only as a subspecies as with bivvitatus, and lists them as Appendix II. They can not go back on that and say it isn't a subspecies. That will throw their whole rule book away in court. So if you DID get caught, by a jerk of a fish and game officer (Believe it or not, they exist! lol.)you could get the animal confiscated for traveling state lines. Although not only highly unlikely you could fight it and win without too much trouble. But then again that's just my take on it, don't go breaking the law because Jordan said it's ok. (even though technically it's not breaking the law..)

thanks for the clarification.

see ya,
J

I have dealt with the US Fish and Wildlife service fairly extensively over the last couple of years and can tell you that Neal is correct on this one. Both CITES and the USFW consider P. m. molurus and P. m. pimbura to be equivalent for enforcement purposes. Because CITES does consider both molurus and pimbura to be the same subspecies, (for enforcement purposes), they are therefore both listed as Appendix I animals. You will therefore need a CBW permit to legally transport either of these pythons across State lines. Jordan is correct in that most of them can be a handful, however I do have a few specimens that are quite tame. Thanks,

Kelly

A place in Houston has 7 or so left, but one must live
in Texas or have permit to buy. Good luck.

A pic of one of mine I bought in Houston is in the Burmese forum, dated 11/13/03.