Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I love Burms but the Indian Python from India and Sri Lanka are a great choice for your next python and do not get quite so large and generally stay more colorfull as adults. The pink heads are great.

Read guide lines for obtaining one legally with little hassle and no permits required if obtained within your state. The kicker is finding a breeder in your state that has them for sale or trade then you don't need the permit. However if no one does breed Indians in your state, why not apply to USFW 1-800-358-2104 and ask for the web location for the CBW permit. Once you have obtained a CBW permit then you can purchase a pair from out of state from another CBW permit holder and be the first to supply your state with Indians legally. The people in your state that obtain them have to residents of the state, get proof and "do not" transport the animals across state lines to a Herp Expo in another state or your in a "heap of trouble". If the Herp Expo is INSTATE then your covered and legal.

We live in the United states but for purposes of Appendix I animals each State is like a separate little Country, you have to have permits to export from or import to your State. Unless as stated below you move to another state, you can take your animals with you as personal property. Just remember in all cases: as long as "no money" is involved in what you are doing, it is legal.

Yes there are breeders around the US that have "pure" Indian Pythons for sale but only to people living within the state the pythons are located in. Be sure to never purchase from outside of your state or if you are lucky enough to have someone "gift" a specimen to you and you have a signed letter to that effect, it is legal to transport it across state lines: Remember:

ONLY INTERSTATE COMMERCE IS PROHIBITED IN THIS SUBSPECIES - listed on Appendix I. In other words, no money-no problems with USFW regulations. One can move from state to state with your python as your "personal" property.

By the way Python m.pimbura for Sri Lanka was dropped as a valid subspecies years ago. If you are purchasing a "pimbura" they are now under the same regulations as molurus. You have to have the CBW permit from USFW to purchase or sell any Indian Python that is to be transported across state lines. Yes that means Seller and Buyer have to have the CBW permit.

Do yourself a favor and purchase your Indian from a local breeder and forget the permit!

I was always under the impression that Indian pythons got just as big as burms, and also that they were harder to tame than burmese.

This is news to me.

I am sure there are "some" specimens that get as large as a burm but on the "average" the ones I am familiar with are slower growing and seem to top out around 7-10 ft. and weigh in at average 50 - 100 lbs. tops. I have seen burms that people intentionally fed for size etc. that toped out at 200+ pounds. If there are any Indian breeders out there that have monster Indians, it would be great to hear about them.

As for temperment, it is funny, in the 60's I had my first Indian python - Krishna-via an importer in Florida that obtained specimens from a gentlemen in Karachi Pakistan. This was before the ban on Importation and Interstate sales. She arrived at 3ft. and was very "tame", she hissed alot but never attempted to bite. During this period "pre-burmese" the Indians were all you could get easily and I was told the Burmese were "nasty tempered and hard to tame!"

Approximately 1968-69 I found a Burm for sale at a florida dealer and purchased it. The animal was 3ft. and the color was outstanding. This animal was very "tame" to handle.

I have been told that the once recognized subspecies of the Indian "pimbura" were mostly ill-tempered but many of the ones bred in captivity are very docile?

I did import a wild-caught Blood Python in the late 60's that was not a "tame" snake. He was actually rather terrifying but since that initial specimen from Thailand, I have had several very well mannered bloods and just recently purchased a pair of Wild-caught Sumatrans that not only are "tame" but bred and the female laid 12 eggs. The juveniles are a little fisty for the first week or two but are now a "pleasure" to handle.

I think the tame question possibly is individual or having gentle parent stock and is genetic. I don't really kow.

I would love to hear about the large Indians in captivity.

The previous post is correct in that true “pimbura” in general have a tendency to be more high-strung and sometimes aggressive than either the Indian or burmese subspecies of molurus. However, a lot is based on their parentage and genetic background and there are a few captive bloodlines that are not as nervous. I have a small “pimbura” group(see below), of Sri Lankan origin, that are easy to handle and have never tried to bite. They do however behave much differently, and are more active and alert than the other two subspecies. They are very inquisitive and will typically move quickly to their cage fronts and investigate any movement they see in the room. Interestingly, I have never seen them rub or push their noses into the cage walls in an attempt to get out, as some pythons will do occasionally. When holding them they remain fairly active, but not to the point that they are difficult to handle. Additionally, I believe they are the smallest of the group, very rarely getting over the 10 to 12 foot mark.

Kelly