The African Rock Python is a large, non-venomous snake native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the largest snakes in the world and is known to be quite aggressive. It is the largest species of snake native to Africa.
Description
The African Rock Python is the largest snake in Africa and one of the Largest Snakes in the World. They can grow to an average length of 3 to 5m.
There are reports of these snakes growing even larger, but these are hard to verify. They are a heavy bodied snake with adults often exceeding 50kg in weight.
They have a triangular shaped head that is very distinguishable from the rest of the body. They have a distinctive triangular shaped dark pattern on the top of their head.
They are tan in colour with dark brown patterning running through their entire body. Their bellies are generally white with black speckled scales dotted around.
African Rock Pythons have heat sensing pits which help them find warm blooded prey. These pits are located around the snake’s lips. They look somewhat similar to a Burmese Python and the two snakes are often mixed up outside of their natural environment.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
African Rock Pythons can be found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Their distribution covers much of this range except for the driest desert regions and mountain peaks.
The Northern African Rock Python (Python sebae sebae) can be found from South of the Sahara to the Northern parts of Angola. Their range also stretches right across the continent from Senegal Somalia.
The Southern African Rock Python (Python natalensis) can be found from Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo right down to the Cape of Good Hope.
It shares part of its range with species such as the African House Snake and the Berg Adder.
These sub-species share some of their natural habitat in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In these regions hybridisation occurs as a result of the sub-species breeding with each other.
These snakes prefer to live around relatively dense vegetation such as in forests and savannahs. They can also be found amongst rocky outcrops. They will usually be found near bodies of water such as rivers or lakes.
African Rock Python Behavior
The African Rock Python is a solitary species and generally won’t be found with other snakes other than during the breeding season.
They are usually found near bodies of water and can swim very well. They have the ability to stay submerged under water for a long time. This allows them to sit and wait for unsuspecting prey to come to the water’s edge for a drink.
As this is such a large snake, they are usually found on the ground. However, they are good climbers and can occasionally be found in trees or on ledges. It is more common to find juveniles climbing than fully grown adults.
This is a nocturnal species, meaning they are most active at night. However, they are sometimes found during the day, basking in the sun. Juveniles generally tend to be most active at dusk and dawn.
African Rock Pythons as Pets
Due to its large size this is not a species for beginners. African Rock Pythons are also known for being quite aggressive. An aggressive snake of this size can be very difficult to take care of.
Even the most docile of large snakes should never be handled alone. A snake of this size only has to turn on you once and you could be in big trouble. You should always have at least one person with you when handling such a large snake.
A snake of this size also needs an exceptionally large enclosure. This is impractical for most reptile keepers as they simply dont have the space available to keep such a species.
Feeding an African Rock Python
An African Rock Python can be fed a diet of frozen thawed rodents. Hatchlings can be fed appropriately sized rats every week or so. The rodent should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the snake’s body at its largest point.
As the snake grows, the size of the meal item should be increased accordingly. Large African Rock Pythons will need to be fed rabbits of appropriate size.
Adults don’t need to be fed weekly as they are not growing and using as much energy as juveniles. A large meal every few weeks is appropriate for adults.
Housing
As this is a large heavy snake, the African rock python does best in a large terrestrial wooden enclosure. We would recommend building your own enclosure as very lsrge setups can be extremely expensive.
Wood is a good material to use as it is an excellent insulator of heat and so a wooden vivarium will make it easier to control the crucial temperatures required inside the habitat.
It is also important to have good ventilation to allow for air to circulate throughout the enclosure. An adult African Rock Python will need an enclosure that measures at least 7ft in length with large females requiring even larger setups.
Juveniles can be housed in a smaller enclosure. A setup measuring around 4ft in length would be ideal and they can be upgraded into a larger home as they grow.
Always ensure you have a large water dish in the cool side of the enclosure. If the dish is large enough, the snake may soak in it. Regular water changes are important to prevent bacteria from building up.
It is important to include a hide at the warm end of the enclosure. This will allow the snake to feel secure while basking. For juveniles, you can also include branches for climbing but adults will likely be too heavy to utilise them.
Light and Heat
Large enclosures can be difficult to heat and may require more that one heat source placed a couple of feet apart. The warm end should be kept at around 90F.
A Ceramic Heat Emitter or large heat mat can be used to heat the enclosure. If you are using a heat mat, it should cover around one third of the enclosures floor space.
Always use a high-quality thermostat to ensure temperatures remain steady. Ensure the heat source is placed at one side of the enclosure to allow for a thermal gradient within the setup.
African Rock Pythons do not need any special lighting such ss UVB. However, if you do choose to use lighting in your enclosure ensure they are turned off at night. Your snake should have an even day/night cycle of 12 hours each.
African Rock Python Handling
You should never handle a large snake on your own. It is vital to always have at least one person with you in case something goes wrong. Even more people may be required depending on the size/strength of the snake.
Even the most docile African Rock Python should never be handled alone. A snake of this size only has to turn on you once and you could be in big trouble.
Breeding African Rock Pythons
African Rock Pythons are very hard to breed in captivity. Females can lay anything from 25 to 75 eggs which take anywhere from 60 to 90 days to hatch.
Eggs are generally laid in an area with little temperature fluctuations such as an old burrow or termite mound. The female will coil around the eggs to help with incubation and protect them from predators.
When babies hatch, they measure between one and two feet in length. Mothers will protect the hatchlings until they can fend for themselves. This level of maternal care is very rarely seen in snakes.