Observations on the husbandry, breeding and behaviour of the Indian python

Abstract

Social behaviour and reproductive biology are reported for a group of 3.2 Indian pythons Python molurus molurus at the National Zoological Park, Washington, DC. Details of the python enclosure and the conditions provided for artificial incubation are also described. Twenty‐two fertile eggs were laid by one wild‐hatched ♀ and the clutch was removed for artificial incubation in two slate‐bottomed aquariums. Ambient temperature during incubation ranged from 26.7 to 32.2°C, while temperatures in the aquariums ranged from 27.2 to 32.2°C. Sixteen young hatched successfully. Temperature appears to play a critical role in hatching success and coloration of the hatchlings, and this parameter is discussed.