• Snakes ‘N’ Adders introducing series
• Episode 49 – Royal Pythons (A closer look)
• Python regius – The Royal or Regal Python.

• Ok, so before I get started a bit of a PSA. If you are expecting the usual kind of video on Royal Pythons you may well be disappointed. This will not be an ‘echo chamber’ kind of video where I will reinforce everyone’s ideas of what makes suitable care. The video will look at the natural distribution of the species and the regions and types of land they inhabit within that distribution. We will look at food consumed by the animals to consider whether this affects our outlook on how the life cycle of this species progresses from youngsters into maturity.
• This isn’t a go at anyone, it is thought based upon what is seen in the hobby and often times perpetuated by members of this hobby/trade. This video simply exists to afford people a little more information on which to base their husbandry choices. That is all. It isn’t expected that people rush out and change everything, but maybe with consideration may come to think in time im not sure I want to keep on keeping this way.
• To begin the research element of this video the obvious place to go was not the internet of Youtube but my book case. Around 12 years ago now, maybe longer Paul ordered me one of the most complete texts ever to have been produced on a single species of reptile. Pythons of the world Volume II by Barker and Barker. I would encourage any would be keeper with a serious interest in natural history not hobby derived clap trap and half truths to seek out a copy of this book. Using info from this book I then looked up other distribution maps including those of the ICUN red list who have assessed Royal Pythons threatened status. This included the map shown here. Then I needed to look at elevation of the land and land usage to see the kinds of habitats the species frequented. I hasten to add, all the info apart from the guidance received from the Barker and Barker book is available online as it is with all the videos we produce here at Snakes ‘N’ Adders.
• It is lamentable that the depth into which people research the natural history of a snake often leaves much to be desired. This is often epitomised by Royal Python Keepers. Many times they become fully adept at the quite complex mathematical equations required to work out new morph or cultivar percentage. Or alternatively they readily use progeny predictors online to work out how to make oh I don’t know a mystic potion or Panda Pied or some other man made combo.
• This is driven by a market obsessed with the aesthetic. Reaching for the latest and greatest cultivar to be produced often in what many are beginning to see as simplistic enclosures that do not fully replicate the totality of the Royal Pythons life cycle. Concerns are regularly raised regarding the rack ‘em stack ‘em style of husbandry. Defenders of the style point towards natural habits that Royal Pythons display by means of giving legitimacy to their husbandry.
• I hasten to add myself and Paul are commercial reptile keepers. We utilise racking systems by way of having more livestock in our shop to keep the stock list of a wide church; and or of interest to travelling keepers. We are a profit making organisation and efficiency is one of our primary motivators (to help increase profits). We pay for licensing, tax and VAT, public liability insurance, property rental, business rates and commercial waste removal. Any shop does these things.
• The stock is not sedentary though. And this is key. Keeping them in simplistic enclosures whilst here makes our life easier, we can control outbreaks of things like mites easier and stop transmission of disease using barrier control. This style of care is temporary and we always try to encourage people who are keeping only a few animals in enclosures that allow for enrichment and the use of multiple areas of an enclosure.

**notes to continue in first comment**