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What Do Burmese Pythons Eat?

Writer John Campbell

Burmese pythons are one of the largest snakes in the world and are the carnivores that feed on small and large mammals regarding their size. They have weak eyesight and tend to prey with chemical receptors in their tongue and heat sensors within jaws. Burmese pythons are usually found in tropical lowlands, wet grasslands, rainforests, and mangrove forests.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around
Burmese pythons are opportunistic ambushes as they don’t search their prey; they wait. Burmese pythons can eat as little as 5% of their body size to close to 50% of their body size. So, this way, they can eat small rodents, turtles, fish, dogs, other snakes, frogs, and lizards. Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

Moreover, Burmese pythons will eat large alligators, iguanas, Florida Panthers, and even humans. Their eating habits change according to their body size as small Burmese pythons need small prey while giant Burmese pythons need giant prey.

What do Burmese pythons eat in Asia?

Burmese pythons in Asia tend to eat small mammals, and birds also love to eat larger mammals like pigs and goats. Moreover, Burmese pythons also eat dogs, snakes, turtles, frogs, and other rodents.

What do Burmese pythons eat in captivity and the wild?

Burmese pythons eat mice, frogs, larger rabbits, fish, whole chickens, and many other things in captivity. For captive Burmese pythons, food should be thawed, and almost 30-50% of their body weights.

Burmese pythons love to eat monitor lizards, deer, alligators, ground-dwelling birds, and larger rodents in the wild. Moreover, Burmese pythons tend to eat other snakes and humans too.

Do Burmese pythons eat each other and crocodiles?

Often, Burmese pythons get into fights with each other for food, and large pythons usually dominate. And kill the other smaller pythons and tend to eat that smaller python too.

However, Burmese pythons can also eat crocodiles if they get the chance. But oftentimes crocodiles prove risky prey.

How often do Burmese pythons eat?

Adult Burmese pythons eat once a week or two while other young Burmese pythons need to eat twice every week. So, Burmese pythons don’t eat every day.