| The days when people had only dogs or cats as | | | | crush their bones; just squeeze them tight enough |
| pets are gone. Today, the number of people who | | | | to stop their breathing. Large pythons usually eat |
| have pets that were once considered unorthodox | | | | animals the size of a house cat, but 100-pound |
| is on the rise. Python is one such pet. | | | | (43.3 kilos) wild boars are eaten as well. |
| Pets, as we know, are fun. And pythons are big | | | | Pythons swallow their prey whole, head first; and |
| fun. They will make great companions and bring | | | | not surprisingly, take several weeksto digest |
| joy to your life. You will be fascinated by their | | | | them. But we can breathe easy. Despite their |
| self-effacing manner, laid-back attitude and | | | | enormous strength and intimidating size, Pythons |
| giant-like appearance. But before you acquire a | | | | are inoffensive by nature and do not usually |
| python, you must realize the commitment you | | | | attack humans. They are not poisonous either. |
| are getting into. | | | | Unfortunately for pythons, this makes them easy |
| Pythons are everything you will want in a pet. | | | | targets for hunters. |
| They are more beautiful to look at, easier to | | | | A python's finest wisdom is its sense of smell. |
| maintain and handle, they ask for little, yet give | | | | They are able to smell with the aid of the |
| you a lifetime of companionship. And they are | | | | "Jacobson's organ in the roof of the mouth" They |
| safe too. No wonder, they make excellent pets. | | | | dart their tongues in and out of their mouths to |
| Lots of people agree. Which is why, every year, | | | | obtain gases from the air. The tongue brings in |
| there are so many new python owners. | | | | small particles floating in the air to this organ. Also |
| But there is a sad downside. Most of these newly | | | | they have special sensors at the tip of their nose |
| acquired pythons die within the first year. The | | | | to identify the heat generated by the prey. |
| reason is shocking but true - an insufficient | | | | Therefore, the python can catch their prey in light |
| knowledge about python rearing. We are sure all | | | | or dark conditions. This allows them to hunt in |
| these nouveau python owners loved their recent | | | | dense jungles even at night. |
| acquisition. We are also sure that they did | | | | The python doesn't chase its prey. It waits |
| everything they thought was needed. | | | | discreetly hiding, and when a prey comes close |
| Unfortunately they didn't know enough. | | | | enough, grabs it with its Ainward-curving teeth. |
| This is what prompted us to bring out a Free | | | | The python's top and bottom jaws are attached |
| Newsletter called Python Secrets. | | | | to each other with stretchy ligaments, which let |
| But before we started the newsletter, we did an | | | | the snake swallow animals much larger than itself. |
| extensive research with existing python owners | | | | The prey cannot move away, because the more |
| and aspirants (418 of them to be precise), to find | | | | it tries to pull out, the deeper the pythons |
| out what they knew and what they wanted to | | | | needlesharp teeth will sink and hold it even more |
| know. Python Secrets newsletter is based on | | | | firmly in the mouth. The python now quickly coils |
| their feedback. | | | | around the victims body and squeezes, not so |
| Let's know some basic facts about Pythons: | | | | hard as to break its bones, just tightly enough to |
| Pythons are large snakes found in India, East | | | | stop its blood circulation and suffocate it to death. |
| Indies, Africa and Australia. They live in rugged | | | | Then begins the long, leisurely process of |
| tropical regions that have heavy rainfall and | | | | unhinging its jaw and savoring the prey; |
| forests, or some type of low, dense growth. | | | | swallowing it slowly, starting with its head first. |
| They belong to the python and boa family, | | | | The rhythmic muscular movements will pull the |
| Boidae. Pythons are coldblooded; they have the | | | | prey from the mouth to the throat and to the |
| same temperature as the environment. They | | | | stomach, where itll be dissolved and digested by |
| continue to grow all their lives, getting bigger and | | | | strong acids. |
| bigger each year. | | | | There are 24 major species of pythons. Some |
| The worlds longest known python, sighted at the | | | | are for the novice, and some strictly for the |
| dense forests of Indonesia, is a Reticulated | | | | seasoned herpetologist. |
| Python measuring 49 feet [15 meters] long. And | | | | Whatever the species, Python Secrets tells you |
| the shortest is the Anthill Python, which measures | | | | everything you need to know about pythons - |
| a little more than 2 feet [0.6 meter]. | | | | about their selection, care, feeding, |
| All pythons can climb and swim. Some pythons | | | | breeding,handling,healthcare,caging and selecting a |
| are truly beautiful to look at. Like the Carpet | | | | healthy specimen. Python Secrets is designed to |
| Python which resembles an intricately woven | | | | serve as a single source reference on the |
| oriental carpet, with its solid velvety skin speckled | | | | subject, whether you are a first-time python |
| with bright yellow markings; the stunning Green | | | | owner or an expert seeking more information. |
| Tree Python which is bright green with subtle | | | | Wish you and your python (pet/ pet-to-be) a long |
| white patches; or the Indian python, with its bold | | | | and happy companionship! |
| pattern of dark brown blotches, edged in yellow, | | | | ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. |
| on a light brown background. | | | | Prabhu Lazarus |
| Pythons are also called constrictors. Know why? | | | | Editor |
| Because they wind themselves around their prey | | | | Pet Fan-atic! |
| and strangle them to death. It may be no | | | | ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. |
| consolation to its victims, but the python will not | | | | |