Typically when I write an article about reptiles, specifically concerning their general nature and behaviors, I prefer to describe them as defensive rather than aggressive.
Reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) are a little more unique. They can certainly be defensive, but they have also been known to kill humans. I’m not talking about a defensive bite that results in a human death. I mean a full fledged attack where the human is actually eaten.
Are reticulated pythons aggressive? Reticulated pythons are large predatory animals. As such, they prefer large prey which has been known to include humans, so should be considered aggressive. When they are kept as pets raised in captivity they tend to be more docile, but can still be somewhat unpredictable with a tendency to be more temperamental than many other python species.
You don’t need to be scared of these snakes, but you should be cautious around them.
Reticulated Python Attacks On People
Stories of people being bitten by snakes are not uncommon.
What’s often misunderstood is that nearly all of these bites are defensive in nature.
I remember a news story about a boy who was bitten by a black mamba while minding his own business playing on a big rock. Apparently the mamba came up behind him and bit him on the back.
If I had to guess I’d say the boy really was minding his own business, and more than likely didn’t even notice the snake was there. The truth however, is the snake felt threatened for whatever reason, and bit the boy to defend itself.
Most snake attacks are provoked in some way. See my article on why snakes bite.
This isn’t the case with reticulated pythons, and is why they are considered aggressive.
Attacks by them are not common, but there are certainly credible accounts of not only attacks, but of them actually hunting and eating humans. In fact there is even a recent gruesome video of one being caught and cut open, revealing a recently eaten person in its stomach.
That’s not to say ALL reticulated bites come from them trying to eat a person.
Like any other snakes, retics will also bite as a way to defend themselves. And when you’re talking about one of the largest snakes in the world, you can bet their bite can inflict some serious damage.
Reticulated Python Temperament As Pets
Due to better husbandry and more captive breeding, pet reticulated pythons are considered much more docile than in years past.
When pet snakes began to gain popularity in the 80s and 90s, many of the ones available were wild caught specimens. Besides not being accustomed to human handling from the time they were babies, these snakes often carried parasites or diseases making them sick and more defensive.
A sick retic is an aggressive one.
These days, popular species of pet snakes here in the U.S. are captive born more often than not. Good captive breeders make sure their snakes are healthy, and usually begin handling them right away.
These pythons are still more temperamental than many of the species that are recommended for beginners like corn snakes and ball pythons, but most don’t have the nasty dispositions this species was once known for.
It is for these reasons that I always recommend getting your snake from a reputable breeder whenever possible.
How Aggressive Are Captive Reticulated Pythons?
Here is what you can expect if you keep one as a pet.
Reticulated pythons tend to be more temperamental than many other pythons. Unless they are extremely hungry, they generally won’t attack you with the intent to kill. There are recorded instances however, of pet retics killing their owners. Mostly though, you just have to be on guard for a bite.
As a matter of fact, you should even expect a bite attempt from this snake at some point.
Whether it is a defensive strike from your pet being scared and protecting itself, or an agitated strike when it just wants to be left alone, a bite attempt is pretty likely to happen at some point.
Not all of them are this way. I’ve heard from some retic owners who say their pet has never struck at them. I personally believe they have also learned to read their snake’s body language, and know when it wants to be left alone.
That’s the real key to not getting bitten, and is one of the biggest differences between an amateur snake owner and an experienced one. Recognizing when it is prepared to bite, and keeping it calm enough to not do so.
The fact that reticulated pythons can be nippy for no apparent reason is part of what classifies them as aggressive.
When Are They Most Likely To Bite?
A better question might be, when are they not? When left alone!
I have seen retics prepare to bite the moment their enclosure is opened. I have also seen them turn around and strike at their keeper for no apparent reason while they were being handled.
And in the wild, they will almost certainly try to bite you if you attempt to grab one.
I don’t want to give them a bad rap. This article is about reticulated python aggression which is why I am focusing on that.
As I stated before, reticulated pythons have become much more docile over the years, and many experienced snake keepers rave about their pets.
That being said, they are still more aggressive than many of the other species in the pet industry.
I could never recommend this species to someone who has never owned a snake before. You need experience reading a snake’s body language before attempting to keep one yourself.
You should also be smart and never handle one while alone. These snakes average 16′ or more in length, and should always have two experienced handlers when taken out of their enclosure.
Are Reticulated Pythons Aggressive When Protecting Their Young?
Pythons lay eggs. The babies are completely independent from the time they hatch.
Unlike many species of pythons, mama retics will stay coiled on top of her eggs until they hatch. And yes; she is VERY protective of her clutch, much to the frustration of many a breeder.
Once the babies hatch, the mother will leave the “nest” and have nothing more to do with them. Other than mating, the father isn’t even part of the picture.
Other Things To Know About Reticulated Python Aggression
There are certain times when ALL snakes tend to be more aggressive, or defensive as the case may be.
One of those times is right before a reticulated python sheds.
When a snake is getting ready to shed, the skin over its eyes will begin to detach and it can’t see very well. When a snake can’t see, it is more likely to bite anything that disturbs it.
You should also be wary around feeding time.
Especially if you have prey in the house, have been feeding other snakes, or have otherwise come into contact with prey in any way. When a snake smells food or is hungry, it will go into hunting mode making it more likely to bite.
Finally, any time a reticulated python is sick it can become more aggressive.
This might be in part because it doesn’t feel well and is “cranky”. I would certainly attribute this to the reticulated python who sometimes just doesn’t want to be messed with.
They feel more vulnerable during when they are sick too though, which can lead to more defensive behaviors.
In Conclusion
Reticulated pythons are very large snakes with the capability of being very dangerous under certain circumstances.
While I have nothing against anyone owning one as a pet, I do caution people to make sure they are experienced and dedicated enough to devote themselves to this. These snakes can live over 30 years in captivity.
That is 30 years of owning a snake so large that it requires enough space to equal its own bedroom in the house, in addition to meeting its other needs like food and a clean enclosure.
As I’ve said, they are more aggressive than the average python, but that doesn’t make them bad snakes. It just means you need plenty of experience and dedication to safely raise one successfully.