Mexican burrowing python (Loxocemus bicolor)

Short answers

Mexican burrowing python: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 100×65×65 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Mexican burrowing pythons).

Mexican burrowing python: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–31 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 21–24 °C.

Mexican burrowing python: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not required.

Mexican burrowing python: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

Mexican burrowing python: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–31 °C

Night temperature

21–24 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

65–80 %

UVB

Not required

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 100×65×65 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Mexican burrowing pythons)

Substrate

Coco humus and sand 15–20 cm for burrowing, leaf litter, a water dish

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice, reptile eggs

Feeding interval

1×/week

Key facts

Adult size

90–130 cm

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

Mexico to Costa Rica

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

A cooler dry spell of 6–8 weeks

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company — a shared hide is competition for the best spot, not social behaviour. The concrete reason is the feeding accident: if two animals grab the same food item, one can swallow the other along with it. On top of that, once they are kept together you can no longer tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight. For breeding, put them together under supervision and separate them again afterwards.

Notes

The only member of its family, burrowing and nocturnal. In the wild it regularly eats reptile eggs – quail eggs can serve as an enrichment. Deep substrate is essential.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Mexican burrowing python (Loxocemus bicolor) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Sunbeam snake (Xenopeltis unicolor) – Intermediate
• Rubber boa (Charina bottae) – Intermediate
• Calabar burrowing python (Calabaria reinhardtii) – Intermediate
• Red pipe snake (Anilius scytale) – Expert
• Red-tailed pipe snake (Cylindrophis ruffus) – Intermediate
• Common egg-eating snake (Dasypeltis scabra) – Intermediate
• Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) – Intermediate
• Andean milk snake (Lampropeltis micropholis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Mexican burrowing python (Loxocemus bicolor) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 100×65×65 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Mexican burrowing pythons)), substrate (Coco humus and sand 15–20 cm for burrowing, leaf litter, a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.