Bob Clark Captive Bred Reptiles - Albino Burmese Python

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Albino Burmese Python - Python molurus bivitattus

The first python differing markedly from the wild type in appearance to become available was the amelanistic form of the Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus), known in the trade as the albino Burmese. This snake lacks all black pigment, but retains yellows and some pink. I first saw this snake in a March 1981 National Geographic article about the international trade in wild animals. The bright lemon yellow and white snake was owned by a Thai animal dealer. It was imported into the United States and sold by Tom Crutchfield. I obtained that snake in January of 1983, bred it to a normal female and hatched heterozygous (gene-carrying) babies that summer.

This trait, as are most of the traits commercially available in reptiles, is recessive. When an animal showing the trait is bred to a normal animal, the offspring are normal in appearance. For the offspring to exhibit the trait, both parents must show or carry the trait. In contrast, a dominant trait requires that only one parent have the trait, and all individuals that carry the trait exhibit the characteristics of the trait.

In the early summer of 1986, I hatched the first albino Burmese pythons. In contrast to the adult male, these snakes were bright orange, gold and white. The bright yellow color

develops with size and age. The snakes were available in good numbers from the start and commanded high prices for several years. The snake's prolific reproductive ability and the strong interest in propagating the animal have made it one of the most commonly kept snakes today. This one snake gave herpetoculture a real boost in the late 1980s.

Before this time, few reptiles ever sold for more than a few hundred dollars. Suddenly, snakes were viewed as an investment, an income-generating venture, not just a hobby that consumed dollars. It was a little disturbing to me at the time that no one seemed to be keeping these snakes for the enjoyment of it. Looking back, I think, in most cases, the profit motive was a justification that helped rationalize the purchase of an attractive, desirable, but expensive animal. I credit the albino Burmese python for allowing me to establish my own business breeding reptiles full time, generating the income necessary to allow it and increasing the market to make it all possible.