The best way to go about finding pythons in Krabi, Thailand is to have patience and go herping for pythons when it’s raining.
Are Pythons in Krabi?
Yes, there are many pythons living in the Krabi area. In Krabi, we have Reticulated Pythons (Malayopython reticulatus – see the image at top of page) and Blood Pythons (Python brongersmai). Krabi is not known to have Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus), but Phang Nga has them.
On average, we see around 30 pythons per year. It’s possible to target pythons on a herping trip. There are certain things you can do to increase the likelihood of success in finding pythons in Krabi and anywhere in Thailand.
How Big Do Pythons Get in Thailand?
In Krabi we’ve hatched out Reticulated Python eggs before and they start out around 60 cm and we’ve seen all the way up to 5+ meter long pythons.
Only the really big ones (4m+) are dangerous to people unless you’re trying to catch them or tease them.
The average size Reticulated Python seen in the area is around 2-3 meters. The average Blood Python is 1-2 meters long, with some slightly larger.
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What Do Pythons Eat?
Pythons eat a range of prey and they must eat often to maintain their large size and satisfy their appetite.
Reticulated and Burmese Pythons can eat other snakes, monitors, other lizards, chickens, birds, frogs, cats, dogs, rats, slow lorises, and just about anything else, including goats, monkeys, mouse deer, river cats, hog badgers, civets, and occasionally even people.
Blood pythons (above) eat chickens and other prey that size and smaller.
Their prey dictates where they will be found. Dogs and cats without homes frequently fall victim to a hungry python. This is why residential areas hold so many pythons. Canals in Bangkok are full of pythons and it’s easy to find them there at night if you go looking with a flashlight.
Best Places to Find Pythons in Krabi?
Pythons love water. Just remember that. They can be found in rivers, streams, and on rainy days and nights moving through the rainforest.
Here is a list of some places we’ve found Reticulated Pythons over the years in Krabi:
- 12x – Crossing the road in Krabi Noi on the way to Phanom Bencha Mountain Resort (PBMR). Almost always at night and while raining.
- 40x? – Crossing the road at various places, usually outside of town and in wooded areas, but occasionally in residential areas.
- 30x? – PBMR grounds at night while herping with small groups.
- 6x – Krabi River. A couple of times pythons could be seen from the mangrove walkway, usually swimming in the water.
- 20x? – Mangrove trees in the Krabi River while on a herping tour for Mangrove Pit Vipers by boat. They wrap around branches and sleep there, probably waiting for monitor lizards or birds.
- 8x – Huay Toh Waterfall area of the national park. Sometimes we stay overnight in the bungalows and see the pythons swimming up current to find frogs and other animals at night.
Here is Where We’ve found Blood Pythons:
- 9x – Rubber tree plantations in depressions or holes on the ground.
- 5x – Crossing roads in heavy rain in rainforest areas.
Blood Pythons are significantly harder to target and locate as a snake species because they are not very mobile and they are so much smaller and located away from residential areas usually.
Where is the Best Chance to Find a Python while Herping in Krabi?
The best place to find pythons in Krabi would be a place where there are chickens around. We have had more calls to go pickup pythons around chicken coups than any other place. Pythons love the smell of chickens and they can eat 6 at a time if they are not disturbed.
If you keep chickens in your yard, you will have a python visit almost for sure at some point.
The best time to go look for pythons would be during a heavy rain. Pythons love the rain and will be mobile looking for other animals on the ground during rain. Anywhere near ponds, lakes, and especially streams where frogs and monitor lizards can be found is a great place to find pythons too.
Do You Want to Go Herping for Pythons in Krabi? Mangrove Pit Vipers?
We now offer a DAY and NIGHT KRABI HERPING TOUR >
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