Large and small, pythons are among the most commonly kept pet snakes. Ranging from the gentle Ball Python to the giant Burmese and Reticulated Pythons, this group of snakes offers something for almost any hobbyist experience level. Treated in detail are the best pet pythons (such as Ball Pythons and Carpet Pythons), the most dangerous species, and a selection of the less familiar types such as Blood Pythons and White-eyed Water Pythons. Emphasis is on captive care, including cages, feeding, maintenance, and safe handling, along with natural history and breeding. Fully illustrated in color, The Guide to Owning a Python is an excellent introduction to these fascinating snakes and should be read before any python is purchased as a pet.
Jerry G. Walls is an editor, author, and amateur conchologist who has described numerous species of marine and freshwater gastropods. Specializing in cones, cowries, conchs, and olives, he is best known for his 1979 publication Cone Shells: A Synopsis of the Living Conidae.