Meet the Animals
Xena
Reticulated python · Malayopython reticulatus
Lemon, cream and all heart. Xena is a female Renick ghost tiger reticulated python, about 13 feet long, who is super sweet, gentle and super social.
Gentle giant
Sweet, social, always on the move
Xena is super sweet and gentle, very active and super social. She loves time out with Gilly, and at about 13 feet she makes quite the entrance.
The morph
Ghost meets tiger
In retics, Renick ghost is a recessive color gene, so it takes two copies to show. It softens her colors into that dreamy lemon and cream. (Heads up: “ghost” means something different in some other snake species.) Tiger is a pattern gene. One copy shows, two make a “super tiger,” and it stretches the white side spots into stripes.
Mealtime
Nonvenomous constrictor
Reticulated pythons are nonvenomous constrictors that hold their prey by squeezing. Xena dines on 10 lb pigs and rabbits.
Field notes
About reticulated pythons
- Reticulated pythons are the longest snakes on Earth. The record wild one, measured in Indonesia in 2026, was 23 ft 8 in!
- They come from Southeast Asia, from India to the Philippines and Indonesia.
- “Reticulated” means net-like, after their gorgeous geometric pattern.
- They're nonvenomous constrictors that hold their prey by squeezing.
- With good care they can live 20 to 30+ years.
Cared for by
Braxton “Gilly” Gilbert
Xena is cared for daily by Gilly at Jefe and Friends (Gilly's Exotics LLC). Questions? Email gillysexotics@gmail.com.