python - Why can't I access more than 25 tweets using tweepy search API? -

i'm using tweepy in python search tweets. i'm using tweepy.api.search() query older tweets, , noticed can't access 500 tweets @ once. in fact, can't return more 25.

i have used both count , rpp (results per page) keywords. can't seem figure out if i'm not allowed access many tweets @ once, or if buggy. here code:

for tweet in api.search(q='obama', count=500, show_user=false, rpp=500,                         geocode='38.899722,-77.048363,500mi'):     print tweet.created_at, '\n',  tweet.text, '\n\n' 

this gives me 25 tweets output. here first few show it's working:

2015-04-01 16:42:28  "@jonahmarais: me , michelle obama dating guys" lot twist.  april fools day.     2015-04-01 16:42:05  "@jonahmarais: me , michelle obama dating guys" sike.    2015-04-01 16:38:44  forget #winstonchurchill #obama isn't measuring #nevillechamberlain says http://t.co/6jzqxjudrh #irantalks #israel  

you can't 500 tweets in single search because maximum value count parameter 100--it defaults smaller number if put in larger (or negative). looking @ count parameter in twitter api get search/tweets docs:

count - number of tweets return per page, maximum of 100.

this means can't more 100 results given search. might want check out tweepy cursor easy way search larger quantities of tweets.