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Carpet Python - Morelia spilota sp.
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| Jungle carpet pythons, Morelia spilota chenyei are among the most beautiful Australian pythons. This subspecies is typically found in the more tropical and humid forests of the Cape York Peninsula in northwestern Australia. (Photo: Joshua V. Feltham) | Young carpet pythons can be nervous snakes when it comes to handling. If you want a docile and easy to handle adult, you typically will have to put up with taking a few bites from a hatchling or juvenile snake in the process. This individual is poised and ready to strike. (Photo: Joshua V. Feltham) | This A grade jungle carpet python was hatched at Reptilia on Boxing Day 2003. It is just over a year old in this photograph and clearly illustrates the striking beauty of this subspecies. (Photo: Joshua V. Feltham) | ||||
General Information
Distribution — Various subspecies of this snake are found throughout most of Australia and New Guinea. The more brightly coloured specimens (referred to as 'Jungle Carpets') are found in northern Australia. While darker, but still attractive specimens are found in mostly in the central and southern parts of its habitat.
Habitat — Carpet pythons are found in a variety of different habitats ranging from grasslands and wooded savannahs as with the Southern Carpet Python (Morelia spilota imbricata) to the tree perches of the Jungle and Coastal Carpet pythons (Morelia spilota cheynei and mcdowelli) in heavily forested Australian subtropical rainforests.
Adult Size — The smallest carpet python is the Jungle Carpet, which is typically between 140 cm and 200 cm (4' 6" to 6' 6"). Southwestern Carpets generally reach lengths of 170 cm to 190 cm (5' 6" to 6' 3"), and Coastal carpets between 180 and 250 cm (6' to 8') . However, Coastal carpets have been known to reach lengths of 14 feet. Hatchling carpets of the three species listed above have a total length of approximately 42 cm.
Temperament — As with most partially arboreal snakes, carpets can be a little high strung. When young, carpet pythons are highly sensitive to potential threats. Translation, you may get bitten a few times when the animal is young. As time passes, you will learn to 'read' the snake's reaction to you and it will learn that you are not a threat. Translation, you won't get bitten as often!!!!
Longevity — Carpet pythons typically live to be between 20 and 30 years old in captivity.
Captive Care
Rating: 3 — Carpet pythons are readily available as domestically bred stock and they are easy to care for. Most subspecies are of a moderate size which makes them more desirable than larger species (i.e. burmese pythons, reticulated pythons...). Since they are more high strung than other species, they are definitely not the best choice for beginner keepers or young children.
Diet: Hatchlings and juveniles - pink/ fuzzy mice, hopper mice, and pink/fuzzy rats every 7 days; Adults - large rodents such as rats every 10 days.
Temperature: 25 to 30C (75-85F)
Space Requirements: An adult Carpet Python can be housed properly if kept in a terrarium with adequate vertical climbing space. A 4'x4'x2' tank is suitable for smaller species (ex: Jungle Carpets), but a 6'x4'x2' is better for larger subspecies (ex: Coastal Carpets). Young carpets can be housed in a 15 to 35 gallon terrarium for the first year or so.
Breeding: Carpet pythons generally reach sexual maturity at 2.5 to 3 years of age and can produce a clutch of eggs in a captive environment. Winter cooling is not absolutely necessary to induce breeding if the animals are kept in the low 80os throughout the year. Instead, it seems it is more important to have multiple males to induce combat behaviour which in turn stimulates copulation. Typically the eggs take between 49-72 days to incubate with a temperature between 90F and 92F.
Special Requirements: Daily misting is always a good way to increase humidity for the more tropical species such as the Jungle Carpet. An elevated hide spot such as a round piece of cork bark provides a good sense of security. The possibility of excessive handling and not enough arboreal climbing space (to provide the animal with a sense of security) are two factors to think about if your snake goes off food. However, if kept properly, carpet pythons tend to be a hardy snake.
Sources (Suggested Reading):
Barker, David G. and Tracy M. Barker. 1994. Pythons of the World. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Inc., Lakeside, California. Pp. 171.
Mattison, Chris. 1995. Keeping and Breeding Snakes. Cassell Publishing, London, UK. Pp. 184.
Ross, Richard A. and Gerald Marzec. 1990. The Reproductive Husbandry of Pythons and Boas. The Institute for Herpetological Research Stanford, California. Pp. 270.
Stoops, Erik d. and Annette T. Wright. 1993. Boas & Pythons: Breeding and Care. TFH Publications, Inc. Neptune City, NJ. Pp. 192.
Walls, Jerry G. 1998. The Living Pythons: A Complete Guide to the Pythons of the World. TFH Publications, Inc. Neptune City, NJ. Pp. 256.