Data sheet carpet python
Trade name:
carpet python
Latin name:
Morelia spilota
Origin:
Queensland (Australia) and New Guinea
Size:
Depending on the subspecies up to 200 cm
Life expectancy:
20 years with species-appropriate husbandry
Behavior/stocking:
They live well together in groups except during the mating season and when feeding with live animals
Groups vs. individual housing:
single keeping and group keeping problem-free; during the mating season, males can become aggressive towards each other, as well as when feeding live animals, so they should then be temporarily separated
Lining:
live food (mice, rats) or frost mice and frost rats; some specimens spurn frozen food and only accept live mice or rats
difficulty level
medium Andrew Mercer, Carpet Python – AndrewMercer IMG22422, CC BY-SA 4.0
The carpet python is a constrictor with a striking pattern that is somewhat reminiscent of the pattern on an oriental carpet.
The natural range of the reptile with the Latin name Morelia spilota is the rainforests in Australia’s Queensland and New Guinea, where it likes to live in trees.
Keeping them in a suitable terrarium is not a problem. However, previous practical experience in keeping and caring for snakes is advantageous because the carpet python has a few special features that must be observed for its well-being. Overall, carpet pythons are very popular with terrarium keepers.
Although the carpet python is not immediately threatened with extinction, it is listed by the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CITES under Appendix II or Appendix B within the EU.
This means that carpet pythons are potentially endangered and subject to controlled trade. In plain language, this means that proof of origin must be available in the form of an invoice for possible submission to authorities, which must contain a full description of the seller.
acquisition and maintenance
You should only buy carpet pythons from recognized and experienced breeders. This has the advantage that you always have a contact person if, contrary to expectations, there should be any problems with your carpet python.
We recommend making sure that the breeder has registered his breeding operation with the responsible nature conservation authority. We advise against buying on reptile exchanges, this is especially true for beginner terrarians.
Before buying the carpet python, it is important to deal with the special features that are important for keeping it in the terrarium. Above all, you should have the terrarium ready for use at home and have tried it out for a few days in «dry running».
Adult, i.e. full-grown carpet pythons are not aggressive if you spare them stress in the form of constantly changing daily routines and always approach the python in a calm manner.
requirements for the terrarium
Completely non-toxic, carpet pythons like to live in trees and have the appropriate inclination to climb. They feel particularly comfortable in your terrarium if they also have the opportunity to climb there.
Therefore, the terrarium should not only have a sufficient base area of 150 to 200 cm in length and a depth of 75 to 100 cm, but also a height of at least 90 cm, preferably 100 to 150 cm.
A height of over 100 cm offers the opportunity to build in branches for climbing and to build in at least two sufficiently large platforms at different heights.
What the carpet python especially loves are opportunities to hide under roots or other suitable objects for a while and thus make themselves invisible.
Your terrarium should be stable and easy to clean. The temperature must be in the range of 27 to 31 degrees Celsius and is lowered by a few degrees at night and in winter.
If you want to treat your carpet python to something particularly good, set it up in a hot spot with a temperature of 35 to 37 degrees Celsius, where it can warm up and, as a cold-blooded animal, bring it up to the necessary operating temperature.
The python feels comfortable in a relative humidity range of 60 to 80 percent. If you are installing terrarium spotlights for lighting, they must be secured with wire mesh so that the snake does not accidentally come into direct contact with the hot light source.
Terrarium soil and snake bedding are suitable as bedding. If necessary, the floor can also be covered with absorbent paper such as newspaper or kitchen paper, which is replaced regularly. It is important that no sharp objects fall on the ground that could injure the reptile.
Cedricguppy – Loury Cédric, Morelia spilota – MenagerieParis 02, CC BY-SA 4.0
gender differences
Both female and male carpet pythons are well suited for keeping in the terrarium. Males are usually a little larger and heavier than the females.
Adult male animals are a little easier to keep alone, because they are usually a bit calmer and only slightly aggressive if you always approach them without hectic and stressful.
feed and nutrition
Carpet pythons are hunters and feed primarily on small prey, which they hunt and choke. They love variety, which is why such different animal species as frogs, mice, rats and young birds are on their menu.
They don’t despise small lizards either. Most carpet pythons are content with frozen food in the terrarium, i.e. frozen mice and rats. You just have to make sure that the frozen food has been thawed well and long enough and, if possible, warmed up to around body temperature.
However, some specimens insist on live food. They refuse frozen food and only eat prey they have killed themselves.
If you have problems with this for ethical or organizational reasons, it is advisable to check whether your reptile also accepts frozen food before you buy it.
acclimatization and handling
After a certain period of acclimatization to a new environment, dealing with the adult carpet python is quite easy. He likes it quiet and doesn’t like stress. Above all, he does not like a rush.
However, once he has got used to you, he can tolerate being carefully taken out of the terrarium. He then likes to wrap himself around your arm.
If the winding gets a little too tight at first, you can gently stroke it to get it to let go. Under no circumstances should you use force.
FAQ
Are carpet pythons poisonous?
Carpet pythons are constrictors and are not poisonous. They hold their live prey with their teeth and then entangle it very tightly.
How do carpet pythons reproduce?
The months of August to October are the right months for mating. If several males compete for the female, they can become aggressive towards each other.
After about two months, the fertilized female lays 10 to 20 eggs, which are the size of chicken eggs. In some cases it can even be more.
The female surrounds the eggs and virtually incubates them by surrounding the eggs and keeping them warm with muscle tremors. Hatching takes about 2 months. The baby snakes are about 25 to 45 cm long when they hatch and weigh 20 to 25 g.