Morelia spilotes variegata, better known as the carpet python is a mid-sized snake that some people seem to think look like oriental carpets. It is nowhere nears as large as the longest snake in the world (the reticulated Python, Python reticularis, which is an amazing thirty three feet long when fully grown), but it does get up to seventeen feet in length. It is native to many places, including New Guinea and Australia.

The carpet python can be kept as pets, but they do need plenty of space. If you are looking for something on a smaller scale that also has distinctive colorings then the Diamond python (Morelia spilotes spilotes) has diamond patterns and reaches just ten feet in length. It is closely related to the carpet python.

A vivarium for the carpet python should be kept at temperatures between twenty three and thirty degrees centigrade. In their native habitat they as happy climbing trees as they are burrowing so you should provide some good quality climbing branches. They won’t be climbing as much as a green tree python, but they will enjoy climbing nonetheless. A carpet python is just as likely to be found in woodland as a desert so that gives you a lot of latitude in setting up a vivarium.

An important consideration with a carpet python is that they are not that easy to handle as adults. They tend to move around a lot and wrap themselves around any loose objects once they are out of the vivarium. However, it is important that you handle them when they are young so they get used to human contact. Once they are adults you can still handle them if you have the patience! These legless, oily, reptiles have all their organs running down one side of their body.

When it comes to feeding your carpet python, it has a broader appetite than most reptiles. In will eat just about any mammal, and even take well to small birds. Thus in summary, these are beautiful creatures, that are not to hard to care for, but are not the ideal pet snake for handling. These beautiful elongated, reptiles, may lack legs, but they don’t lack character. They may lack ears, but the certainly pay attention.

Green tree pythons are another different to the carpet python, and I would say that they are more beautiful. See them at http://hubpages.com/hub/Green-Tree-Pythons

Tags: , ,

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!