Care Guide Series

Carpet Python

(Morelia Spilota)

A great pet of larger size but with manageable humidity requirements.

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A young carpet python

Difficulty: Intermediate

  • Size: This is a large species and will likley require a custom enclosure

Adult Size

  • 5 to 9 feet (1.5 to 2.7 meters)
    • Some subspecies can reach up to 13 feet (3.9 meters)

Life Cycle

  • Average Lifespan: 15-20+ years
  • Oviparous: Egg Laying

Enclosure Size

  • 48x24x24 inches minimum for an adult
    • Some subspecies get larger than others and as such, will require a larger enclosure

Husbandry Values

  • Temperature:
    • Ambient: 78-80°F (25.6-26.7°C)
    • Basking: 88-90°F (31.1-32.2°C)
      • The basking area should never exceed 95°F (35°C)
  • Humidity: 50-60% (60-70% while in shed)
  • Lighting: No specific requirements
    • UV Light can be beneficial

Diet

  • Carnivore: Rats or Mice. May enjoy chicks

Behavior Notes

  • Semi-Arboreal: These snakes may enjoying climbing and will also make use of a "basking shelf"
  • Temperament: Captive bred species are naturally docile & curious
  • Ambush Predator: This species hunts by surprising and wrapping its prey

***These care sheets assume that you understand the basics of snake care & husbandry.
If you are a new snake owner, it is recommended that you read our articles on general reptile care and then fine tune the requirements for the specific species you are interested in.

Climate & Husbandry

Carpet pythons are widespread throughout various parts of Australia, and are also found in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia (West Papua), and some Indonesian islands. They are found in a variety of habitats including rainforest, grasslands, and semi-arid deserts (and possibly your house, if you live in Australia).

Carpets are semi-arboreal and may utilize trees or creep along the ground.

Feeding

This species is carnivorous and feeds on rodents. Feeding a rodent that is big around as the snake’s girth an average of once every 7 days is a good guideline here. As your carpet grows, monitor the snake’s weight—you may feed less frequently to avoid obesity.

Some carpets are notorious “mousers” and resistant to switching to rats as they grow. In this case, multiple smaller food items may be necessary.

References