Spotted Python

OVERVIEW

Ease of Care: Beginner

Size: 3 to 4 ft on average
Life Span: Up to 20 years
Diet: Rodents, Poultry
Temperament: Friendly
Background Temp: 24°c-26°c (75°f-79°f)
Hot/Basking Spot: 28°c to 32°c (85°f-90°f)

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 TOP TIPS HOUSING

After feeding, let your snake digest its meal A relevant sized Vivarium offers the ideal
for 48/72 hours before any handling. housing solutions for a Spotted Python
If your snake refuses to feed, try offering a dependent on size and age.
smaller or larger food item.
A snake will normally refuse its food when it is Young Spotted Pythons:
about to shed, so wait until the snake has Monkfield Standard Vivarium 36x18x18”
fully shed before offering food. (DVF36)
A bad shed is normally a sign of something
wrong in the snake’s environment. If your Juvenile/Adult Spotted Pythons
snake has a bad shed, try soaking it in Monkfield Standard Vivarium 36x24x24”
lukewarm water and removing any left over (DVF3624)
Monkfield Standard Vivarium 48x18x18”
(DVF48)
Monkfield Standard Vivarium 48x24x24”
(DVF4824)

EQUIPMENT NEEDED
Housing: Vivarium
Heating: Heat Bulb, Ceramic Heat Bulb
Lighting: UV Tube (Light Cycle: 12 hours of
light)
Substrate: HabiStat Orchid Bark (HSO10M)
or Arcadia EarthMix Arid (RAREA10)
Water: Water Bowl

ENVIRONMENT
Terrestrial Vivarium Setup Heating
Spotted Pythons are an ectothermic (cold-blooded)
animal, so they take all their heat requirements from
external sources.

Heating a Vivarium
A HabiStat 100w heat bulb (HBB100) should be set up
using a ceramic bulb holder such as the Arcadia Pro
Ceramic Lamp Holder & Bracket (RADCHP), which can
be mounted on the roof of the Vivarium,
approximately 20cm from one side.
The 100w heat bulb should be used in conjunction
with a HabiStat Dimming Thermostat (HTDW).
Dimming thermostats are designed to regulate
temperatures using a thermostat probe (also known
as a sensor). Correct placement of the probe is critical
to avoid overheating and injury to the snake.
The probe should be positioned on the floor in the Substrates and Decoration
basking area and the probe cable should be taped to Personal choice will dictate how you decorate
the floor 2-8cm (1-3”) back from the actual probe your Vivarium, but we recommend the following
sensor. This will ensure an accurate temperature as a guide:
reading and prevent the probe becoming dislodged. 1. Substrates: A dry and non-dusty substrate
Carefully place the substrate on top of the probe that is easy to spot clean; HabiStat Jungle
cable leaving just the probe above the surface. Bio (HSJB10), Arcadia EarthMix/Arid (RARE10
A Spotlight Guard should be used to surround the / RAEA10), HabiStat Coir Block (HSCB) or
heat bulb to prevent the animal coming into direct HabiStat Orchid Bark (HSO10M).
contact with the heat source. 2. Wood and branches for hiding under,
crawling on and to help with shedding.
Temperature and Monitoring 3. Artificial or live plants for decoration and to
As a rough guide, daytime temperatures should be provide darker areas for the Spotted Python
between 28⁰c to 32⁰c (85⁰f-90⁰f) in the basking zone, to hide away.
going down to 23°C-25⁰C (74°F-77⁰F) at the cooler 4. Hide(s) to allow the snake to hide away if it
end of the enclosure. chooses to and give it an area to feel safe
Room temperature in most cases allows for a stable and secure.
drop of ambient temperature overnight of around Lighting
23⁰c-25⁰c (74⁰f-77⁰f). This would also be a suitable Provide UV lighting throughout the snake’s life. The
temperature for the ambient / cooler end during the UVB required will vary depending on setup size:
day. If maintaining these overnight temps proves to Arcadia Pro T5 24w (RARTP24F)
be a problem, then use the HabiStat Black Magic Monkfield Standard Vivarium 36x18x18” (DVF36)
Ceramic Heater 100w (HBC100). Make sure Monkfield Standard Vivarium 36x24x24”
temperatures are checked regularly with 2 probed (DVF3624) Arcadia Pro T5 39w (RARTP39F)
thermometers (one in both the hot and cooler ends) Monkfield Standard Vivarium 48x18x18” (DVF48)
to ensure that there are no extreme fluctuations. Monkfield Standard Vivarium 48x24x24”
(DVF4824)
Ensure that it is fitted correctly and securely overhead
DIET & WATER to avoid any injuries to the snake.

Provide appropriately sized, defrosted feeders

throughout the snake’s life. The feed size offered to
SUPPLEMENTATION
your snake should be no larger in diameter than 1-
1.5 times the width of the snake at its widest point. Spotted Python do not require additional
Fresh, clean water must always be accessible and supplementation. However, the occasional light
positioned at the cool end of the environment; this sprinkling (few times yearly) with a multivitamin
prevents the water from evaporating quickly and (DXVAV) on the chosen rodent can be beneficial.
causing an unwanted humidity increase.
HEALTH & HYGIENE
We recommend the following cleaning routine to keep your Spotted Python healthy and happy:

Water Substrate Enclosure

Check vents on enclosure

Daily Change old water for are not blocked and
Spot clean
fresh water. allow air to pass through
freely

Agitate substrate to prevent

Wipe down glass with a
WEEKLY any bacterial build-up and
Disinfect water bowl or dish reptile safe disinfectant
remove any dirty bedding

Wipe down inside the

Full substrate change
Monthly enclosure and disinfect
décor with a reptile safe
disinfectant

Always wash your hands, surfaces and equipment with warm water and disinfectant immediately before and
after handling or feeding your Spotted Python, their food, enclosure and any other equipment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A Spotted Python will shed its skin every so often, depending on how big the snake is and how quickly it’s
growing.
As a rule, a young snake will shed every 3 to 6 weeks, and an older snake every 2 to 6 months.
The best way to tell that your Spotted Python is going to shed its skin is to look at its general colour and eyes,
the Spotted Python will appear duller than normal and may have a washed out look. This will become more
obvious as the Spotted Python nears shedding its skin, the snake’s eyes will appear clouded at first and will
eventually turn a bluey/grey colour.
Normal colouration will return once the Spotted Python has shed its skin.