Carpet python – southwestern (Morelia spilota imbricata)

Short answers

Carpet python – southwestern: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 150×90×180 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, carpet and amethystine pythons up to 2 m). Height.

Carpet python – southwestern: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–31 °C, basking spot 33 °C, at night 16–20 °C.

Carpet python – southwestern: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0).

Carpet python – southwestern: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20–30 years.

Carpet python – southwestern: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–31 °C

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

33 °C

Humidity

50–65 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 150×90×180 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, carpet and amethystine pythons up to 2 m). Height

Substrate

Bark mulch, sturdy climbing branches, a cork tube, a water dish

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice and rats

Feeding interval

every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

120–180 cm

Life expectancy

20–30 years

Origin

South-western Australia

Protection status

Export from Australia is prohibited – only European captive-bred animals

Brumation

A winter rest of 8–12 weeks at 12–16 °C

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company — a shared hide is competition for the best spot, not social behaviour. The concrete reason is the feeding accident: if two animals grab the same food item, one can swallow the other along with it. On top of that, once they are kept together you can no longer tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight. For breeding, put them together under supervision and separate them again afterwards.

Notes

The smallest carpet python subspecies, boldly black and yellow. From a Mediterranean climate – it needs a distinct, cool winter rest, unlike the tropical forms.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Centralian carpet python (Morelia bredli) – Intermediate
• Darwin carpet python (Morelia spilota variegata) – Beginner
• Green tree python – Aru (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate
• Green tree python – Biak (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate
• Green tree python – Jayapura (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate
• Green tree python – Lereh (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate
• Green tree python – Merauke (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate
• Green tree python – Sorong (Morelia viridis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Carpet python – southwestern (Morelia spilota imbricata) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 150×90×180 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, carpet and amethystine pythons up to 2 m). Height), substrate (Bark mulch, sturdy climbing branches, a cork tube, a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.