Children's python (Antaresia childreni)

Short answers

Children's python: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×50×50 cm for an adult animal around 1 m long; 120×60×60 cm for animals 1.2 m long (rule of thumb for ground-dwelling snakes: total length × 0.5 × 0.5).

Children's python: What temperature does it need?

Daytime gradient: warm side 28–31 °C, cool side 24–27 °C, basking spot 33–35 °C, at night 22–24 °C.

Children's python: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Optional.

Children's python: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20–30 years, individual animals over 30.

Children's python: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

gradient: warm side 28–31 °C, cool side 24–27 °C

Night temperature

22–24 °C

Basking spot

33–35 °C

Humidity

50–60 %

UVB

Optional

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×50 cm for an adult animal around 1 m long; 120×60×60 cm for animals 1.2 m long (rule of thumb for ground-dwelling snakes: total length × 0.5 × 0.5)

Substrate

Bark mulch, coco humus or a sand-soil mix

Feeding

Food

Mice (frozen-thawed)

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

80–120 cm, females somewhat larger; individual animals larger still

Life expectancy

20–30 years, individual animals over 30

Origin

Northern Australia

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B (registration required)

Brumation

None (a slight drop for breeding is optional)

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is recommended. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company. 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.

Notes

A small, quiet python, good for beginners and for limited space. Mainly ground-dwelling and nocturnal.

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

• Anthill python (Antaresia perthensis) – Beginner
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• Stimson's python (Antaresia stimsoni) – Beginner
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• Desert kingsnake (Lampropeltis splendida) – Beginner
• Florida kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula floridana) – Beginner
• Western fox snake (Pantherophis vulpinus) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Children's python (Antaresia childreni) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×50 cm for an adult animal around 1 m long; 120×60×60 cm for animals 1.2 m long (rule of thumb for ground-dwelling snakes: total length × 0.5 × 0.5)), substrate (Bark mulch, coco humus or a sand-soil mix), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.