Papuan olive python (Apodora papuana)

Short answers

Papuan olive python: How big does the enclosure need to be?

250×100×100 cm.

Papuan olive python: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 27–31 °C, basking spot 29–31 °C, at night 23–25 °C.

Papuan olive python: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended.

Papuan olive python: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20–25 years.

Papuan olive python: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

27–31 °C

Night temperature

23–25 °C

Basking spot

29–31 °C

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

250×100×100 cm

Substrate

Coco humus or bark mulch, very stable furnishings, a large water basin

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed rats; larger animals take rabbits

Feeding interval

adults every 2–4 weeks

Key facts

Adult size

250–400 cm

Life expectancy

20–25 years

Origin

New Guinea – rainforest and savannah

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

None

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

A very large, powerful python able to change colour. It needs a walk-in terrarium or a snake room – the space requirement is regularly underestimated.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Amethystine python (Simalia amethistina) – Intermediate to expert
• Angolan python (Python anchietae) – Intermediate
• Australian scrub python (Simalia kinghorni) – Intermediate
• Black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus) – Intermediate
• Boelen's python (Simalia boeleni) – Expert
• Burmese python (Python bivittatus) – Expert
• Indian python (Python molurus) – Expert
• Ball python (Python regius) – Beginner to intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Papuan olive python (Apodora papuana) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (250×100×100 cm), substrate (Coco humus or bark mulch, very stable furnishings, a large water basin), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.