White-lipped python – southern (Bothrochilus hoserae)

Short answers

White-lipped python – southern: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 240×120×180 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, white-lipped pythons).

White-lipped python – southern: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 27–32 °C, basking spot 33 °C, at night 23–26 °C.

White-lipped python – southern: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0).

White-lipped python – southern: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

White-lipped python – southern: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

27–32 °C

Night temperature

23–26 °C

Basking spot

33 °C

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 240×120×180 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, white-lipped pythons)

Substrate

Coco humus and bark mulch, a cork tube, climbing branches, a large water dish

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed rats of a suitable size

Feeding interval

every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

180–240 cm

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

Southern New Guinea

Protection status

Protected: CITES Appendix II, EU Annex B - proof of origin required at purchase and resale.

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Single housing. Snakes live solitarily; both care sheets on the white-lipped python advise putting each animal in its own enclosure, and only brief, supervised introductions for breeding are considered acceptable. The drawback of any shared housing is the feeding accident: if two animals grab the same prey, one can swallow the other, and it is no longer clear which animal has eaten. Because the species delimitation is disputed, origin and species name should be documented when buying.

Notes

A golden-brown head with white-edged lips; the body has a strong iridescent sheen. Very quick to bite, especially wild-caught animals – ask specifically for captive-bred ones. It needs high humidity.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• White-lipped python – d'Albertis (Bothrochilus albertisii) – Intermediate
• White-lipped python – Biak (Bothrochilus biakensis) – Intermediate
• White-lipped python – northern (Bothrochilus boa) – Intermediate
• Red blood python (Python brongersmai) – Intermediate
• Sumatran short-tailed python (Python curtus) – Intermediate
• Borneo short-tailed python (Python breitensteini) – Intermediate
• Common egg-eating snake (Dasypeltis scabra) – Intermediate
• Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep White-lipped python – southern (Bothrochilus hoserae) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 240×120×180 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, white-lipped pythons)), substrate (Coco humus and bark mulch, a cork tube, climbing branches, a large 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.