All care sheets

Care sheet

Carpet Python

Morelia spilota

Also known as: Diamond Python

Pythonidae · Squamata

IntermediateCITES IIIUCN LC
Activity
🌙 Nocturnal
Temperament
Docile
Adult length
60–100 in
Lifespan (captivity)
20–30 yrs
Native range
Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent Indonesian islands

Care guide

Overview

Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) — a semi-arboreal python that needs both floor space and height with sturdy branches. Adult size varies a lot by subspecies (jungle carpets stay smaller, coastal forms grow largest), so research your specific line. Juveniles can be flighty and nippy but most calm with routine, gentle handling.

Environment

Climate

Cool side
75–80 °F
Warm side
80–85 °F
Basking spot
95–100 °F
Nighttime
72–78 °F
Humidity (ambient)
40–60%

Housing

Enclosure

Orientation
Semi-arboreal
Bioactive setup
Suitable
Minimum size by life stage
  • HatchlingNot specified
  • JuvenileNot specified
  • Adult6.5x3x3 ft for an average adult; taller strongly preferred (semi-arboreal)

Housing

Substrate

Safe options
topsoilcoco fibercypress mulchleaf litter
Avoid
cedarpinedusty softwood bedding

Nutrition

Diet & feeding

Dietary type
Strict carnivore
Prey size by life stage
  • AdultRats/mice ~10% of body weight; no wider than 1.5x the snake at its widest
Feeding frequency by life stage
  • HatchlingEvery 7-14 days
  • JuvenileEvery 7-14 days
  • AdultEvery 2-4 weeks

Care

Water & behavior

Water

Large water bowl; fresh water available at all times.

Legal & ecology

Conservation

CITES
Appendix II
IUCN Red List
LC · Least Concern
Wild populations

Least Concern; CITES Appendix II. Adult size is strongly subspecies/locality dependent.

Genetics

Morphs

Morph market
Active
Complexity
Moderate

Citations

Sources

Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.

  1. Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) Care Sheet

    ReptiFiles (Mariah Healey)

    breeder community

    Temps, humidity, enclosure formula, UVB, feeding frequency, substrate, prey sizing.

    Published: 2022-01-01

  2. Carpet Python Care Guide (Morelia spilota)

    CarpetPythons.com

    breeder community

    Ambient temperature and subspecies-size corroboration.

    Published: 2021-01-01

  3. Morelia spilota — conservation status (LC) and CITES II

    IUCN / CITES

    government

    Least Concern; regulated under CITES Appendix II (verify primary IUCN page before republishing).

    Published: 2018-01-01

Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) care sheet — Herpetoverse