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Care sheet

Children's Python

Antaresia childreni

Also known as: Spotted Python (complex)

Pythonidae · Squamata

BeginnerCITES IIIUCN LC
Activity
🌙 Nocturnal
Temperament
Docile
Adult length
30–42 in
Lifespan (captivity)
20–30 yrs
Native range
Northern Australia — rocky outcrops, savanna, and caves

Care guide

Overview

Children's Python (Antaresia childreni) — a small, docile, hardy Australian python that stays under ~3.5 ft, making it ideal for keepers with limited space. Named after zoologist J.G. Children, not for children.

Environment

Climate

Cool side
75–80 °F
Warm side
82–86 °F
Basking spot
88–92 °F
Nighttime
70–75 °F
Humidity (ambient)
40–60%

Housing

Enclosure

Orientation
Terrestrial
Bioactive setup
Suitable
Minimum size by life stage
  • HatchlingNot specified
  • JuvenileNot specified
  • Adult3x2x1.5 ft for an adult; a great small-python option

Housing

Substrate

Safe options
aspencoco fibercypress mulch
Avoid
cedarpine

Nutrition

Diet & feeding

Dietary type
Strict carnivore
Prey size by life stage
  • AdultAdult mice ~1-1.25x the snake's widest point
Feeding frequency by life stage
  • JuvenileEvery 7 days
  • AdultEvery 10-14 days

Care

Water & behavior

Water

Small sturdy water bowl; fresh water available at all times.

Legal & ecology

Conservation

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

CITES Appendix II (all pythons). One of the best beginner pythons: small, hardy, docile, long-lived.

Genetics

Morphs

Morph market
Active
Complexity
Simple

Citations

Sources

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

  1. Antaresia childreni — species account

    Animal Diversity Web, U. Michigan

    academic

    Range, small size, biology.

    Published: 2020-01-01

  2. Antaresia childreni — IUCN Red List (LC)

    IUCN

    government

    Least Concern; CITES Appendix II.

    Published: 2019-01-01

  3. Children's Python Care

    Morelia Python Radio / keeper community

    breeder community

    Small adult size, temps, feeding, temperament.

    Published: 2021-01-01

Children's Python (Antaresia childreni) care sheet — Herpetoverse