Children's Python
The Children’s python is a non-venomous snake belonging to the family Pythonidae. It is a mostly nocturnal species that is found across the north of Australia from northern Western Australia to north western Queensland. The Children’s python feeds on small mammals, birds and other reptiles, constricting the prey before swallowing it whole. The species can grow to a maximum size of just over a metre but are typically smaller. They are generally a reddish brown colour, with a darker top side and can be either blotched or unpatterned.
The Children’s python is a popular pet for reptile enthusiasts and is commonly seen in zoos throughout Australia. It is regarded as a suitable snake for keeping in schools due to its size, hardiness in captivity, good nature and and it is non-venomous. Because of their size when mature, species, such as the Carpet python and Diamond Python are not recommended for keeping in schools.
A reptile expert or veterinarian should be contacted prior to purchasing snakes for schools.
Introduction to the small pythons
Watch Introduction to the small pythons (1:28)
Narrator: Toronga Zoo keeper
Right beside me here is the enclosure for a small Australian python. And this one here is the Children’s Python. It’s a group of species as well as the Stimson’s Python and the Spotted Python. And they’re a group of small Australian pythons that only get to about one and a half metres in total length, between one and one and a half metres in length and they’re found over most of Australia except for the far southern regions.
So, a species found in the desert, across the north and tropical area and also right down the east coast and in the sub tropical and tropical regions.
All Australian pythons are nonvenomous, they’re constrictors, so they naturally bite and constrict their food before consuming it. So, they’re totally nonvenomous. They only grow to about just over a metre in length. So, they’re only a fairly small sized python.
Typically, they’re fairly terrestrial, they will climb in amongst rocks also in small trees and so forth, but they’re most found around the grounds and under rocky outcrops.
When setting up an enclosure for this species one of the most important things to consider is the heating. Like all reptiles they need to be able to thermoregulate so they can be able to keep their body temperature at what would be optimum for that species.
For something like a small Australian Python like Children’s Python ideally you have a cooler end of the enclosure that gets down to about twenty five degrees Celsius. A warmer end of the enclosure that gets to around thirty degrees Celsius and preferably an area that gets a little bit warmer than that either underneath the basking light or on a heated heat mat or a heat cooler which gets to the low to mid thirty degrees Celsius where they can sit and rest and elevate their body temperature after consuming a meal.
[End of transcript]