Spotted Pythons

[Weather1]

I was wondering if anyone keeps these? I saw one in a local pet shop and when I looked it up on the internet, I found very little info.

What is there temperment like and housing requirements. Also how much should they be selling for?

Thanks

[Zoe]

Hi,
They tend to be very docile (hence their other name, Children's Python). They don't get too big (4-5ft). The cage should be about 3.5-4W x 2-3D x 2H.

Cost depends on looks, can range from 150 to 250.

Zoe

[Clownfishie]

Hi Kevin,

They stay quite small for a python, generally around 4-5 feet. Following general housing rules, you'd want a cage that was about 2/3 the length of the snake long, and 1/2 the length of the snake deep... So something along the lines of 3'L x 2'W. To the best of my knowledge, these guys aren't arboreal really, so height wouldn't matter so much. Keep in mind that those are minimum caging requirements -- more space is always better :) Obviously if you get a youngster, you could get away with a smaller cage for a while until it reaches adult size.

As for temparment, they're considered to be quite calm, although as always you might find that babies can be a bit nippy.

For everything else, care is essentially the same as for Children's pythons (different species, very similar to spotted pythons -- they were once thought to be the same snake)... there's a good care sheet here: http://www.a1pythons.com/childrens.html

Henry Piorun has some for sale (or had some) at http://www.a1pythons.com/Oct21.htm for $100 each, plus shipping. That's a fairly standard price I think, although you might find some a bit more expensive than that.

Hope that helped a bit :)
Jen

[snakemann87]

I heard they stay around 3ft, but I could be wrong. All the ones at the herp shows ive handled were very tame, and good feeders from what i here. Keep an eye out on purchasing from a pet store, unless its a herp store, but still check him carefully.

[stormyva]

They do stay quite small... If my memory serves me right, the Spotted (around 4' max) will get a little bigger than the Childrens (3' max). I can not speak for all baby spotted/childrens but this is what I have experienced with them.....
The babies are nippy but they will settle down quickly.
Babies can be a total p.i.t.a. to get on a regular feeding schedule. It took me close to six or eight weeks to get mine eating when I got it. Several other people that I know that have owned them have had similar problems. Now it was one of the best eaters I have though... tagging f/t pinkie mice before the even hit the floor of the feed tub :)
For the cage.... They are very shy snakes and like to have a lot of hides in the cage. (Mine spends most of its time hidden in the substrate under the water bowl)start small and work up with the cage.... a 10 gallon or smaller for a baby is fine. I would recommend that you use a bark type substrate that will allow it to burrow if desired.

http://www.stormyworld.net/pages/animals/spot/spot_aug02_02.JPG
http://www.stormyworld.net/pages/animals/spot/spot_1-04_05.JPG

[Steve]

Hey
I just recently got 1.1 of these. They're great little snakes so far. From what I've read and been told they get to 3-4feet(4 being a large one). Mine seem to like to climb a fair amount. The need the same care as childrens pythons...goto henry piorun's caresheet at a1pythons.com

[snakemann87]

awesome, got any pics steve?

[Weather1]

Thanks every one for the help

[Andrew]

Yea they don't get too large as has been said. I kept mine when it was a juvenile in a 30 gallon extra high. The top of filled with branches of all sorts and the tank resembled that of an arboreal snake. Every night she would be out and about in the branches climbing everywhich way. So just because they say they aren't arboreal doesn't mean that they won't climb. For an adult, I woud house it in a 75 gallon just so it has plenty of room. I really don't like to cramp my snakes so this would give it plenty of room.

[Katt]

I just wanted to clarify Zoe, spotteds are not children's pythons. Two different species going on there.

[Ian]

Spotted pythons can get up to 5ft and they have a great feeding response. I've been bitted quite a few times by one of my males, but the others just responsed when food is around. My female is the one I'm actually worry about bitting me since she is 5ft heh.