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Care
Experience: Beginner snake keeper
Food: Live or dead prey.
Feeding adults: every 14 days
Feeding young: Every 7 days
Water dish: Yes
Water changes: 3 times a week
Feeding:
You can choose to offer the prey live or dead. It is recommended to offer dead food. This is more practical and prevents the prey animal from injuring your snake. It is also recommended to offer the prey animal with feeding tongs. If you do choose to use live food, you must supervise feeding, as the prey animal can also injure the snake. If you keep multiple snakes in an enclosure, feed them separately. This is because if two snakes eat the same prey, they can injure each other and sometimes even eat each other. The ideal prey animal is approximately the same width as the widest part of the snake.
Water
Like other pythons, this python is a true water lover. Besides drinking, they also bathe in it. Therefore, the water dish must be large enough for the snake to bathe its entire body in. This bathing can cause the water to become dirty, so it's not a problem to change the water more than three times a week.
Cleaning
To prevent disease and bacterial buildup, the enclosure must be kept clean. This can be done weekly, and it's also wise to thoroughly clean and disinfect the enclosure a few times a year. This prevents bacterial buildup. When cleaning, make sure to also clean climbing branches and raised areas.
Handling
To feed the spotted python and clean its enclosure, your snake will need to be handled. This must be done properly, of course, to ensure the safety of both you and the snake. Handle the snake with a snake hook or lift it with both hands. Do not hang your snake around your neck, as if it falls, it will clamp around your neck. There are also some important things to keep in mind when handling a spotted python. First, make sure your snake understands that you're going to handle it and move calmly when handling it. Also, make sure your hands are washed and free of food odors. Finally, don't handle your snake while it's shedding, and don't handle it in the dark.
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Housing
Minimum enclosure size for one snake: 80 x 40 x 50 cm
Lying area: 0.5 m² with at least one raised perch for each snake to lie on.
Daytime temperature (warm): 28-32°C
Daytime temperature (cool): 23-25°C
Nighttime temperature: 20-23°C
Light hours: 12 hours
Humidity: 60%-70%
Substrate: bark, peat, sand, or peat litter
Equipment
The spotted python is found in the scrubland of Australia. Here, the python lives on the ground and in branches. This habitat should be replicated with climbing opportunities, such as branches. In addition, a hiding place should be provided in the form of a burrow, cave, or piece of wood. Ensure that the hiding place is large enough for the snake to lie completely under. Finally, like other pythons, they need to bathe. To achieve this, they need a water dish large enough for the snake to lie down with its entire body.
There are a few additional things to consider regarding the enclosure. Spotted pythons, for example, are quite adept at escaping, and it's important to ensure they can't simply open their door. You can do this by placing a lock on the enclosure. Ventilation is also necessary to keep the air fresh, and it's recommended to place the enclosure out of direct sunlight and as vibration-free as possible.
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Costs and Purchase
Legislation: The spotted python is classified as a CITES II species. To own this snake, you need CITES or transfer papers. You should receive these upon purchase.
One-time costs: These include the costs of the enclosure, lighting, heating, water tank, and decorations. This can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand euros. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.
Fixed costs: Fixed costs include the cost of food, which amounts to several tens of euros per year.
Unexpected costs: There are costs incurred if your snake accidentally becomes ill or your equipment breaks down.
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