Spotted Python (Antaresia maculosa) Care Guide
Our first Spotted Python, Navani, when she was just a few months old. We put her into way too big of an enclosure!
Spotted Pythons are by far one of the best pet snakes and a personal favorite of ours! That being said, the care for Antaresia is pretty similar, and this Spotted Python care guide will apply to the whole genus.
We have a quick reference guide also!
Spotted Pythons are a small python species from Australia, they make great pets due to their hardiness and max size being around 3.5 to 4 feet. This species displays sexual dimorphism; females will generally get larger than males.
Details and Natural History:
Spotted Pythons’ natural habitats range from forests to more open ranges and are generally warm and temperate.
They are usually found around caves, rocky outcrops, and logs where they can hide, and they tend to like being in small, snug hides. While they are not very arboreal, they will definitely climb and have been known to catch bats while hanging from the tops of caves! I have noticed that younger animals tend to use elevation far more than adults. This is likely a response adapted to avoid dangers on the ground and the higher likelihood of small prey items in trees and shrubs.
Spotted pythons are shy but curious. Inside their enclosures, I always use a hook with my adults because they have a strong feeding response, biting first and asking questions later! However, once out, they are docile and very curious, often spending time trying to climb higher or find smaller crevices to explore.
Habitat and Enclosure Recommendations
I have kept this species in various enclosure types, and honestly find they don’t prefer as much space (generally).
They might use it at night, but generally either stay as high and snug as they can or as low and snug as they can! The takeaway here is to default to height if you want to offer a bigger enclosure, but put a hide up there for them. Always provide a lower hide, and subterranean hides are a surprising favorite!
Tip: a paper towel roll or two in the enclosure or partially buried in the substrate is always a favorite with smaller Spotted Pythons!
With an adult at 4 feet, I would try to ensure that a single animal is in a minimum enclosure of 2ft L x 2ft D x 1.5ft H.
My rule for minimum enclosure size is that the width times depth should generally be equal or greater than the animal's length. (2ft L x 2ft D = 4ft) Height is where it is tricky with this species since, again, they may or may not use it. If you can offer it, cool, make sure there is a hide up there, and your chances of them using it are way higher! I keep most of my adults in at least a 1/1.5 ft height enclosure to offer an elevated hide (its 50/50 if they use it).
A quick warning on smaller specimens, though: they are some of the best escape artists I have ever kept! I have had babies get through holes that I thought there would be no way to escape from. Navani once got out of her enclosure by squeezing through a hole cut for a cord, while the cord was still in it!
I prefer coco fiber chips for various reasons, but they don’t seem very picky. I have had a few specimens that will burrow if given the chance and others with no interest. One of the favorites for a breeding male I have is to dig out a hide underneath the water bowl. I started offering my subterranean hides and discovered they will sometimes default to these.
Note on racks: I know of several people who keep this species successfully in racks and have 1 adult who seems to prefer the small enclosed space (more relaxed when handling vs when he is in a bigger enclosure). If you choose a rack, just ensure they still have room to exercise and provide plenty of enrichment.
Temperature and Light
The ideal temperature for the species is an ambient temperature in the high 70s to mid 80s (78-85), with a hot spot in the high 80s (88-90).
A quick review of the average temperature in their native area shows the high average temperature ranges from the mid-70s to the high 80s and lows all the way down to the low 50s during a month or two out of the year.
I have tried light, no light (except the light in the room), light + UVB. No real difference in behavior, eating, etc. If you can do UVB, it is generally recommended for any species.
It is important to note that snakes have sleep/wake cycles just like us. You should always provide them with this type of cycle in whatever way you can. I generally just use the natural cycle in my region to adjust the lights on and off throughout the year. You can do the same with temperature to a point, but remember this species is from a warmer environment.
Humidity
While this species’ home range has higher humidity, frequently in the 65%-70% range, they are incredibly resilient and don’t seem to care about humidity (within reason). Maintain 30%-80% humidity and fresh, clean water, and they will continue to thrive; however, aiming to maintain humidity closer to their natural environment is always recommended.
Too low of humidity can lead to shedding issues and respiratory problems. Too high humidity leads to fungal growth or other infections, heightened risk of respiratory infections, and general problems in the enclosure.
Diet and Feeding
One of the best parts about Spotted Pythons is their food drive! They eat more consistently than any other species I keep; just watch out for your fingers. This species can generally be kept on mice for their entire lives. For babies and juveniles, I go for a prey size of 10-15% of their weight and feed every 5-7 days. Once they reach adult size, usually around 2 years, I slow it down to 5%-10% of their body weight every 10-14 days.
Be careful not to overfeed this species. They are pigs and will continue to eat far past what is healthy! This can lead to an overweight snake that is prone to health issues. Snakes that are “power fed” to grow quicker and larger may have shortened lifespans, reproductive problems, and an increased likelihood of cancer or organ failure.
It’s best to keep them on a healthy feeding tempo. Having a rigid schedule is also not required, and there is mounting evidence that a feeding regimen that has “fasting” times promotes better health in many species.
Health & Troubleshooting Problems
Luckily, I have had no feeding or health issues with any of my Spotted Pythons, and they are known for their hardiness. That said, I have fewer Antaresia than some of my other species. The best resource I know of is The Complete Carpet Python (Julander, Mutton, & Birch), which is linked in the “further reading”.
However, common issues with captive snakes are respiratory problems, shedding problems, and growths. The first two make up the bulk of any herp-keeping issues, and maintaining proper humidity and temperature will keep your pet healthy.
