Spotted Python

A few weeks ago my local reptile shop got a spotted python in, and I was sold almost immediately. Not wanting to impulse buy, I left him alone and started doing research, but told myself that he’d probably be gone before I felt comfortable enough to bring him home.

Long story short, after letting him sit in the shop for three weeks, he came home with me on Wednesday. I hope you guys enjoy this quick picture my wife got before he went into his quarantine enclosure.


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You DID it! :D He's so adorable!!! You fought off an impulse-buy admirably well, but I can see why his cuteness won out...you were doomed from the start. ;)

I like his strong pattern, by the way. Mine is a "granite phase" meaning her pattern is reduced to tiny speckles much like granite- giving her an overall darker & greenish look. It didn't matter one bit to me (it was all about saving her life) but I prefer the pattern yours has, even though my girl is more "exotic". Either way, they're not very common pets in the U.S.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

You DID it! :D He's so adorable!!! You fought off an impulse-buy admirably well, but I can see why his cuteness won out...you were doomed from the start. ;)

I like his strong pattern, by the way. Mine is a "granite phase" meaning her pattern is reduced to tiny speckles much like granite- giving her an overall darker & greenish look. It didn't matter one bit to me (it was all about saving her life) but I prefer the pattern yours has, even though my girl is more "exotic". Either way, they're not very common pets in the U.S.

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I held out as long as I could haha, but since these guys are a little more uncommon I thought he’d be a good addition.

He’s doing great already and based on how comfortable he’s appeared in his tank I tried a f/t pinkie tonight and he took it like a champ.

We’re still a few weeks away from doing any handling but I’ll be sure to share some better photos once he’s eating consistently and settled in.


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That was similar to my experience with one of these tiny pythons- easily taking food & settling right in. Of course, maybe it's just a coincidence, I don't mean to imply this is true for all of them, based on just 2 examples, but it still bodes very well. I have a good feeling about yours...

While these are still not that well known, they deserve to be better known pets, IMO. What's not to love about a tiny python that remains a practical size?

He is so cute! I hope he continues to do well for you :)
I'm currently deciding between one of these or a children's python as my second snake.

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Originally Posted by aurum

He is so cute! I hope he continues to do well for you :)
I'm currently deciding between one of these or a children's python as my second snake.

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Both good choices, as far as I can tell there's not a big difference between those 2? Spotteds are a little bigger, but that's not saying much.

Nice Hugsplox. They are awesome "little" snakes. Python demeanor and attitude in a small package. I was tempted by one a while back, but I am out of room and time!

I'll have to live vicariously through you.

Keep us posted on him!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Both good choices, as far as I can tell there's not a big difference between those 2? Spotteds are a little bigger, but that's not saying much.

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Yeah, as well as children's possibly being a bit nippier, but that's just a generalization and also I wouldn't really mind. The determining factor for me is probably going to be looks, but I like both and keep changing my mind on which I like more haha. Threads like these are definitely helpful for deciding though. Looking forward to updates!

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Originally Posted by dakski

Nice Hugsplox. They are awesome "little" snakes. Python demeanor and attitude in a small package. I was tempted by one a while back, but I am out of room and time!

I'll have to live vicariously through you.

Keep us posted on him!

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Thank you! I get what you mean about room and time. This little guy is the last addition until I can decide on one more larger species I want to keep.

Apparently you get some of the same behaviors that you see in some of the larger Aussie pythons, but we’ll see as he grows.

I’ll be sure to get you guys some more photos as soon as he starts exploring a little more, and some much better ones in a few weeks when I start trying to handle him a bit.


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I'm a very biased and huge fan of all of the Antaresia, so I will just say yay, you got one! Good choice! I have a Stimmie, two Children's and a Pygmy, but no Spotted. I don't experience big temperament differences in any of mine. They are all delightful, inquisitive snakes that respond really well to enrichment and training and are easy keepers.

I keep hearing that Children's can be nippy, and I am not questioning that...but my two are a couple of the most gentle little snakes you can imagine. They calmly climb right onto my hands and seem to enjoy 'visiting'. I know the folks who have a couple of their siblings, and apparently the whole clutch has the same fearless yet serene temperament. Maybe it's a function of number of generations being captive-bred; maybe it's a function of genetics contributing to temperament that we don't yet understand. I just know my experience with them has been overwhelmingly positive. The Pygmy is the same, but there are so few breeders of these tiny pythons in the U.S. that their price tends to be a little prohibitive.

I've actually used my Spotted python a few times in a public "meet & greet" program, & she was perfectly calm with everyone who held, touched or just looked at her up close. She also impressed people with her iridescence. Since these like warmer temperatures, they don't tend to overheat as easily as some other slim snakes (like corn snakes, for example) might if being handled for a while.

Looks like we're on the verge of an Antaresia "fan club" here? :cool:

Congratulations on the new critter Hugs! What a cutie! They’re one of my favorite “small” snakes along with kings and hoggies. I’ve always liked spotted pythons, but then again, I love most Australian snake species.

Tried to snap you guys a photo now that he’s out and exploring. We’re almost a week in and this is the first night he’s actually been out long enough for me to see him.

We did swap to some more size appropriate hides, but other than we’re still just settling in, but doing well!

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He's beautiful, & looks pretty healthy & happy to me. :gj: Still settling in, his behavior sounds perfectly normal, & especially for a young one.

It’s great that he’s settling in well. I hope you have many many happy years together.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

He's beautiful, & looks pretty healthy & happy to me. :gj: Still settling in, his behavior sounds perfectly normal, & especially for a young one.

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Thank you! What size enclosure do you have your girl in as an adult? I know I'm a way off from needing to worry about that, but I like to plan ahead. I was considering moving him into a 20 long next, but after watching how much climbing he did last night, I'm thinking he might benefit from something a little taller.

For an adult enclosure I was thinking a big front opening 40 breeder would be nice, but again, I'm wondering if that might be too short, especially if this (semi)arboreal behavior keeps up through their life.

Week 3 update!

Checked in last night before bed and caught some lounging! We had a solid second feeding last Friday, so if all goes well this week we’ll start some short handling sessions around the middle of next week.

Quarantine is still in effect but no issues noted thus far.

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Looking great, I see that arboreal tendencies "run in the family". :D For an adult, a 40 g. breeder would be fine, btw- but you have a long way to go.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Looking great, I see that arboreal tendencies "run in the family". :D For an adult, a 40 g. breeder would be fine, btw- but you have a long way to go.

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And that is exactly why I've "reserved" the BP's 40 for him. My PVC enclosure should be here sometime next week and I think the 40 will just get cleaned out and set to the side. I considered sectioning it off and putting him in there sooner, but he seems to be doing alright in the quarantine 10 gallon for now, so I'm not going to move him anywhere anytime soon.

In the meantime, I'm going to get some more spider wood to go in there because this dude loves to be up in his one tree, so he definitely needs some more options.

Yeah, they love to climb- it's great exercise for them, but it also means we get to SEE more of them, unlike BPs or other snakes that hide so much. This is one reason I think these make extraordinarily good snake-pets, at least based on my limited experience with keeping one & comparing "notes". Also, mine is always on her branches when I feed her- she's right there "coming at me" like the big boas do, lol. (She fed on the "floor level" when she was little though- & she took her f/t pinks right off a "plate".)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Yeah, they love to climb- it's great exercise for them, but it also means we get to SEE more of them, unlike BPs or other snakes that hide so much. This is one reason I think these make extraordinarily good snake-pets, at least based on my limited experience with keeping one & comparing "notes". Also, mine is always on her branches when I feed her- she's right there "coming at me" like the big boas do, lol. (She fed on the "floor level" when she was little though- & she took her f/t pinks right off a "plate".)

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Right, like you I'm just comparing notes and basing this off the VERY short time I've had him, but I think they're incredibly underrated as pets. Super interesting to watch, much more active than a BP, and you get some of what I would consider big snake behavior, in a smaller package.

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Originally Posted by Hugsplox

Right, like you I'm just comparing notes and basing this off the VERY short time I've had him, but I think they're incredibly underrated as pets. Super interesting to watch, much more active than a BP, and you get some of what I would consider big snake behavior, in a smaller package.

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Exactly. And it really impresses people when they know you have a PYTHON! Not your fault if they assume it's 10', is it? :D

Glad all is going well :) And yeah isn't it nice when snakes use the options we give them, so rewarding!

Since he was out, and I’m done in the reptile room for the night (this one’s still in quarantine obviously), decided to give handling a try. Our first little 5 minute session went fantastic.


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Don't you love his eyes? :D They're really good at hanging on, I've noticed- & he looks pretty calm. You're off to a great beginning. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Don't you love his eyes? :D They're really good at hanging on, I've noticed- & he looks pretty calm. You're off to a great beginning. :gj:

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He's doing really well, I'm happy that I haven't had any issues. He was a little flighty in the enclosure, but once I get him out he was a dream. Definitely a different handling experience than a BP. I'm still letting him settle in before I make any alterations to his enclosure, but I'm going to do a bit more climbing surfaces because it's obvious from the past 3 weeks that he'll make use of them.

I love my childreni, but something about the Spotted’s pattern is just so awesome.


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