Joel's Jungle - Jungle Pythons

Jungle Pythons
Morelia spilota cheynei

The Jungle carpet python is known to have the smallest range of species, they are fairly small, slender bodied with large heads. What we call true Jungle pythons will reach a maximum size of about five feet and will develop big dragon like heads as they age, although some examples from the Atherton rain forest may reach more than eight feet. Captive bred specimens can grow bigger than wild examples. Jungle pythons are arboreal, and in captivity they tend to mate and feed from elevated perches.

Jungle pythons can generally be described with pale background colouration, and black edged dark blotches alternating with a paler yellow-to-cream base colour, although jungle's are not created equally and has an extreme variation in colour, pattern and overall quality. Their eyes are black and tongue is blue. Hatchlings are grey and black and do not show adult colouration until they reach 3 to 4 feet, so it is hard to tell how they going to turn out. Although they have a reputation of a snappy snakes, I found that some of them have a gentle disposition. They are easy to care for and thrive well in captivity.

Distribution:
Jungle carpet pythons are found in Queensland, from Townsville north to the region of the Pascoe and Jardin rivers, waterways that drain Australia's Atherton tableland and on the east coast near the tip of Cape York peninsula. Their range includes some elevation of 5,300 feet(1,622 m). They like dense subtropical rain forest and they are found along river drainages that lead to the coast.

Captive Care:
Jungle Carpets require a well ventilated secure cage, I personally would recommend an enclosure with a bit of height to be able to furnish it with branches. Because this pythons are arboreal, I observed that they like to feed and mate from elevated perches, and a hide box is also provided. I also used UV lighting plugged into a timer to alter the length of my day and night cycle. A ceramic globe can be use as a heat source and must be controlled by a thermostat. I keep my cage temperature on 28-32c range with medium humidity. Ideally it should have a warm spot and enough room for the snake to move to a cooler area so it will have a choice in selecting the temperature it prefers. This freedom to thermoregulate is important.

Some jungles prefer to feed on mouse and some can be weaned on rats, thawed or freshly killed, I feed my jungles at early nigh time but most of them will readily feed when they're hungry at any given time of the day. I offer them food every 2 to 3 weeks, during winter cooling period the feeding may also stop.

I have tried all sorts of substrates, and although it is not visually attractive I personally prefer and recommend newspaper or butchers paper. Both are easy to maintain at a satisfactory level of sanitation.

This year I am hoping to breed two pairs of my pythons. The first is this pair of yellow and blacks.

The top snake is the female and the bottom snake is the male.

Keep an eye on the For Sale page or send me an email and I'll keep you informed.

I am also hoping to mate these two black and white pythons as well.

Again the female is the top snake and the male is the lower one.

Keep an eye on the For Sale page or send me an email and I'll keep you informed.

Email Joel: faustino@bigbutton.com.au