The carpet python (Morelia spilotes variegata) are so called because they look like oriental rugs, well at least until the start sliding across your floor that is. They can grow up to a massive seventeen feet, and can be found throughout Australia and New Guinea. By python standards they are medium-sized; larger than a green tree python, but only half the size of the longest snake in the world, which is the reticulated Python (Python reticularis) that can reach an amazing thirty three feet in length.
If you desperately want the carpet python because of its stunning patterns, but can only manage a smaller snake, then Morelia spilotes spilotes could be the species for you. Also known as the diamond python, this is a species that is closely related to the carpet python and is distinguished by its beautiful diamond patterns.
A vivarium for the carpet python should be kept at temperatures between twenty three and thirty degrees centigrade. In their native habitat they as happy climbing trees as they are burrowing so you should provide some good quality climbing branches. They won’t be climbing as much as a green tree python, but they will enjoy climbing nonetheless. A carpet python is just as likely to be found in woodland as a desert so that gives you a lot of latitude in setting up a vivarium.
An important consideration with a carpet python is that they are not that easy to handle as adults. They tend to move around a lot and wrap themselves around any loose objects once they are out of the vivarium. However, it is important that you handle them when they are young so they get used to human contact. Once they are adults you can still handle them if you have the patience! These legless, oily, reptiles have all their organs running down one side of their body.
Carpet pythons will eat all mammals, and even enjoy munching on a bird or two. In captivity they will eat weekly, but in the wild they would eat a few large meals each year. They make good pets, but are not for you if you want a snake that is easy to handle.
Green tree pythons are another different to the carpet python, and I would suggest that they are more stunning. See them at http://hubpages.com/hub/Green-Tree-Pythons
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