South Western Carpet Python - Morelia spilota imbricata


The south western carpet python is a large python that can reach up to 2.4 metres total length. Just like all the other species of carpet pythons across the country, the colouration varies considerably.

Typically though, they are of brownish to a blackish appearance with patterns of brown, grey, and variants of both.



Within their natural distribution though, there are two recognized colouration morphs. The specimens found in the hill areas of the Perth or from the south eastern ranges are generally a lot darker in base coloration where as the specimens found along the coastal areas tend to be of lighter base colour and in my view, a bit more attractive. As with most carpet python species, their body pigment tends to darken considerably as they age.

As the specimens found from the hills area or eastern parts of its range tend to be dark in the first place, many old specimens darken to a point where it is very hard to make out or see any pattern at all.

The southwestern carpet python predominately feeds upon small mammals and birds with juveniles also taking small lizards and the occasional frog.
The temperament of this species seems to vary somewhat between individuals although generally speaking I have found that juveniles seem to be a lot more pugnacious than most other carpet python species. With regular handling though, and typical of most other carpet python species, they tend to tame down and become amendable to handling.
Up until recently these carpet pythons were not widely kept simply because they were rarely available within the pet industry. Because
of legalized wild collecting in W.A over recent years however, there are now lots being bred and made available.

Habitat
The southwestern carpet python occupies the same typical niches that most other carpet pythons are suited to. They can be found in dense forests, sparse woodlands, and in vegetated rocky areas. Typically of carpet pythons in general, they often inhabit or take advantage of old farm sheds where they are sometimes seen curled up around ceiling trusses basking underneath the corrugated roofs through winter.

Breeding
The breeding of this species is commonly achieved by the pairing up of suitable specimens around early September after normal winter cooling.  

Eggs
Eggs should be incubated at temperatures between 30 and 32 degrees. There is not a lot of collective data in regards to maximum egg numbers that this species can potentially lay but it would be expected that a very large female could possibly produce over 30 eggs.
Eggs incubated at suitable temperatures should hatch out between 60 and 70 days.
Hatchlings generally thrive on small rodents and particularly mouse hoppers.
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