• Address: Frederick, MD 21705 (map)
• Date Posted: 09/14/09

South Western Carpet Python - Morelia spilota imbricata

My south western carpet python is a large python that is up to 2.4
meters total length. Just like all the other species of carpet pythons
across the country, the coloration 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
coloration 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 color 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.