🐍 Vet’s 2025 Guide to Diamond & Carpet Python Care: Enclosure, Feeding & Long-Term Health 💎🌿

By Dr. Duncan Houston, BVSc

Diamond and Carpet Pythons are iconic Australian reptiles—impressive in size, pattern, and personality. While they require a bit more space and experience than smaller species, they reward dedicated keepers with decades of companionship. This 2025 guide covers everything you need to successfully care for these majestic pythons. 🐍🌱

📖 Meet the Species

• Diamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota): Native to southeast Australia; dark body with white/yellow rosettes.
• Carpet Python (Morelia spilota variegata): Includes coastal, jungle, inland, and Darwin morphs—each with unique color and pattern.

These snakes range from 1.8–3 meters long and live 20–30+ years in captivity. They are non-venomous constrictors and usually docile with regular handling. 💎

🏠 Enclosure & Habitat Setup

• Minimum Size: 180 x 60 x 60 cm for adults; taller enclosures allow climbing.
• Substrate: Aspen, newspaper, or cypress mulch. Avoid pine or cedar.
• Hides: One on each side of the heat gradient—snug spaces are essential.
• Climbing Enrichment: Strong branches or platforms—especially for Carpet Pythons.
• Water Dish: Large enough for soaking; clean daily.

🌡️ Heating & Lighting

These pythons are semi-arboreal and require a thermal gradient:

• Basking Zone: 32–34°C
• Cool End: 24–26°C
• Night Temps: Can drop to 18–22°C
• Heat Source: Radiant heat panels, ceramic emitters, or heat mats with thermostats
• UVB: Optional but beneficial—use a 5.0 UVB tube across part of the enclosure
• Lighting Schedule: 12-hour day/night cycle

🍗 Feeding & Nutrition

• Prey: Frozen/thawed rats or mice; size should match the widest part of the body
• Feeding Frequency:
  • Juveniles: Every 7–10 days
  • Adults: Every 10–14 days
• Hydration: Always provide fresh water; mist enclosure lightly during shedding

🧠 Behavior & Handling

• Temperament: Typically calm with consistent handling, but may be defensive as juveniles
• Handling Tips: Avoid immediately after feeding; support the body and avoid sudden movements
• Enrichment: Vary hides, climbing surfaces, and feeding methods (e.g. tongs vs scent trails)

🩺 Common Health Concerns

• Obesity: Avoid overfeeding or frequent feeding of large prey
• Shedding Issues: Increase humidity and provide rough surfaces
• Respiratory Infections: Symptoms include wheezing, gaping, and nasal bubbles
• Stomatitis (Mouth Rot): Redness, swelling, pus—requires veterinary care
• Parasites: Regular fecal checks advised

🧽 Cleaning & Maintenance

• Daily: Spot clean waste, change water, check heating
• Weekly: Clean hides, surfaces, water dish
• Monthly: Deep clean enclosure with reptile-safe disinfectant

⚠️ When to Call the Vet

• Lack of appetite >3 weeks (not in breeding season)
• Swollen mouth or jaw
• Discharge from nose or eyes
• Lethargy, weight loss, or unusual hiding behavior

📱 Resources & Support

• 💬 Get expert help from Ask A Vet or via the Ask A Vet app
• 🌿 Find thermostats, hides, and substrates at Woopf
• 🍗 Stock up on feeders and supplements with Purrz

Diamond and Carpet Pythons are striking, intelligent, and rewarding to keep. With proper care and respect for their needs, they’ll grow into impressive, healthy companions for years to come. 🐍💎