Diamond Python Care Sheet
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Contents |
General
Latin Name:
Morelia spilota spilota
Size:
Diamond pythons generally grow to between seven and nine feet in length, averaging around seven feet in captivity they are best kept slender they will eat every day if you let them. also D.P.S has been linked to fat over weight Diamond Pythons for this reason i tend to feed my adults once every three weeks and they are 100% healthy to date
Longevity:
Diamond pythons tend to live long lives in the wild but in captivity quite a few problems with diamond python syndrome exhists, thus making ageing them near impossible in captivity
Active during:
diamond pythons are active both at night and in the day
Behaviour:
Diamond pythons are renowned for there Characters, They are known to be gentle snakes that are freely handleable, both wild animals and captive bred animals have been reported to be calm natured snakes. my own diamond pythons are as descibed here,definately one of my firm favourites to date
Temperament
As with most species of snake theres always going to be the odd biter this can depend on a few things and general day to day handling in captive care usually means a calm snake. In my experience they are reluctant to bite and are generally happy to be handled.My own Diamonds are always well tempered and very keen to explore
Ease of care
Diamond Pythons are not a beginners snake they have been known to just die,as discussed before in the size part of this care sheet. There have been problems with diamond pythons namely diamond pythons syndrome, not a lot is known about the causes, but there is documentation/speculation reguarding the facts .For example some keepers keep diamond pythons using ultraviolet lighting to enhance there vitimin D intake which could lead to firmer bones, i my self have not been convinced this has any effect on the snake.Although when death occurs it has been noted that most animlas were found to have brital bones and weakened muscle, so the theory is that ultraviolet light could improve the bone quality as with other reptiles. This theory is yet to be proven and my personal diamonds are kept without uv lighting .My belief is that most keepers keep diamonds to hot and this is damaging to there health as documented by several well known breeders in Australia as Diamonds are from the colder parts of Australia .I do however provide my diamonds with a hot spot of no more than 92f this is just in one small part of there enclosures using a 60-100 watt red spot bulb conected to a thermostat .Mine are kept in large vivariums with a cool end of no lower than 70 f. Both ends have hides that are never really used these snakes tend to like branches and are constantly stalking/hunting for there next meal. There care is really not that diference from carpet pythons although it is generally excepted that they should be cooled every year even if you do not intend to breed them . I cooled mine last year to belows 18f and there were no problems.
Housing
Vivarium:
As discussed in the care section of this care sheet Diamond pythons do well in large enclosures as they like to stretch out and climb,Mine are currently in four foot enclosures but will be placed in six foot vivariums once my snake room has been redesigned.One thing i have noticed is quiet a lot of the Australian keepers i correpond with keep there Diamonds in the yard in huge caged enclosures like bird cages.Im not quiet ready to take these risks with mine yet as Englands weather does tend to snap change, But in the future i intend on experimenting with diferent housing inside and out .especially in the summer as i tend to take my diamonds out for a few hours at a time every week
Accessories:
All my morelias are housed with huge logs or branches they enjoy climbing and using the rough texture for rubbing against while shedding .it also helps them exersize Diamonds love to climb and lay under the hot spot on a nicely placed branch
Humidity
Humidity is simular to most carpet pythons, i generally use large water bowls placed near to the hotter end of the vivarium/enclosure the water evaporates thus making the enclosure humidity rise to around 50% this is ample for diamond pythons to thrive in.
Heating
I personally use red sixty or one hundred watt bulbs with a heat matt on the rear wall to create a nice ambient temperature the wattage depends on the time of year no more than sixty watts is needed in the summer while one hundred watts will be good for the winter .Some people use ceramics i tend to think they get way to hot and dry the air out way more than spot bulbs tend to .
Light
as above
Substrate
As my diamond pythons are my show animals they are housed in my living room and i tend to use heavy bark as there substrate based with news paper that is hidden beneath the bark .My personal snakes make a real mess of this on a daily basis so somthines when i clean them out they get only newspaper to mess up :-) .its up to you what you use but remember to give them a good base to lay on and one that will absorb there urates and that will be easy to clean
Diet:
Food
As i have already said they are fantastic feeders on a whole and will eat most prey items that are offered, I tend to give my adults between one and three extra large rats every three weeks depending on what they will take really but not to much to make them obese.I do try to get hold of small rabbits or guinea pigs as they really like them from, I think that although its easy to just give them one particular rodent and save them going off feed ,which to be honest is rare with diamonds ! i myself could not eat the same food every day, so they get treats now and then .There feeding response are fantastic to watch, but be careful if they miss and get you it hurts!they are by no means small snakes and can and will savage you at feeding time ..i always use tweasers when they are feeding !
Water
As with any other snake change water daily , if not daily then at leat every other day I wash the water bowls out every week end to get rid of any parasites or germs
Frequency
Please enter information here.
Supplements
I never use any suplliments with any of my snakes especially my diamond pythons which are very valuable snakes and to be honest i would'nt recomend anything unless advised by a trained vet or a respected breeder. As already said in another part of this care sheet uv tubes may be used to suppliment vitimin D but im not convinced that it is needed. Its a personal thing that you may consider after reading other care sheets.
Breeding
Requirements
Obviously you need both sexes to breed diamond pythons (sorry a little humour here to lighten the mood) .they also need to be cooled to extreme temperatures for the eggs to be fertile,This is not for the faint hearted and can leave you with dead snakes so please make sure you read everything and be 100% confident that you are competant in every thing you do before you do it, as a lost diamond can realy hurt in the pocket and obviously emotionally! i say this from experience beleive me the loss of my female last season devastated me and my breeding plans so far , i my self have not been successful breeding diamond pythons but will be experimenting in the coming years ,There is plenty of literature around the internet regarding breeding of diamond pythons i will update this care sheet as and when i am successful ..
Seasons
Diamond pythons are best cooled the same time as most carpet pythons .mine will be cooled 20 days after there last feed come mid october for at least six weeks . i hibernated mine for eight weeks last year and i can tell you its a frieghtening time with such valuable rare snakes
Incubation
Artificial incubation can take from 38 to 105 days.at between 30 and 32 degrees
Further information or considerations:
Remember these are magestic expensive snakes only purchase some if you have studied them carefully, they are easy to keep if you do your home work .but they can and do die suddenly .make sure you follow the cooling rule and over feed them at your own peril. My personal experience with diamond pythons is that they are fantastic pets to keep and once you have some you will be hooked i will always have them in my collection as they are snakes of outstanding character and beauty.
