Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alright I'm in the market for a snake. I have a pair of ball pythons now and have been keeping herps all my life. I'v been looking at spotted pythons and think they look awesome. So what are they like in relation to ball pythons? i know they are smaller bodied, but what about temperament. How active are they. And how is there feeding response. Oh and if anybody could direct me to a species specific care sheet for them that would be great.
Thanks

You made a great choice! My spotted python was the first snake I got, but is still my favorite. He's as tame as a ball python out of his cage. He has a very strong feeding response, too, so you should have no problems with non-eaters. One problem with them is that babies tend to be nippy, however they will all grow out of this with age and handling. My spotted is active at night, but hides all day just like most other pythons. I love Foster and I'm sure if you get a spotted python you will love him/her too. As for care sheets, search for children's pythons. Spotteds and children's used to be considered the same snake, as they are so similar. Children's just tend to be a bit smaller (around 3 vs. around 4), and many lose their patterns when they reach adulthood, whereas the spotteds will keep their spots throughout their lifetime. Hope I was helpful, and good luck.

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1.0 Spotted Python
1.0 IJ Carpet Python and 0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Macklot's Python
1.0 Variable Kingsnake

Thanks. I at first was looking at some colubrids as I wanted a more lithe bodies snake than a ball python, but I think the spotted is a perfect match. I can deal with nippiness I dont get phased easily. Hope I can find a good one. Lucky for me Oklahome City is blessed with soo many great python breeders!

Their are two morphs of the spotted, the standard and the Cape York. The standard may get a muddy brown/olve color all over that masks ine intensity of the spots, even the Cape Yorks have their color fade as adults. The Cape Yorks have more contrasting patterns all their lives. Females get larger.

I have never had a problem with feeding. Durring the winter in Austraila they may not eat, due to cooler weather and less food about. They make up for it durring spring and may eat a whole years worth of food in a few months. So in captivity they will eat all the time and may grow too fat!

It is best to feed them slow, they breed better a little thin.

You forgot the granite morph! (Speckles instead of spots) I don't like them as much personally though.
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1.0 Spotted Python
1.0 IJ Carpet Python and 0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Macklot's Python
1.0 Variable Kingsnake

Sorry, you are right, I don't like that morph as well, but do like it in the Borneo Short-tailed Blood Python though, they stay lighter and do not fade in pattern as the normals do.

Was trying to point out that their are two standard forms of spotted, with the Cape York being the brightest one with the most contrast. You may not be able to tell which is which with baby sanakes, unless they are side by side. As adults, the normal is very dull and faded and the Cape Yorks keep some of the contrast and stay alittle brighter.

The Cape Yorks also come in a stripped form, where the spots on the spine all run into one another and form a stripe. The barkers produced these. I like the non-stripe Cape Yorks the best. I breed all three of the standard forms, with the Cape Yorks being the best.

Spotties are great. Mine comes out and cruises around the cage most nights unless he's full of food. He was nervous when I first got him (as an adult) but he calmed down easily and now we're buddies.

They do have a hellish feeding response, which is a good thing. After mine has sat in his feeding container, he will lunge and will eat anything that smells like food.

They're surprisingly intelligent too. If mine wants food he will sit and beg and look you straight in the eye.
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1.0 Spotted Python
1.0 IJ Carpet Python and 0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Macklot's Python
1.0 Variable Kingsnake