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Children's Python
Antaresia childreni
Children's python is a small, easy-to-keep Australian species perfect for beginners. Requires a 100-120 liter enclosure, dry substrate, a moderate thermal gradient, and a diet of appropriately sized mice.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Pythonidae
Genus:Antaresia
Species:Antaresia childreni
Formerly known as:Antaresia stimsoni
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
30 - 50 %
Day temperature
31 - 33 °C
Ambient temperature
26 °C
Night temperature
18 - 22 °C
Basking spot
31 - 33 °C
Adult size
100 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 90 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Antaresia childreni is native to the northern third of Australia, spanning across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. It inhabits diverse, mostly dry environments including open woodlands, rocky outcrops, scrublands, and limestone caves.
Taxonomy and Genetics: First described by John Edward Gray in 1842 and named in honor of John George Children. It belongs to the Pythonidae family. There are no recognized subspecies, showing clean genetic consistency across its geographical distribution.
Behavior and Habits: Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, this species is renowned for its gentle and calm temperament. While mostly terrestrial, it is a capable climber that frequently explores branches and rocky crevices in search of prey.
Morphology: It is one of the smallest python species globally, reaching an average adult length of 80 to 120 cm. Its body has a light brown or reddish-brown base color with darker blotches, displaying a beautiful iridescent sheen under sunlight.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: An adult requires a minimum enclosure size of 100 to 120 liters. A dry substrate such as aspen shavings or coconut husk is ideal. Provide at least two secure hiding spots, one on the warm side and one on the cool side of the cage.
Lighting and Heating: Create a thermal gradient with a basking spot of 31-33°C (using a heat mat or overhead ceramic heater) and a cool end of 24-26°C. Low-level linear UVB (2-5%) is highly beneficial for regulating circadian rhythms.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain overall humidity between 50% and 60%. Provide a humid hide filled with damp sphagnum moss, especially when the snake shows signs of going into shed, to prevent stuck shed (dysecdysis).
Feeding and Supplementation: Feed appropriately sized mice or small rats once every 7 to 10 days for juveniles, and every 10 to 14 days for adults. Supplemental vitamins are generally not required if the prey items are of high quality.
Compatibility: Strictly solitary. Keeping multiple specimens in the same enclosure is not recommended due to high risk of chronic stress, feeding competition, and potential territorial aggression.
Health and Common Diseases: Vulnerable to respiratory infections if temperatures drop too low, scale rot from overly damp substrates, and stuck sheds due to dry air. Mites can also be an issue and should be treated promptly.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Antaresia childreni is native to the northern third of Australia, spanning across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. It inhabits diverse, mostly dry environments including open woodlands, rocky outcrops, scrublands, and limestone caves.
Origin
Australia, New Guinea, and Oceania
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 100 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 100 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 100 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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