Snakes
Children's python care guide
Antaresia childreni
A small (3 ft), easy-going Australian python — a good first python.
Terrestrial — floor space first
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →Children's python enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult children's python should live in at least 36" L × 18" W × 18" H; we build toward 48" L × 24" W × 24" H (4 × 2 × 2 ft, roughly 8 sq ft of floor and about a 120-gallon glass equivalent).
- Hatchling / baby
- 18" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 12" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 30" L × 18" W × 18" H recommended · min 24" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Adult
- 48" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 36" L × 18" W × 18" H
Temperature and heating
Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
- Basking / warm surface
- 90–95°F surface
- Warm side (ambient)
- 84–88°F
- Cool side (ambient)
- 75–80°F
- Night
- No lower than 70°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: Low-level UVB (ShadeDweller / T5 6%) is beneficial but not strictly required. Run lights on a 12 hours on, 12 hours off photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 40–60%. Water bowl and a humid hide.
Substrate and depth
Aspen, cypress mulch or a soil/sand mix. Depth: 3–4 in.
Diet and feeding
Frozen-thawed mice every 7–10 days for juveniles, every 10–14 days for adults.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Hides on both the warm and cool sides
- Clean water available at all times
- Clutter — cork, leaf litter, plants — for cover
Build list
- Enclosure at adult size — Buy for the adult footprint to avoid repeated upgrades.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly.
Children's python FAQ
How big should an adult Children's python enclosure be?
At least 36" L × 18" W × 18" H, and we recommend building to 48" L × 24" W × 24" H — about 4 × 2 × 2 ft, or a 120-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does a Children's python need?
Basking or warm surface 90–95°F surface, warm side 84–88°F, cool side 75–80°F, night No lower than 70°F. Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
Does a Children's python need UVB?
Low-level UVB (ShadeDweller / T5 6%) is beneficial but not strictly required. Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
What humidity does a Children's python need?
40–60%. Water bowl and a humid hide.
What substrate is best for a Children's python?
Aspen, cypress mulch or a soil/sand mix, at a depth of 3–4 in.
How big does a Children's python enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 18" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 12" L × 12" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own children's python record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.