This is the third installment of the Anteresia series of basic care sheets for children and beginners.

Scientifically known as Antaresia maculosa, this python species is the biggest of the Antaresia genus and tend to grow up to even five feet. As its name suggests, its body is covered with dark brown spots on a background that is a lighter shade of brown and even sometimes a light caramel colour. These spots may be connected or single and when connected they give the appearance of a wavy stripe on the snake’s body.

Like most Australian snakes, these pythons are quite versatile in their habitat selection and can live in woodlands, rocky regions, forests, rain forests and grasslands. They have also been spotted on a number of islands located in the vicinity of the Queensland coast.
Spotted pythons feed on rodents, frogs, lizards, bats and birds in the wild. However when captive, they are fed with rats and mice like most other pythons. This python species is the most kept Antaresia species, this suggests that they are easier to care for as they aren’t the cheapest or the prettiest, in my opinion.

Although the three pythons of the genus Antaresia are distinct, this distinction remains only as far as appearance and place of origin is concerned. Apart from that all three pythons, the stimsoni, childreni and the spotted python’s care sheets do not differ largely. Therefore all three Aussie pythons can be taken care of in a similar manner and under similar conditions.