Stimson’s pythons (Antaresia stimsoni) are ~3’ long, nocturnal, terrestrial snakes native to the majority of Australia, excluding the northern, eastern, and southern edges. They can be found in a wide variety of habitats in this area, but seem to prefer rocky outcrops, the mouths of caves, and sparsely wooded areas near water.
Stimson’s pythons have relatively slender bodies with a narrow head, smooth scales, vertical pupils, and visible heat pits. They typically have a cream to light brown base color with a pattern of darker, irregular brown blotches and spots. The belly is white to cream in color.
Stimson’s pythons make good beginner-level pet snakes due to their docile nature and convenient size. With good care, they can live up to 30 years.
Minimum terrarium size for Stimson’s pythons
The absolute minimum terrarium size for a Stimson’s python is 36”L x 18”W x 16”H. Of course, larger is always better! It’s important to provide plenty of room for the snake to stretch out fully, explore, and exercise.
Due to their petite size, Stimson’s pythons are prone to escape, particularly as juveniles. They are slender enough to even escape through the gap between sliding doors! Make sure to thoroughly secure your enclosure to prevent potential tragedy.
Cohabitation (keeping multiple Stimson’s pythons in one enclosure) is best avoided.
Do Stimson’s pythons need UVB?
Technically they can survive without it, but we still recommend providing appropriate UVB lighting for Stimson’s pythons. UVB lighting helps provide a clear day/night cycle, provides all of the vitamin D that your pet needs, strengthens the immune system, facilitates better digestion, and other benefits.
The best UVB bulbs for Stimson’s pythons are:
- Zoo Med Reptisun T5 HO 5.0, 22”
- Arcadia Forest 6%, 22”
For best results, use a bulb half the length of the enclosure and house it in a reflective fixture, preferably Arcadia or Vivarium Electronics. Position the lamp on the same side of the terrarium as the heat lamp, 10-12” above the basking surface.
UVB is blocked by glass and plastic, so placing the terrarium in front of a window doesn’t count as “free UVB” — in fact it can make your terrarium too hot due to the greenhouse effect. Don’t forget to replace your bulb every 12 months!
Lights should be on for about 13-14 hours/day during summer and 10-11 hours/day during winter, with gradual adjustments in between.
Best temperature for Stimson’s pythons
Like other reptiles, Stimson’s pythons are cold-blooded, which means that they rely on external temperatures to manage their own body temperature and metabolism. A reptile’s enclosure should offer a range of temperatures to allow them to thermoregulate effectively.
Specifically speaking, Stimson’s pythons should have a basking temperature between 90-100°F. On the other side of the enclosure, the temperature should be around 75-85°F. Temperatures should be measured with two digital probe thermometers to monitor the thermal gradient.
Provide heat for your snake with two 60-75w incandescent heat bulbs, placed over the basking area (ex: a piece of flagstone or stone paver) to evenly heat the snake’s entire body. Do not use ceramic heat emitters (CHEs), red bulbs, or blue bulbs, as these are not as effective. If basking temps are too high, dial them down with a lamp dimmer or rheostat. If too low, use higher-wattage bulbs.
Turn heating off at night. Temperatures can drop as low as 60°F for adults, but juveniles under 1 year old should be kept above 75°F via CHE or radiant heat panel as needed.
Best humidity levels for Stimson’s pythons
Stimson’s pythons tend to do best with 40% humidity and occasional spikes above that level. Spikes can be created by misting the enclosure weekly with a pressure sprayer.
The key is to make sure they always have access to fresh water and a humid hide. You can create a humid hide by lining a plastic or resin reptile cave with moistened sphagnum moss and placing in the middle to cool part of the enclosure. Humidity should be measured via digital probe hygrometer, with the probe placed in the middle of the terrarium.
Best substrate for Stimson’s pythons
Providing a thick layer of naturalistic substrate (“bedding”) will help cushion your snake’s body, maintain correct humidity levels, and also helps make your enclosure more attractive! We recommend the following substrates for Stimson’s pythons:
- Exo Terra Snake Bedding
- Zoo Med Repti Chips
- Zoo Med Repti Sand
- Exo Terra Desert Sand
Layering clean, chemical-free leaf litter on top of the substrate can also help with humidity.
Substrate should be at least 2” deep and completely replaced every 3-4 months. Remove poop and urates daily, along with contaminated substrate.
How to decorate a Stimson’s python terrarium
An empty terrarium makes for a bored snake, reducing its quality of life. Keep your pet entertained and engaged with its environment with the strategic use of décor items that encourage it to exercise natural behaviors!
At bare minimum, a Stimson’s python enclosure must contain substrate, a water bowl, and at least a couple of places for the snake to hide. However, it’s best to include other items such as:
- branches
- cork flats
- cork tubes
- ledges
- drought-tolerant live or artificial plants
What to feed to a Stimson’s python
Stimson’s pythons are carnivorous, which means that they need to eat whole animal prey in order to get the right nutrition. Here is a basic feeding schedule based on snake age:
- Juveniles should be fed every 5-10 days.
- Adults should be every 7-21 days.
Prey items should be around 10% of the snake’s weight or no more than 1.5x its width at its widest point. Although live prey can be offered, it’s best to use frozen whenever possible. Prey should be fully thawed in a BPA-free plastic bag in warm water, then use a pair of soft-tipped feeding tweezers to offer it to your snake.
One of the keys to great nutrition is variety, so aside from offering young mice and rats, try hamsters, gerbils, button quail, frog meat, and even feeder lizards to create nutritional variety in your snake’s diet!
Supplements
Stimson’s pythons can survive without dietary supplements, but using them every once in a while can help prevent your snake from developing a nutritional deficiency, helping it to live healthier. We recommend Repashy Calcium Plus LoD, lightly dusted on the prey item before offering.
Water
Of course, don’t forget a water bowl for your snake to drink from and soak in! This bowl should be large enough for the snake to soak its entire body when desired. Change the water daily and scrub the bowl with a reptile-safe disinfectant weekly, or whenever it becomes soiled.
How to handle your Stimson’s python
Reptiles generally don’t appreciate petting and handling in the same way that dogs and cats do. That being said, Stimson’s pythons generally tolerate human interaction pretty well! They can be nervous and defensive as babies, but should calm down by adulthood.
When picking up your Stimson’s python, be gentle and try to pick it up from the side or below rather than from above. Support as much of its body as possible, and NEVER pick it up by its tail, as this can damage its spine!
*This care sheet contains only very basic information. Although it’s a good introduction, please further your research with high-quality sources. The more you know, the better you will be able to care for your pet!
"Antaresia stimsoni" by AlexandreRoux01 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
