Water Python
Common Name: Water Python
Scientific Name: Liasis fuscus
Family: Pythonidae (Pythons)
Genus: Liasis
Status: Category 4
Size: TL 2500mm - 3000mm

If you are purchasing reptiles in Western Australia, you must hold the required Category license for the animals you are purchasing.

The Water Python is Australia’s most aquatic python, their body colouration is without pattern and can be almost black to olive-brown or olive-grey, with an obvious opalescent sheen. The lips, throat and belly are white  to yellowish- white.

Water Pythons can be found throughout monsoonal Australia from Broome WA, to St. Lawrence QLD. water pythons are semi-aquatic and terrestrial, sheltering in burrows, hollow logs, soil cracks and beneath vegetation.

Terrarium: Water Pythons do not require an enclosure with very much height, however if given the correct environment with climbing enrichment they will explore their enclosure. The enclosure needs to be large enough to provide multiple hide rocks and maintain a thermal gradient, a terrarium that is 120x60x60cm (WxDxH) would be suitable to house a pair of mature Water Pythons.

 

Lighting & heating:  UVB lighting is not essential to Water Pythons, however a low 2.0 spectrum fluorescent globe can be used for viewing purposes. Heating can be provided with a heat tile, mat or cord to maintain a ground surface temperature of 32°C in the hot spot.  Ambient heat can be provided with an infrared heat globe to maintain a daytime temperature of 36°C in the warm end and 25°C in the cool end, on warmer days you may not need to turn on the heat globe as the ambient temperature of the enclosure may already be high enough. A thermometer should always be used to monitor the temperature within the enclosure.

 

Furnishings: It is important to provide your Water Python with plenty of hide caves throughout, a large water bowl at the cool end, and artificial plants will give coverage and decoration. Large Logs and vines can be used within the enclosure to provide climbing enrichment. A pet bedding wood chips such as Chipsi or Critter Crumble can be used as a substrate.

 

Food in captivity: All snakes in captivity must be fed dead food. A Water Python will eat a variety of frozen and thawed mice, rats and chickens of appropriate sizes. On average they will have 1-2 food items every 7-10 days.

 

The essentials:

  • Terrarium of appropriate size
  • Tummy heating
  • Thermometer
  • Infrared Heat globe
  • Water bowl
  • Substrate
  • Hide caves
  • Foliage for shelter