Inland Carpet Python (Morelia spilota metcalfei) Care Sheet
The Inland Carpet Python, sometimes called the Murray-Darling Carpet Python, is a medium-to-large Australian python associated with the drier inland regions of southeastern Australia. It is a member of the Carpet Python complex and is generally less frequently encountered in captivity than some of its better-known relatives.
Inland Carpet Pythons are adaptable, active snakes that utilise both terrestrial and elevated environments. Their natural range experiences substantial seasonal and day-to-night temperature variation, making access to a broad thermal gradient particularly important in captivity.
Captive-bred individuals often become relatively manageable, although juveniles may initially be defensive. Their adult size, climbing ability, feeding response and long lifespan make them best suited to keepers able to provide spacious, secure and environmentally complex accommodation.
Quick Facts
Scientific name: Morelia spilota metcalfei
Common names: Inland Carpet Python / Murray-Darling Carpet Python
Family: Pythonidae
Origin: Inland southeastern Australia
Adult size: Commonly approximately 150–210 cm (5–7 ft), with larger individuals possible
Lifespan: Approximately 20–30+ years with appropriate care
Activity: Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, with daytime basking occurring
Lifestyle: Terrestrial to semi-arboreal
Diet: Carnivorous
Reproduction: Egg-laying
Temperament: Generally manageable when established; individuals vary
Experience level: Intermediate
Taxonomy
The Inland Carpet Python is traditionally classified as:
Morelia spilota metcalfei
It forms part of the wider Carpet Python complex.
Taxonomy within Morelia spilota has undergone revision and remains subject to differing treatments.
For captive breeding purposes, accurate information concerning:
- Parentage
- Locality
- Lineage
should be retained wherever possible.
Natural History
Inland Carpet Pythons occur through parts of southeastern inland Australia.
Their distribution has traditionally been associated with the Murray-Darling region and surrounding inland environments.
Habitats can include:
- Dry woodland
- Open forest
- Riverine woodland
- Rocky areas
- Scrub
- Agricultural landscapes
- Areas surrounding waterways
They may also occur in modified environments where appropriate shelter and prey remain available.
Climate
Unlike tropical Carpet Python populations, Inland Carpet Pythons experience pronounced seasonal variation.
Natural conditions can include:
- Hot summer days
- Cooler nights
- Mild transitional seasons
- Cold winter periods
- Substantial day-to-night temperature changes
These snakes regulate their body temperature behaviourally by moving between different microclimates.
Captive husbandry should therefore emphasise thermal choice rather than uniform warmth.
Habitat Use
Inland Carpet Pythons utilise both ground-level and elevated environments.
Natural retreats may include:
- Tree hollows
- Hollow logs
- Rock crevices
- Dense vegetation
- Other protected cavities
They are capable climbers and should be provided with usable elevated structures in captivity.
Appearance
Inland Carpet Pythons are variable in colour and pattern.
Typical colours can include:
- Brown
- Grey
- Olive
- Tan
- Cream
- Gold
- Dark brown
Patterns may consist of:
- Bands
- Blotches
- Irregular markings
- Mottling
Colouration often provides excellent camouflage against bark, rock and dry vegetation.
Adult Size
Adults commonly reach approximately:
150–210 cm (5–7 ft)
although larger individuals occur.
Females may become more substantial than males.
Inland Carpet Pythons are athletic snakes requiring sufficient space for:
- Full-body movement
- Climbing
- Exploration
- Basking
- Concealment
- Thermoregulation
Enclosure
For an average adult, approximately:
180 × 90 × 120 cm (6 × 3 × 4 ft)
should be considered a useful practical minimum starting point.
Larger accommodation is strongly encouraged.
Height is valuable because adults readily utilise elevated structures.
The enclosure should provide:
- Generous floor space
- Strong climbing branches
- Elevated platforms
- Multiple hides
- Appropriate substrate
- Fresh water
- Broad thermal gradient
- Environmental enrichment
Juvenile Enclosures
Juveniles can initially be maintained in smaller secure accommodation.
Provide:
- Warm-side hide
- Cool-side hide
- Elevated retreats
- Climbing branches
- Fresh water
- Suitable substrate
- Environmental cover
Young Carpet Pythons may become defensive when they feel exposed.
Multiple secure retreats can help reduce stress.
The enclosure should be upgraded progressively as the animal grows.
Enclosure Security
Inland Carpet Pythons are strong, agile and inquisitive.
Enclosures require:
- Secure doors
- Reliable locks
- Strong ventilation panels
- Protected cable openings
Juveniles can escape through surprisingly small gaps.
All branches and elevated structures should be securely anchored.
Heating and lighting equipment must be protected from direct contact with the snake.
Hides
Provide at least:
- One warm-side hide
- One cool-side hide
Additional retreats at intermediate temperatures are strongly encouraged.
Elevated hides can also be valuable.
Suitable options include:
- Cork bark
- Hollow logs
- Artificial rock shelters
- Purpose-built reptile hides
- Elevated hide boxes
The snake should be able to remain concealed while selecting different temperatures.
Climbing Opportunities
Although often associated with relatively dry inland habitats, these snakes remain capable climbers.
Provide:
- Thick branches
- Logs
- Horizontal perches
- Shelves
- Elevated platforms
Different branch diameters and orientations increase behavioural choice.
All structures must safely support the full weight of the snake.
Substrate
Suitable substrates include:
- Reptile-safe soil
- Naturalistic soil mixtures
- Coconut husk
- Suitable bark-based reptile substrates
- Other low-dust reptile-safe materials
The enclosure should not be maintained as an excessively dry, dusty environment simply because the species occurs inland.
Avoid:
- Cedar
- Pine
- Artificially scented substrates
- Excessively dusty materials
Spot-clean waste promptly.
Temperature & Heating
Provide a broad thermal gradient.
During the active season, suitable temperatures are approximately:
Basking surface: 31–33°C
Warm ambient area: approximately 25–28°C
Cooler area: approximately 21–24°C
Night: approximately 18–22°C
Seasonal variation can be incorporated for healthy established animals.
The snake must always be able to move away from the heat source.
The entire enclosure should never be maintained at basking temperature.
Basking
Inland Carpet Pythons may voluntarily bask.
A defined basking site allows the snake to warm efficiently before moving into cooler areas.
The basking area should be large enough to warm a useful portion of the animal’s body.
Surface temperatures should be checked using an infrared thermometer.
Heating
Suitable heating systems may include appropriately installed:
- Halogen basking lamps
- Deep heat projectors
- Ceramic heat emitters
depending upon enclosure design and room temperature.
All heating equipment must be appropriately thermostatically controlled.
Internally mounted heat sources accessible to the snake must be securely guarded.
Nighttime Cooling
Inland Carpet Pythons naturally experience cooler nights.
Allowing nighttime temperatures to fall below daytime ambient temperatures can provide a more natural thermal cycle.
Healthy established animals may experience nighttime temperatures around:
18–22°C
during much of the active season.
The exact temperature used should account for:
- Age
- Health
- Season
- Enclosure design
Seasonal Variation
Seasonal environmental changes are a normal part of this python’s natural history.
Captive seasonal variation may include gradual changes in:
- Photoperiod
- Daytime temperature
- Nighttime temperature
- Feeding
- Activity
Seasonal changes should always be gradual.
Young, sick or compromised animals may require modified conditions.
Winter Management
Healthy adult Inland Carpet Pythons may become less active during cooler periods.
Possible seasonal changes include:
- Reduced activity
- Reduced appetite
- Longer periods spent concealed
- Changes in basking behaviour
Feeding should be adjusted to environmental conditions.
Animals should not receive substantial meals when they lack appropriate temperatures for digestion.
Humidity
Inland Carpet Pythons generally do not require continuously high tropical humidity.
A useful general range is approximately:
40–60% relative humidity
with natural fluctuations.
Humidity may temporarily increase during:
- Shedding
- Misting
- Rainfall simulation
Good ventilation remains important.
Humidity & Hydration
A relatively dry ambient environment does not eliminate the need for appropriate hydration.
Fresh drinking water must remain available at all times.
Localised humid microclimates allow the snake to regulate its own moisture exposure.
Persistently wet substrate should be avoided.
Humid Hide
A humid retreat can be particularly useful during shedding.
Suitable materials include:
- Damp sphagnum moss
- Moist coconut fibre
- Other appropriate moisture-retaining substrate
The contents should remain moist rather than saturated.
The hide should be checked and cleaned regularly.
Water
Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.
Provide a stable water container large enough for comfortable drinking and optional soaking.
Water should be:
- Checked daily
- Changed regularly
- Replaced immediately when contaminated
The container should be thoroughly cleaned as required.
Lighting
Provide a clear day/night cycle.
Approximately:
10–12 hours of light per day
can be used during much of the active season.
Seasonal variation in photoperiod can also be incorporated.
Bright visible daytime lighting helps establish normal circadian rhythms and encourages natural basking behaviour.
The enclosure should become genuinely dark at night.
Avoid red, blue or purple nighttime bulbs.
UVB
Low-level UVB can be incorporated into modern Inland Carpet Python husbandry.
A useful exposed basking target may be approximately:
UVI 1–2
with shaded areas and retreats providing negligible exposure.
The snake must always be able to regulate its own exposure.
Actual UV intensity depends upon:
- Lamp output
- Reflector
- Distance
- Mesh
- Basking position
Environmental Enrichment
Inland Carpet Pythons are active, inquisitive snakes that benefit considerably from environmental complexity.
Suitable enrichment includes:
- Strong branches
- Logs
- Cork bark
- Rock-style structures
- Multiple hides
- Elevated platforms
- Different substrate depths
- Leaf litter
- Vegetation
- Scent trails
- Occasional changes in enclosure layout
The environment should encourage:
- Exploration
- Climbing
- Basking
- Concealment
- Foraging
- Thermoregulation
Diet
Inland Carpet Pythons are carnivorous constrictors.
Wild prey can include:
- Rodents
- Other small mammals
- Birds
- Reptiles
- Other appropriately sized vertebrates
Captive-bred animals generally feed readily on appropriately sized whole prey.
Rodents can form the primary captive diet.
Frozen-Thawed Prey
Appropriately prepared frozen-thawed prey is strongly preferred.
This eliminates the risk of live rodents biting or otherwise injuring the snake.
Frozen prey should be:
- Completely thawed
- Appropriately warmed
- Presented using feeding tongs
Never microwave whole frozen prey because uneven heating can create dangerous internal hot spots.
Prey Size
Offer prey appropriate to the snake’s size and body condition.
A meal should create a modest visible swelling rather than extreme distension.
Oversized prey can increase the risk of:
- Regurgitation
- Digestive difficulty
- Injury
- Excessive calorie intake
Feeding Frequency
Juveniles can generally be offered appropriately sized prey approximately:
Every 5–7 days
depending upon growth and body condition.
Subadults may generally be fed approximately:
Every 7–10 days.
Healthy adults can generally be fed approximately:
Every 10–14 days
or at longer intervals depending upon:
- Prey size
- Activity
- Body condition
- Season
Adult feeding may decrease substantially during cooler periods.
Feeding & Seasonal Temperatures
Feeding should always be considered alongside environmental temperature.
An animal undergoing deliberate seasonal cooling should not be fed as though it were being maintained under summer conditions.
Previous meals should be completely digested before substantial seasonal cooling occurs.
Do not attempt to force seasonal feeding by eliminating appropriate nighttime cooling.
Feeding Response
Inland Carpet Pythons can possess strong feeding responses.
Useful management practices include:
- Using feeding tongs
- Washing hands after handling prey
- Avoiding prey scent during routine maintenance
- Establishing predictable enclosure routines
- Target or tap training where appropriate
Always establish the snake’s position and behaviour before reaching into the enclosure.
Obesity
Overfeeding can result in obesity.
Monitor:
- Body shape
- Muscle tone
- Activity
- Weight trends
A healthy Inland Carpet Python should remain muscular and relatively athletic.
Feeding should be based upon body condition rather than appetite alone.
Handling
Captive-bred Inland Carpet Pythons often become relatively manageable with calm, consistent husbandry.
Juveniles may initially be defensive.
When handling:
- Move calmly
- Support the body
- Avoid grabbing the head
- Avoid tight restraint
- Allow controlled movement
Adults remain powerful animals and should be handled appropriately.
Juvenile Defensive Behaviour
Young Inland Carpet Pythons may:
- Form an S-shaped posture
- Strike
- Hiss
- Attempt to flee
This behaviour often decreases as the snake matures and becomes established.
Excessive forced handling of a frightened juvenile may increase stress.
Secure accommodation and predictable husbandry should come first.
Handling After Feeding
Avoid unnecessary handling for approximately:
48–72 hours after feeding
and longer following substantial meals.
Handling too soon can increase the risk of regurgitation.
Allow the snake to digest undisturbed at appropriate temperatures.
Shedding
Signs of an approaching shed include:
- Dull colouration
- Cloudy or blue eyes
- Reduced activity
- Possible temporary feeding refusal
Appropriate hydration and access to suitable humidity generally support normal shedding.
After shedding, check:
- Eye caps
- Tail tip
- Overall skin
Repeated incomplete shedding indicates that humidity, hydration or general health should be reviewed.
Housing Multiple Snakes
Individual housing is generally recommended.
Inland Carpet Pythons do not require companionship.
Separate housing allows accurate monitoring of:
- Feeding
- Faeces
- Shedding
- Body condition
- Health
It also reduces competition and feeding accidents.
Animals should only be introduced for breeding under controlled conditions.
Health
Potential health concerns include:
- Respiratory infections
- Mouth infections
- Scale problems
- Burns
- Dehydration
- Retained shed
- External parasites
- Internal parasites
- Regurgitation
- Obesity
- Reproductive complications
Warning signs include:
- Significant unexplained weight loss
- Persistent refusal to feed outside expected seasonal patterns
- Repeated regurgitation
- Wheezing
- Open-mouth breathing
- Nasal discharge
- Excessive saliva
- Mouth swelling
- Neurological abnormalities
- Significant behavioural changes
Persistent or serious symptoms require assessment by a suitably experienced reptile/exotic veterinarian.
Respiratory Disease
Respiratory problems can be associated with inappropriate combinations of:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Ventilation
- Hygiene
Cool nighttime conditions alone should not automatically be assumed to cause respiratory disease.
Healthy Inland Carpet Pythons naturally experience considerable temperature variation.
Suspected respiratory disease requires veterinary assessment.
Burns
Carpet Pythons can reach heating equipment positioned high within an enclosure.
Prevent thermal injury by:
- Thermostatically controlling heat sources
- Guarding internally mounted equipment
- Measuring surface temperatures
- Preventing access to hot fittings
Suspected burns require prompt veterinary attention.
Quarantine
All newly acquired Inland Carpet Pythons should undergo quarantine away from established reptiles.
During quarantine:
- Record body weight
- Monitor feeding
- Examine faeces
- Check skin
- Monitor breathing
- Check carefully for mites
- Observe behaviour
- Maintain separate equipment
Veterinary faecal testing may be appropriate where an animal’s previous history is uncertain.
Captive-bred animals should be strongly preferred.
Sexing
Inland Carpet Pythons can be sexed using established professional snake-sexing techniques.
These procedures should only be performed by an experienced person.
Incorrect probing can cause serious injury.
External appearance alone should not be relied upon for definitive sex determination.
Breeding
Inland Carpet Pythons are egg-laying snakes.
Breeding should only be attempted with healthy mature animals in appropriate body condition.
Successful breeding requires knowledge of:
- Accurate sexing
- Sexual maturity
- Seasonal cycling
- Pair introduction
- Courtship
- Female condition
- Egg development
- Egg laying
- Incubation
- Hatchling husbandry
Animals should not simply be permanently housed together for breeding.
Seasonal Cycling for Breeding
Seasonal cycling can play an important role in reproduction.
Breeding programmes may incorporate controlled changes to:
- Nighttime temperatures
- Daytime temperatures
- Photoperiod
- Feeding
Only healthy mature animals in suitable body condition should undergo deliberate cooling.
Temperature reduction should occur gradually.
Pair Introduction
Breeding introductions should be carefully supervised.
Monitor for:
- Courtship
- Copulation
- Stress
- Defensive behaviour
Animals should be separated if either individual appears persistently stressed.
Accurate breeding records should be maintained.
Egg Laying
Females require access to a secure laying area containing appropriate moisture-retaining substrate.
The laying site should provide:
- Privacy
- Appropriate moisture
- Suitable temperature
- Enough room for the female to coil comfortably
Females should be monitored carefully during the reproductive period.
Difficulty laying eggs can become a veterinary emergency.
Maternal Incubation
Female Inland Carpet Pythons may coil around their eggs.
Maternal incubation may be possible where environmental conditions are carefully controlled.
Artificial incubation may also be used.
The chosen method should be thoroughly researched before breeding occurs.
Artificial Incubation
Eggs require carefully controlled:
- Temperature
- Moisture
- Gas exchange
Eggs should not be unnecessarily rotated after development has begun.
Breeders should research current species-specific incubation protocols before attempting reproduction.
Hatchlings
Hatchlings require:
- Secure individual accommodation
- Appropriate thermal gradients
- Multiple small hides
- Elevated retreats
- Fresh water
- Suitable substrate
- Climbing opportunities
- Appropriately sized prey
Young animals may initially be defensive.
Providing abundant secure cover and minimising unnecessary disturbance can help them become established.
Each hatchling should be monitored individually for:
- First shed
- Feeding
- Body weight
- Defecation
- Normal development
Lineage & Locality
Accurate records are important within the Carpet Python complex.
Where locality information is available, it should be retained.
Records should include where possible:
- Parent identification
- Geographic origin
- Hatch date
- Sex
- Feeding history
- Breeding history
- Lineage
This is particularly important where animals are retained for future breeding.
Hybridisation
Different Carpet Python forms can interbreed in captivity.
Where animals are represented as pure Inland Carpet Pythons, breeders should maintain accurate lineage records.
Animals containing ancestry from other Carpet Python forms should be represented accurately.
Hybridisation should never be concealed or misrepresented.
Maintaining clear records protects the integrity of established captive lines.
Responsible Sourcing
Captive-bred Inland Carpet Pythons should be strongly preferred.
Before acquiring an animal, establish where possible:
- Captive-bred status
- Age
- Sex
- Feeding history
- Health history
- Lineage
- Locality where known
A well-established captive-bred animal with a documented feeding history is preferable.
Responsible Ownership
Inland Carpet Pythons can live for 20–30 years or longer with appropriate care.
Before acquiring one, consider:
- Adult size
- Large enclosure requirements
- Climbing requirements
- Seasonal temperature management
- Strong feeding response
- Whole-prey feeding
- Specialist veterinary care
- Long lifespan
Their ability to tolerate cooler conditions does not mean they should simply be maintained cold.
Successful husbandry depends upon providing behavioural choice, including a suitable basking site alongside genuinely cooler areas.
Never release a captive snake into the wild.
Summary
The Inland Carpet Python is an adaptable Australian python associated with the seasonally variable environments of southeastern inland Australia.
Successful husbandry depends upon providing a large and secure enclosure, substantial climbing opportunities, multiple retreats, a defined basking area, a broad thermal gradient, meaningful nighttime and seasonal temperature variation, moderate humidity, fresh water, environmental enrichment and appropriately sized whole prey.
Unlike tropical Carpet Python populations, Inland Carpet Pythons naturally experience significant seasonal cooling, and this should be considered when developing long-term husbandry.
With appropriate thermal choice, environmental complexity, responsible feeding and accurate lineage management, Morelia spilota metcalfei can thrive in captivity for decades.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This care sheet provides general husbandry guidance and does not replace species-specific research or veterinary advice. Individual requirements may vary.
If you have concerns about an animal’s health or care, consult a suitably experienced exotic or reptile veterinarian.
Information correct at the date of publication.
reptilecommunity.com | Revised: August 2026