Fun Children's Python Facts For Kids

The children's python (Antaresia childreni) is a non-venomous snake species that is found in Australia. The name children's python is given to this species because the scientist John George Children of the British Museum discovered this species.

Mr. John George Children of the British Museum discovered four different types of species in Australia, and all of these species are named after him.

This python species was first discovered in the 19th century and was given the title of 'calm demeanor', as children's pythons are very calm snakes. They make good and easy-to-care pet snakes for beginners.

The special feature of the children's python is that when the creature is young, it has bright and light skin, and as it gets old, its skin is said to shed, and it gets darker in color.

Children's pythons are calm creatures, but if these python species are kept together, they can get aggressive and competitive. Although these snakes are non-venomous, they can bite pretty hard, and is quite painful to a human.

Here on our page, we have many amazing facts about children's python that everyone will enjoy. Let's look at these interesting facts; if you like these, then read our articles on Orinoco crocodile facts and the puff adder facts.

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Children's Python Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a children's python?

Children's python snakes are a large-bodied nocturnal species which means that these reptiles sleep during the day and stay awake at night. This species of snake is one of the four species of the reptile family Pythonidae. They belong to the genus of Antaresia, which was named after a scientist of Australia.

What class of animal does a children's python belong to?

Children's pythons are reptiles of the snake species. This species is a non-venomous snake that does not have any subspecies and is a very common snake to keep as a pet.

How many children's pythons is there in the world?

Children's pythons are snakes with long lifespans and can reproduce in clusters of 25 eggs at a time. Because of this reason, the population of this reptile is intact and is in full abundance and growth.

A huge number of snakes are kept in captivity and are more prominent in the wild. That is why the total population is hard to estimate.

Where does a children's python live?

Children's pythons are found in their native regions of Australia. They are found in northern Queensland, the northern territory of Australia, and on the island of the Strait of Torres, which is near New Guinea. They are mostly found in the region of Mount Isa and Kimberlys.

What is a children's python habitat?

These wild snakes, children's python snakes, prefer their habitat in the open forests and savannas, grasslands, shrublands, and also the wetlands areas. These creatures like to stay in dark regions and mostly prefer the night. Apart from the wild, these pythons are kept in captivity in a cage or tank where lighting is minimal.

Who does the children's python live with?

This snake prefers to live in solitary as this reptile is very competitive and if it stays with other children's pythons, it will behave aggressively. To ensure calm behavior, they usually stroll alone and only come together when they are ready to mate.

They also need a change of temperature every other season. Their body is made in such a way that they cannot regulate their own body temperatures which is why they usually stay away from their own kind so that their temperatures are always steady.

How long does the children's python live?

Like all other reptile species, the lifespan of the children's python is long. These adult creatures can live up to 30 years or sometimes more.

To ensure that your pythons live for long, you should see that the temperature of your python enclosure is well-maintained – basking at one end and cool at the other side. At the basking side, put a warm and basking bowl, a lamp, or something that radiates heat and humidity.

The other side should be cool with a water bowl and away from lighting so it's cool at night. While drafting your python care sheet, include a water bowl that will help in removing heat and humidity.

How do they reproduce?

Children's pythons come together in the breeding period. When the process is done, female snakes do not eat anything until they lay eggs.

The eggs are laid in a cluster of 25, and after they are laid, the females coil around them and give them warmth for seven weeks until they hatch. When the young snake is born, the mother takes care of them and feeds them with mice.

The mother then allows them to hide until they are mature enough to survive. These pythons take two to three years to reach maturity and fully grow.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of children's pythons is of Least Concern as per the IUCN Red List. The population of this reptile is intact both in the wild as well as in a pet.

These creatures have a long lifespan, and they breed and lay eggs throughout their life. Humans do not kill them. In fact, they keep them safe as a pet and also in the wild.

Children's Python Fun Facts

What does the children's python look like?

The adult children's python is a long and large size snake with a length of 3–5 ft (1–1.5 m). The snake is usually red-brown in color, darker when young with evenly spaced cluster marks or scales on their body from head to the end of the tail.

The lower body of the snake is yellow in color with some spots of brown color here and there, with a large set of eyes.

These reptiles are slim in size, and because of that, it is easy for them to shed their skin. The color of their body is so perfect that they can easily camouflage in the dull and dead leaves.

How cute are they?

Whether the children's python is cute or not is subjective. Some people who have kept them as pets find them cute and beautiful because of their distinctive scales and appearance, while others are scared of them because they are a species of snakes, and snakes are scary!

How do they communicate?

Like other snake species, children's pythons also communicate by using pheromones and chemicals to pass on signals that the receiver receives via their vomeronasal organs. With this process, they communicate about the location of one another and whether they are ready to mate or not.

How big is the children's python?

The size of children's pythons can range in length around 3–5 ft (1–1.5 m).

How fast can the children's python move?

The range of speed of children's pythons is slow, and they can only move up to 1 mph (1.6 kph). These pythons do not need to chase their prey by moving. They can simply hang by the branch of the tree and catch their prey by causing panic.

How much does the children's python weigh?

The weight of children's pythons can be around 7-10.5 oz (200-300 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for the male and female species of the children's python. They can simply be called male and female.

What would you call a baby children's python?

The baby of the children's python is known as the 'hatchling' when it is just out of its egg. The older but still immature babies are known as juveniles.

What do they eat?

The diet of these reptiles is fairly simple. This snake feeds on mice, rats such as brown rats, birds, small mammals, and other species of reptiles.

To ensure the care of your python, you should draft a special care sheet of the food to give to your python. The usual food to feed them is a diet including a mouse every few weeks and small reptiles. It is very important to keep control of the heat, temperature, and humidity of your snake.

Are they poisonous?

No, the children's python is a natural and non-venomous snake. The bodies of these species do not generate venom.

They can bite pretty hard. The bites of these snakes are very painful as they use all their muscles in biting when they feel threatened. Sometimes, this python also bites by mistake when they are in an enclosure, as they mistake your hand with the food and bite in a natural hurry.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, the children's python can be an awesome pet as they are calm and do not have many demands. The eating requirements of these creatures are very simple as they eat food once a week.

They do not require a special kind of food and can feed on a mouse, and sometimes you would have to switch up their diet by feeding them other reptiles. Another amazing reason for you to make them your pet is that these creatures have a long lifespan.

Therefore, they make a really good pet. Don't think twice if you're into the idea of adopting an exotic animal.

Did you know...

Children's python snakes shed their skin every four to six weeks.

The children's python does really well on a wide range of substrate choices. Substrate choices that look natural, like the reptile bark and the eco earth are really good options. Beech chippings or aspen shavings are other alternative substrate options.

Are children's pythons good pets?

The children's pythons are the perfect pet for beginners, as they do not have many foods and temperature requirements and are calm and peaceful to handle in an enclosure, with ideal temperature and heat. Also, they are non-venomous reptiles, which means that they are not dangerous for humans to handle, so that's a plus!

You must, however, watch out for their bite.

How big of a tank does a children's python need?

The tank enclosure of a children's python is a floor space enclosure with high nets. If you're looking for an enclosure to keep them in, go for a 3 x 2 x 2 feet (91 x 60 x 60 cm) tank. Adult pythons ought to be kept in an enclosure.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these blue-tongued skink facts and map turtle facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Children's Python coloring pages.