Description:
Scientific name: Python curtus
Life span: 20-25 years
Sumatra is home to the large, non-venomous Sumatran short-tailed python. In comparison to the length of the body, the tail is incredibly short. The color pattern consists of blotches that range in hue from brick to blood red placed over a beige, tan, or grayish-brown background color. When compared to the length of the body, the tail is quite short. Between the base of the eye and the top of the labial scales, the Sumatran short-tailed python contains small subocular scales. There is no connection between the parietal scales.
Native Region/Habitat
Sumatra, the Riau Archipelago, the Lingga Islands, the Bangka Islands, the Mentawai Islands, and Kalimantan are all home to the Sumatran short-tailed python. It lives in swamps, marshes, and areas close to river banks and streams.
Behavior:
Despite their reputation for being unpredictable and aggressive, captive-bred specimens are typically more placid than wild-caught ones. Numerous Sumatran short-tailed pythons have been killed for their leather; it’s thought that 100,000 of them are kidnapped for this reason annually. Umatran short-tailed pythons are reticent nighttime animals. They live alone and only communicate with one another during the mating season.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
Beginner snake keepers should avoid this snake since it might be challenging to handle. There are always exceptions because each snake has a unique personality, but most Sumatran Short-Tailed Pythons are notorious for having short tempers.
- An enclosure that is 4 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet will be suitable for an adult snake. If you have a larger snake, you might need to provide it with a 5-foot long enclosure.
- If you provide a Sumatran Short Tailed Python with a basking location that is around 88F, they will thrive. For this, we advise utilizing an overhead heater made of ceramic.
- Every seven days, a young Sumatran Short Tailed Python can be given a frozen, thawed rat of the proper size. Rats should be the same size or slightly smaller than the snake’s circumference at its widest point.
- Hatchlings are large enough to eat their first meal of rat pups or even fuzziest. To stop your snake from favoring mice, it is preferable to start feeding rats right away.
Table
