The White Lipped Python is a large species of snake native to New Guinea. While there are several different species of White Lipped Python, this article will focus on the two species that are more common in the reptile industry, the Northern and Southern White Lipped Python.
Taxonomy
The White Lipped Python is a name given to several different species in the genus Bothrochilus. This genus consists of 7 different species, all of which are White Lipped Pythons except for one, the Bismarck Ringed Python.
All species in the genus Bothrochilus are native to New Guinea or their surrounding islands. The species in this genus are:
- Bothrochilus albertisii (Northern)
- Bothrochilus biakensis (Biak)
- Bothrochilus boa (Bismarck Ringed Python)
- Bothrochilus fredparkeri (Karimui)
- Bothrochilus huonensis (Huon Peninsula)
- Bothrochilus meridionalis (Southern)
- Bothrochilus montanus (Wau)
Description
The White Lipped Python has a beautiful Iridescent appearance, reflecting light in a similar way to a Brazilian Rainbow Boa. This occurs when light refracts off the scales of the snake.
The Northern White Lipped Python is generally smaller, growing to around 7ft in length while the Southern White Lipped Python can reach lengths of over 9ft. As with most snakes, females tend to be larger than males.
One of the most stunning characterises of a White Lip is their mouth. They have white scales surrounding their mouth which gives the appearance that they have white lips, hence their name. There are usually black bands running through these ‘white lips’.
The Northern White Lipped python tends to have a dark coloured head. This is usually dark brown to black in colour. The body of the snake is generally a vibrant golden brown while their belly is white or cream.
The Southern White Lipped Python is generally duller in colour. They are usually a uniform brown or grey in colour that can lighten around the sides of the snake. Again the belly is white or cream in colour.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The White Lipped Python can be found on the island of New Guinea and some surrounding islands. The Northern variety can be found in the northern parts of the country. Their range extends from Jayapura in Papua to Madang in Papua New Guinea.
There is also an isolated population of these snakes in the western region of the island in West Irian Jaya. Some of the White Lipped Pythons range is shared with the Green Tree Python.
The range of the Southern White Lipped Python extends from Mimika in Papua to the Western Territory of Papua New Guinea. There are also populations in the East of the island in Oro and the Central Territory.
New Guinea is a large island in the Pacific Ocean that receives a lot of rainfall. It primarily consists of dense jungle and mountain regions. The island also has a relatively constant year-round temperature of around 86F.
These conditions mean that the air is always humid although July to September has significantly less rainfall. These snakes like to live in the dense jungles where there is plenty of leaf litter and fallen logs to hide under.
They are often fond around water sources such as rivers and streams. While they are a terrestrial species, the White Lipped Python is known to climb trees and fallen logs.
Feeding a White Lipped Python
A juvenile White Lipped Python can be feed an appropriately sized rodent once a week. An appropriate size is a meal that is slightly smaller than the girth of the snake, at the snake’s largest point.
When the snake is fully grown you do not need to feed them as much as they are not consuming as much energy. You can start to feed them a large meal every second week.
A large meal is a meal that is the same size as the girth of the snake at the snakes largest point, or slightly bigger. Alternatively, you can continue to feed them weekly and just offer them smaller meals.
A White Lipped Python generally has a good feeding response. This can be intimidating to some people who are afraid they may get bit. There are a few ways to minimise this risk.
You can choose to move your snake to a separate enclosure for feeding so they don’t associate you opening their cage with dinner time. Another option is to remove the snake from the enclosure with a snake hook before handling. This is usually enough to tell the snake that they are not getting fed.
White Lipped Python Enclosure
A White Lipped Python is considered a semi-arboreal snake. They live on the ground but will spend a decent amount of time in trees. As a result, you should try to offer them some height in their enclosure to replicate their natural behaviour.
Glass or PVC enclosures work best for these snakes as they require high levels of humidity. Wooden enclosures can be used but they will need to be sealed to prevent the wood from rotting.
Hatchlings can be housed in an enclosure measuring 2ft x 1ft x 1ft. This will be big enough for the first year or so, but you will need to upgrade the size of the enclosure as your snake grows.
An adult White Lipped Python will need a large enclosure. Many people choose to build their own as it can be very expensive to purchase such a large enclosure. Many people house these snakes in a 4x3x2 foot enclosure.
This is the minimum size you should be using. We recommend at least 5 foot for a larger specimen. Height is also important for these snakes so you should aim for a minimum of 2 foot in height, although bigger is better.
Light and Heat
A White Lipped Python needs a basking spot of around 90F. The cool side of the enclosure can drop to between 80-85F. This will allow your snake to thermoregulate. This can simply be achieved by placing your heat source on one end of the enclosure.
As your snake moves away from the source of the heat, the temperature will decline. At night, temperatures can safely drop into the high 70’s, providing they are brought back up again the following morning.
You can choose to use a basking or ceramic bulb for overhead heat or a heat mat for belly heat. We recommend using a combination of both, which should both be placed at the warm end of the enclosure.
Whatever heat source you choose, it is important to have it connected to a high-quality thermostat. This will take the guesswork away and ensure the equipment is functioning correctly and safely.
If using a heat mat, it should be placed underneath the tank, on the outside. If a large snake is lying directly on a heat mat for an extended period, hot spots can build up. These hotspots have the potential to burn your snake.
These snakes do not need any special lighting such as UVB to absorb calcium. However, if you do choose to install lighting in your enclosure, make sure that they are turned off at night so your snake is exposed to a proper day/night cycle.
White Lipped Python Humidity
A White Lipped Python needs relatively high levels of humidity. If you keep these snakes in about 60-70% humidity they tend to do well and don’t have problems with shedding.
This level of humidity can be easily achieved by placing a large water bowl in the snake’s enclosure. You can also lightly mist the walls and substrate in the enclosure to help bring the humidity levels up.
Do not keep your White Lipped Python on wet substrate. A light daily misting should be enough to keep the humidity at the desired level. If you find that your levels are dropping too quickly, try to cover up some of the ventilation to retain humidity.
Handling a White Lipped Python
A White Lipped Python is a stunning animal, but they are not as common as other larger snakes such as the Boa Constrictor. This is largely due to their reputation of being a nervous snake that can be quick to bite.
However, for an experienced keeper these snakes can make a great pet, but they are not recommended for people who are nervous or afraid of getting bit. The truth is, you will likely get bit at some point if you are keeping one of these snakes.
This is not an aggressive snake. A more accurate description is that they can be very nervous and can react to sudden movements with a defensive strike. One way to minimise this is to remove the snake from their enclosure with a hook before handling them.
When handling the snake, use gentle movements and always support the snake’s body. You should also avoid rubbing the snakes head, as this can cause a bite reaction.
Breeding White Lipped Pythons
In the wild, the White Lipped Python generally breeds from December to March. The temperature does not fluctuate too much in their native range. Instead breeding seems to be brought on once the dry season has ended.
These snakes are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs instead of giving live birth. All Pythons, such as the Burmese Python and the Woma Python lay eggs while Boa’s such as the Amazon Tree Boa give live birth.
After a gestation period of around 3 months, the female will lay a clutch of up to 20 eggs, although clutch sizes are usually a lot less. It will take another 2 months for the babies to hatch out of the egg.
New hatchlings are a little over 1 foot in length when they emerge from the egg and are completely independent from birth. It can take the babies up to 4 or 5 years to fully mature.