The Olive Python is a large species of snake found in Australia. There are two recognised species, the Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus) and the Pilbara Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus barroni).
They are the second largest species of snake found in Australia, surpassed only by the Amethystine Python. While they are quite large in terms of overall length, they are fairly slender in comparison.
Olive Pythons belong to the genus Liasis of the Python Family. This means that they are closely related to the other two species in the genus Liasis, the Macklot’s Python and the Water Python.
Description
The Olive Python can reach lengths in excess of 12 feet, but most specimens reach a maximum length of about 8 feet. Their bodies are quite slender in comparison to their length. They have similar features to the venomous King Brown Snake and are unfortunately sometimes killed as a result.
As their name suggests, they are Olive Green in colour and have little to no patterning. Their bellies are cream/white in colour.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Olive Python can be found throughout Northern Australia. Their range extends from the North-East of Western Australia, across the Northern portion of the Northern Territory and into Western Queensland.
The Pilbara Olive Python’s range is restricted to a small region in the North-Western section of Western Australia where they are mainly found in Gascoyne and Pilbara.
They share much of their geographical range with other common Australian species such as the Blue Tongue Skink, Ackie Monitor and Black Headed Python.
These snakes like to live amongst rocky terrain that is close to water. They can often be found taking shelter from the sun in caves or crevices. Living near water provides the benefit of increased animal traffic as animals will be drawn to the water. This provides the snake with the perfect opportunity to find a meal.
While this is their preferred habitat, they can be found in a wide variety of other habitats such as shrubland, grassland and farmland.
Olive Pythons as Pets
The Olive Python is becoming more and more common in the pet industry. This snake should not be kept by a beginner as their care requirements are more suitable to an advanced hobbyist.
As this is a large snake, they will need an enclosure that is at least 8ft x 3ft x 3ft. Most people don’t have the space to provide such a large enclosure. This snake should not be crammed into a small tub or rack system as these setups don’t provide the adequate space that the snake needs.
Most Olive Pythons have an aggressive feeding response which is another factor that makes this snake unsuitable for beginners. However, if handled regularly they can become quite docile and make great pets for advanced hobbyists.
Feeding an Olive Python
In the wild, an Olive Python will eat a wide variety of prey. They are opportunistic hunters and will eat almost anything it can swallow. Their diet consists of rodents, birds, small mammals, bats and even other reptiles.
There are even reports that the Olive Python sometimes preys on juvenile crocodiles. They are expert ambush hunters and can stay submerged under water waiting for an animal to come to the waters edge for a drink.
In the wild, juvenile Olive Pythons can be fed exclusively on rats. As the snake grows, you should increase the size of the rat. You should look to feed your snake a meal that is no larger than the girth of the snake at its largest point.
An adult Olive Python can be fed large rats or even rabbits, depending on the size of the snake. If you have a stubborn snake that won’t feed, you can try other prey items such as chicken or quail.
Olive Python Housing
An Olive Python is a large snake that will need a large enclosure. An adult Olive Python will need to be housed in an enclosure measuring 8ft x 3ft x 3ft. Tubs and rack systems aren’t suitable for these snakes as they simply don’t provide them with the space that they need.
It is almost impossible to find commercially available enclosures that are this large so you would need to build your own. Even if you can find a commercially available enclosure, it would be far cheaper to build one.
Most people build these enclosures out of wood and they work fairly well. However, custom enclosures built out of sheet PVC are becoming more common. These enclosures don’t rot and will last longer than wooden setups.
Light and Heat
As these snakes require a large enclosure it can be difficult to heat them. Unless you live in a very warm climate, you will likely need more than one source of heat to provide the necessary thermal gradient along the length of the enclosure.
These snakes like it hot. The temperature in the warm end of the enclosure should be around 95F. There should be a thermal gradient along the length of the enclosure with the cool end reading around 78F.
If you find that the temperature in the cool end is too cold you may need to add additional heat around halfway down the enclosure. This heat source might need to be slightly cooler than the primary source of heat in the hot end.
You can use heat mats or ceramic bulbs to heat your enclosures. Whatever source of heat you choose, it should be connected to a high-quality thermostat. This will ensure that the correct temperatures are maintained.
The Olive Python is a nocturnal species. They do not require any special lighting such as UVA/UVB. If you do choose to include lighting in your enclosure, make sure it is turned off at night. This is to allow your snake a proper day/night cycle.
Olive Python Substrate
As these snakes need a large enclosure, many keepers choose to use a basic substrate such as unprinted newspaper. As this is cheap and easy to clean, it is the substrate of choice for many keepers.
If you want to use a more natural substrate, an Olive Python will do well on a wide range of different substrates including Aspen, Cork Bark and Coco Fibre. Just be aware that it will take a lot of substrate to cover the surface area of a large enclosure.
Handling an Olive Python
Juvenile Olive Pythons can be a bit nippy. This is common and with regular handling they will usually grow out of it. Most Olive Pythons can become quite docile and enjoy time out of their enclosures if handled regularly from a young age.
Keep in mind that these snakes can have an aggressive feeding response. If this is the case, it is best to remove them from their enclosure with a hook before handling. This is usually enough for the snake to know that your hand isn’t its next meal.
Breeding Olive Pythons
In the wild, Olive Pythons mate between May and mid-June. The male and female can stay together for a number of weeks during the mating season.
The eggs will go through a gestation period of around 85 days before being hatched. Clutch sizes can vary anywhere from 12 to 30 eggs. These eggs will be incubated for about 50 days before the hatchlings emerge.
Hatchlings are generally just over a foot long when they emerge from the egg and will grow quickly if food is plentiful. They do not stay together and will almost immediately leave the lay site in search of their own place to live.