The Children's Python is a moderate to heavily built Australian snake of variable colour. Typically it is light brown dorsally, being lighter on the lower sides with an irregular pattern of dark brown blotches along the back and sides, often roughly arranged in transverse series to give the impression of irregular crossbands, the head, light brown often with small darker flecks or blotches. A dark streak may pass through each eye. The ventral surface is white. This snake averages .85 metre in adult total length but specimens up to nearly 2 metres are known.	"Sabrina"
The Children's Python is one of Australia's most widely distributed species of python and throughout most of its range is also the most common python generally found in rocky areas. Children's Pythons can be nocturnal in habit due to the high day-time temperatures throughout most of their range, although in captivity this species may be diurnal. Unlike many pythons the Children's Python rarely rests in the open, always sheltering in or under some form of cover such as a rock crevice, log, etc According to the books, and according to every other keeper of Children's Pythons I've spoken to, Children's Pythons are generally hardy and easy to feed and because nine out of ten are docile in temperament they are an excellent snake to keep in captivity. Mine bit freely ! But to be fair to the snakes their new keeper has not once had any problems with them at all - it must just be me !!
On account of their size Children's Pythons may be kept in cages of moderate size, and the most important requisite for success in keeping them is maintaining sufficient temperature (above 22 degrees Celcius) for most of the year. The setting of the cage is usually relatively unimportant as Children's Pythons will thrive in almost any cage so long as it is not too moist too much of the time. Successful breeders often keep this species in cages with no more than newspaper on the floor, a single hide box or horizontal log and water, indicating the ease of keeping this species.	Children's Pythons are (in my experience) greedy little things and will avidly take pinkies, fuzzies and small mice. Always remember the rough rule of thumb that the food item should be as wide as the widest part of the snake, and do not give your snake food which is too big.
When eggs are laid they should be artificially incubated maintaining a stable temperature of 29 degrees Celcius and a high humidity.	Adult Children's Pythons produce an average of 10-12 eggs annually around November (in the wild) which usually take under three months to hatch. Young when born measure 30 cm in length and weigh roughly 7 grams . Sexual maturity comes at roughly 50 cm in length and two to three years of age in the wild. The Children's Python is an excellent breeder's snake, not only because it breeds regularly and easily but also because it often reaches sexual maturity in captivity in eighteen months. Children's Pythons also have a good 1:1 male:female sex ratio making it relatively easy to get breeding sets.
A well fed Children's Python will shed its skin about once every 1 to 3 months. The most obvious sign that shedding is imminent is a general darkening and the clouding over of the eyes. At this point, all contact with the snake is best postponed till after shed is complete. The eyes will clear, and a few days later the skin will be removed. The shed is accomplished by rubbing on something until the skin on the nose comes loose. The skin is then pulled off like a sock. Check the python to ensure the shed was complete - look for any skin left stuck to the body.. If the skin comes off in lots of small pieces, the humidity is too low. Unshed skin can be removed by soaking the snake in water and then gently pulling it off. Some snakes sem to enjoy this, others put up a struggle. Be careful here - the Children's Python is a very small snake and may easily be harmed. Handling should be kept at a minimum during the shed period, as the new skin can be sensitive (or even damaged). Feeding should also be postponed for the same reasons, in fact, most will refuse food while shedding.