HomeSnakes

White Carpet

How to breed for albino carpet pythons.

Visit The American International Rattlesnake Museum
University of Texas at Arlington Study Looks At Snake Venom Gene Evolution
British Man Buys Stolen Python After Drinking Binge

Those unfamiliar with carpet pythons (Morelia spilota ssp.) might think they only display colors such as those of the sometimes-dull-looking coastal carpet python or the yellow bands of the jungle carpet python. However, when the first jaguar carpet pythons hit the reptile trade in the early 2000s, they brought with them new color and pattern possibilities, and they inspired new interest in the species. Mixing the jaguar gene with other new color and pattern morphs, such as zebras, caramels, tigers and granites, only intensified the hunger for new and exciting colors. I focus on breeding carpet pythons heterozygous for albino, which basically means these snakes can produce albino offspring.

Want to read the full story? Pick up the January 2010 issue of REPTILES, or subscribe to get 12 months of articles just like this.

Advertisement