Latin name: Python curtus breitensteini

Common name(s): Borneo short-tailed python, Borneo blood python

Native to: The island of Borneo.

Adult size: The females usually reach 4 to 5 feet and the males tend to stay smaller at 3 to 4 feet. Big specimens may weigh 20 pounds.

Life span: Over 20 years but can be much more in captivity.

Eggs and young:
Sexual maturity is reached in the first 2 to 4 years. Breeding season in captivity is usually November to March. Short tailed pythons should have the right amount of weight and be established before any breeding is attempted. They lay around 18 to 30 eggs. Eggs should hatch around 60 days with incubation temperatures around 88 to 90F.

Appearance: A snake of medium length with huge girth relative to its length. Short and stout probably best describes them. The head is long and broad and distinctly wider than the neck- usually pale yellowish to brown to pale brown. The eyes are orange and swivel. The body has dark patterns that range from light brown to tan to very dark brown and a lighter pattern that ranges from cream to yellow. There is a high frequency of dorsal striping in this species, and it appears in some cases to be an inheritable characteristic.

Feeding: The general rule of thumb is that the snake shouldn't eat anything bigger that the widest part of its body. They should be fed pre-killed prey, make sure to use tongs to feed with. Baby borneos should eat small mice every 4 to 5 days. Juveniles should eat slightly larger prey (most likely an adult mouse) once every week. When they get bigger you can feed them an appropriately sized rat or rabbit every week and a half. Finally when they are adults they should be on an appropriately sized rabbit every 2 weeks. Avoid handling after a sizable meal, as this is stressful and may cause regurgitation. Never leave a live rodent in the snake's cage without supervision. It is a good idea to track when your snake has fed to maintain a proper system. Reluctant feeders may be more apt to eat with the lights off and may prefer to ambush prey from a hide box.

Handling: Always support the snake's body and avoid fast movement. A snake may bite if it is nervous or has mistaken you for food.

Temperament: Borneo's do have variable temperaments, however most are quite calm and docile.

Cage set up: Enclosures should be at least as long as the reptile's body and width at least a third of their length. At all ages, Borneo short tailed pythons require a secure, well-ventilated cage. Plastic storage boxes, with numerous holes for ventilation, also can be used to maintain young pythons. Once regular feeding begins, Borneos will quickly require a larger space, and should then be moved to something more appropriate for their size. Some people will just provide them with a cage that will be large enough for their adult size once the snake is eating regularly. One of the most common mistakes made in keeping Borneo pythons is to not provide a suitably large cage for the adults. Hide boxes are very important, because that's where they spend most of the day. A hide box can be constructed of a shallow flowerpot with a hole knocked out of the side or caves can be bought at pet stores. Other things can be added to make it more attractive. Rocks, live (as long as they are safe) or fake plants, and even branches can be placed inside the enclosure. You should clean the enclosure out every time your snake defecates. Simple soap and water can be used if rinsed out well, or vinegar works too.

Substrate: The best substrate to use is a flannelette blanket made to fit the size of the cage. A towel can also be used as long as the snake doesn't get its teeth caught in it while going after food. Make sure he can't get stuck in any tags that may be sewn onto the towel. Paper towel can also be used although it may not be as aesthetically pleasing. Always avoid using cedar, as this is harmful to your snake.

Lighting: An incandescent light can be used during the day but doesn't put off much heat. Heat lamps can also be used; just make sure that it is out of reach so the snake cannot burn itself. Red lights may be used for heating during the night since this type of light does not disrupt the snakes.

Heating: Snakes like their heat from underneath. This is best accomplished with a reptile heat pad on a thermostat under the cage. Temperatures of 85 to 90 F are good for the warm side and 79 to 81F on the cool side. It may be necessary when using aquariums to cover part of the lid to maintain ideal temperatures.

Humidity: Borneo short tailed pythons like to have a large water bowl to soak in and also drink from, plus this can help with the humidity. The humidity should be at about 65% to 75%. Around shed time try to increase the humidity to 80 to 85%.