{"product_id":"python-curtus","title":"Sumatran short-tailed python","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sumatran Short-Tailed Python\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePython curtus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSource:\u003c\/strong\u003e WC\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Typically 1.2–1.8m (4–6ft), with a notably heavy, stocky build relative to length\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula; lowland rainforests, swamps, and river margins\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEnclosure:\u003c\/strong\u003e A minimum \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/viperia.co.uk\/products\/120x60x60cm-4ft-pvc-vivarium\" style=\"color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:underline;\"\u003e120×60×60cm Viperia PVC vivarium\u003c\/a\u003e for adults — this is a heavy-bodied, terrestrial (ground-dwelling) python that benefits from a spacious floor area. Furnish with a deep, moisture-retaining substrate such as coco coir or cypress mulch, at least two secure hides (one warm side, one cool), and a large enough water vessel for occasional soaking. Branches and cork bark provide environmental enrichment and help the animal feel secure.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeating:\u003c\/strong\u003e Warm basking spot of 32°C; ambient cool side of 26–28°C; night-time temperatures can drop to 24–26°C — avoid allowing it to fall below this in a UK home setting\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHumidity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70–80% relative humidity, reflecting the humid tropical rainforests of Sumatra. Achieve this with a moisture-retaining substrate kept lightly damp, regular misting of the enclosure, and a partially restricted ventilation panel. A digital hygrometer is essential to monitor levels accurately.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUVB:\u003c\/strong\u003e A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's width, positioned so the animal can bask 20–30cm below it. While short-tailed pythons are largely crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk) and spend much of the day in cover, low-level UVB exposure supports long-term health and is considered best practice in modern reptile husbandry.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Appropriately sized defrosted rodents (mice for juveniles, rats for adults) every 10–14 days for adults, and every 7–10 days for growing juveniles. Feed in or near a hide to reduce stress, and always use feeding tongs rather than offering prey by hand to avoid a feeding response.\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eABOUT THIS SPECIES\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sumatran Short-Tailed Python is one of the most impressively built pythons available in the hobby — a compact, barrel-bodied snake from the humid lowland forests and swamplands of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Despite its relatively modest length, it has a bulk and presence that far exceeds what the numbers suggest, and its rich, earthy patterning makes it a genuinely striking animal to keep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShort-tails have a reputation for being feisty as hatchlings, but well-handled captive-bred individuals generally settle into calm, manageable adults with time and consistent, patient interaction. They suit a keeper who has some prior python experience, is comfortable working with a confident snake, and can provide the warm, humid environment this species needs to thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viperia UK","offers":[{"title":"Unsexed","offer_id":54783668289873,"sku":"sumatran-short-tailed-python - 001","price":291.67,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1077\/6952\/8657\/files\/Python-curtus_1.jpg?v=1788427947","url":"https:\/\/viperiareptiles.co.uk\/products\/python-curtus","provider":"Viperia Reptiles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}