General Description

The Black-headed Python is the other snake in the genus Aspidites. This ground dwelling species does not have any teeth on the premaxilla, and is also missing heat sensing pits on the rostral or labial scales. This python has a small head almost indistinct from the neck. Like the Woma it has alternate light and dark crossbands on the body. The head and neck are a shiny jet black. It is sometimes known as a Tar-pot snake in Australia.

Natural Habitat

Blackheaded Pythons are found throughout the northern third of mainland Australia, but are not usually found in more arid regions where the Woma occurs instead. Blackheads are found living in rocky outcrops, near to watercourses, also in hollow logs, or even down disused burrows .
The natural diet of Black-headed Pythons consists mainly of a high proportion of reptiles and frogs, also small mammals and birds. Included in its diet is the highly venomous Desert Death Adder (Acanthophis pyrrhus), which occurs naturally in much of the Black-headed Python's habitat.
There are two forms of Blackheaded Python. The eastern form is generally larger than the western form. The colours seem to be slightly different as well. The western Blackheads are lighter in colour with a more creamy / white banding. The blackhead of the snake allows it to lay underneath logs with the head exposed for basking. Since black heats up more quickly than lighter colours this allows the snake to expose its head to the morning sun while keeping its body hidden, this enables it to ambush any unsuspecting prey item wandering by.

Captive Husbandry

My Black-headed pythons are housed in 4 foot vision vivs, or 6 foot wooden vivs. They have Aspen shavings as a substrate and as juveniles are provided with a cork bark hide. They are also provided with a small heavy water dish as these powerful snakes, like to do a good demolition job on anything in their territory. As with all reptiles a thermal gradient is provided, wth the hot end reaching up to 34 degrees celcius and the cooler end at around 29 degrees celcius. The humidity level is about 60 % .
They are housed separately and only introduced for breeding. My Blackheadeds are fed on appropriately sized Rats and are voracious feeders. My young Blackheadeds love to climb and seem quite agile for a ground dwelling species. Adult Blackheadeds average between 6-10 feet long but they aren’t really heavily bodied, although they are extremely strong.