Like many species from Southern Indo-China, the Macklots Python is Semi-aquatic, spending much of it's time in open grassy swamps and rivers where it catches it's prey, these include mammals, birds, small lizards and baby crocodiles.

There are several colour and pattern variations but the most widely available is the Indonesian version, which with its mottled pattern is by far the prettiest.

The care for this species is relatively un-demanding; they always thrive well in captivity once properly acclimatised.

Newly imported species tend not too feed at first and are rather irritable; they tend to settle down quickly once regularly feeding.

A basic vivarium set-up is required, with a temperature in the mid 80's F with a gradient from 80f through to a basking spot of 88F or so.

A large water dish is required, as they will spend a lot of time bathing and swimming around, also a hide is another requirement, we find that as with most Pythons and Boa's, if they have a "safe" place that they can retreat to then they are far less likely to feel stress.

The most important thing with this species is cleanliness, as they can be more susceptible to eye and respiratory infections if their habitat is not kept clean.

Most Macklot Pythons that have been acclimatised well become a very good reptile to keep and normally loose any aggression, they also readily breed in captivity given the correct temperature cycling.

All the Macklots we have ever had always feed well after they are established, they will take both frozen mice and small rats as well as day old chicks. We tend to just place the food in the viv rather than dangling it in front of them; they normally get hold of the food very gently and drag it into their hide where it will be consumed.

As previously mentioned, this species presents no problem in breeding in captivity if they are cooled properly using the standard cooling technique (a separate sheet is available covering the cycling technique).

Multiple males are sometimes required but we have found that just pairs will mate quite readily year after year.

The gestation period for Macklots is around 60 days, the clutch size can vary from 8 upto 20 eggs, which hatch after a further 56-62 days at a temperature of 90F and a humidity of around 90%.

Newborn Macklots are rather irritable when born and are best housed separately until they are feeding regularly and thus have calmed down.

Sexual maturity is reached in around 2 - 3 years.