Rough-scaled python

Morelia carinata

Only recently available at an affordable price to the hobby, 'roughies' have become a very popular choice for hobbyists seeking a medium sized (to 1.5m) placid species. A number of features and characteristics make roughies very special. In addition to the obvious condition of having keeled scales - which no other python species has, roughies have forward-directed eyes, presumably to allow binocular vision when looking at aspects of the environment, their food - or, seemingly with almost 'goofy' confused interest, at their keeper. The physique of the rough-scaled python, as well as its medium size is very reminiscent of the green tree python M. viridis, with which it shares a very close kinship as evidenced by recent molecular studies of the Australian pythons.

Roughies are among the easiest python species to maintain successfully, and breed very readily - suggesting that they will inevitably become one of the most popular of the medium-sized python species in the hobby.

representative image of hatchling

representative image of adult