Typically jungle carpet hatchlings are without color and are patterned in shades of grays and black. The hatchlings of all other carpet pythons are colored in earthy shades of red and brown. However, as might be expected from the dramatic variation seen among adult jungle carpet pythons, there is variation among hatchlings, too. We have seen hatchlings that were a dark brown with brown smudges in the pale pattern that metamorphosed to become beautiful black and gold adults. They quickly graduate to small adult mice.
Babies can be snappy, but they are small and the bites are harmless.
But when calmly and consistently handled, the youngsters grow to be very docile and trusting adults. General comments Jungle carpet pythons are a splendid and worthy addition to any collection of snakes. They are a great example of the successes of herpetoculture in the 1990s. A decade ago, the U.S. captive population of this taxon numbered only a few dozen animals. Today the U.S. captive population numbers in the thousands, and hatchlings are available through price lists, web sites, classified advertising, and at snake shows.