Looking for a Murray-Darling Carpet Python for sale in Sydney? Birdsville, at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, one of the only dedicated, licensed reptile dealers servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney, regularly has Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons (Morelia spilota metcalfei) in stock. Native to the inland river systems of the Murray-Darling Basin across NSW, Victoria and South Australia, this subspecies is widely regarded as the calmest and most even-tempered of the carpet pythons, a genuinely appealing option if you want a larger, long-lived native snake without the flightier temperament some other python varieties can have as juveniles.

What You Need to Know

Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons are one of the larger carpet python subspecies, with adults typically reaching 2 to 2.7 metres and living 20 to 30 years or more in captivity, a serious, decades-long commitment. They need a secure enclosure of at least 120 x 60 x 120cm once fully grown, a warm basking spot with a cooler retreat at the other end, and a diet of appropriately sized rodents on a regular feeding schedule, with fresh water always available in a bowl large enough to soak in. Coming from cooler inland regions than other carpet pythons, they’re notably hardy through Sydney’s milder winters, and their laid-back nature makes them genuinely easy to handle even before extensive socialisation. A valid NSW Native Animal Keeper Licence is required before purchase. Our How to Care for Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons guide covers the complete housing and heating setup plus how to spot early signs of illness, worth a read before your python comes home.

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If temperament is high on your list, this is the carpet python subspecies keepers consistently point to as the calmest and most reliably handleable, even before extensive socialisation. They grow to an impressive size, giving you a genuine display-worthy python without needing to seek out the largest coastal specimens, and their hardiness in cooler conditions makes them a forgiving, low-drama snake to keep long-term. For a keeper who wants size and presence paired with an easygoing personality, a Murray-Darling is hard to beat among the carpet python family.

Why a Murray-Darling Carpet Python Might Not Be Right For You

Their larger adult size means a genuinely sizeable, tall enclosure is non-negotiable, and handling a snake approaching or exceeding 2.5 metres takes real confidence regardless of how placid the individual is. You’ll need your NSW Native Animal Keeper Licence sorted before buying, along with ongoing record-keeping obligations. This is a 20-to-30-year (or longer) commitment, so long-term planning around holidays, space and future care matters. If you’re after the smallest, most compact carpet python option, our Jungle Carpet Python is likely a better fit than a Murray-Darling.

While not the space-saving choice the smaller carpet subspecies are, a Murray-Darling’s calm nature means it suits keepers who have the room for a substantial enclosure but want a python that’s genuinely relaxed to work with day-to-day. Their tolerance of cooler ambient temperatures also means slightly more forgiving heating requirements through a Sydney winter compared to some tropical species, which can help keep running costs a touch more predictable.

Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons display a lighter base colour than their Jungle or Coastal relatives, running from silver through to a lighter brown, with bold black blotches and stripes, and occasional maroon patches appearing in some individuals. Every python’s pattern is naturally unique, so no two Murray-Darlings look quite the same. Birdsville regularly stocks Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons, come in-store to see the current individuals and their natural pattern variation firsthand.

Licensing Requirements

A valid Native Animal Keeper Licence from Service NSW is required before purchasing a Murray-Darling Carpet Python. Applications are lodged online via the Service NSW website, with phone support on 02 9585 6406 if needed. Keepers must also follow the NSW Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Reptiles, covering enclosure, welfare and record-keeping standards. Birdsville checks for that proof of licence at the point of sale, and although our team can point you toward the right resources, completing the application itself will need to happen on your end before you visit.

Useful links:
NSW Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Reptiles: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/publications/code-practice-private-keeping-reptiles
Reptile Keeper Licences: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-permits/wildlife-licences/native-animals-as-pets/reptile-keeper-licences
Apply for a Native Animal Keeper Licence: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-for-a-native-animal-keeper-licence

What Could Happen If You Keep One Without a Licence?

NSW takes unlicensed native reptile ownership seriously, and prosecutions do happen. A Sydney man was fined $5,000 under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, with a further $3,000 awarded in legal costs, for keeping native blue-tongue and shingleback lizards he’d imported without a wildlife licence. Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons fall under the same licensing rules, so the sensible path is getting properly licensed rather than risking a similar outcome.

Sexing & Refund Policy

Our pythons aren’t surgically or DNA sexed, and while probing by an experienced handler can give an indication, it isn’t always conclusive, particularly in younger snakes. We’re unable to offer a refund, credit or exchange if a python later turns out to be a different sex than expected, so please only buy with a specific sex in mind if you’re comfortable with that uncertainty. All our animals come with a health guarantee.

Availability

Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons are regularly in stock at our Alexandria store, with availability depending on breeding cycles. If we’re between clutches, we’re happy to take a deposit to secure your python from the next available batch, and if you’re after a particular size or pattern, get in touch or ask in-store about arranging a special order.

Package Deals & In-Store Help

As one of the only dedicated, licensed reptile dealers servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney, Birdsville is a genuine one-stop shop for your Murray-Darling Carpet Python, we stock feed (frozen rodents), larger enclosures suited to their size, heat panels and thermostats, climbing furnishings, substrate, water dishes and feeding tools, all available in-store. Ask our team about a package deal covering your python and its complete setup, and we’re always on hand to help you keep stocked with feed and supplies well beyond your initial purchase.

Your python will travel home best in a secure, ventilated container, either a snake bag inside a tub or a purpose-built carry tub, to keep it calm and prevent any chance of escape. Keep the trip as short and direct as possible, avoid leaving your python in a parked car under any circumstances, and shield the container from extreme heat or cold on the way. Birdsville sells secure carry containers in-store if you’d like one on hand for future vet visits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons always in stock at Birdsville?

They’re regularly in stock, though availability depends on breeding cycles, and since patterning varies naturally between individuals, what’s on hand at any given time will look a little different snake to snake. If we’re between clutches, we’re happy to take a deposit to secure your python from the next available batch.

How big do Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons get?

Adults typically reach 2 to 2.7 metres, making them one of the larger carpet python subspecies, and need a secure enclosure of at least 120 x 60 x 120cm once fully grown. Their impressive size is part of the appeal for keepers wanting a substantial, display-worthy python.

Is a Murray-Darling Carpet Python good for a first-time snake keeper?

Their calm, even temperament makes them one of the more forgiving larger pythons to handle, even before extensive socialisation, but their adult size means a genuinely sizeable enclosure and real handling confidence are needed. If you want something smaller to start with, our Jungle Carpet Python is a better fit.

Do I need a licence to buy a Murray-Darling Carpet Python in NSW?

Yes, a Native Animal Keeper Licence through Service NSW is required before purchase, since Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons are a native Australian species. Birdsville checks for proof of a valid licence before completing any sale, and our team can point you toward the right application links to get started.

What do Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons eat?

Whole, appropriately sized rodents offered on a regular feeding schedule, with size and frequency increasing as your python grows. Fresh water should always be available in a bowl large enough to soak in. Our care guide covers feeding frequency by age in more detail.

How does a Murray-Darling Carpet Python compare to other carpet pythons?

Murray-Darlings are widely regarded as the calmest of the carpet python subspecies, hardier through cooler weather, and grow larger than a Jungle Carpet Python but a touch smaller than some Coastal specimens. If you want maximum handleability in a substantial python, a Murray-Darling is a strong choice.

Visit Us

Come see our Murray-Darling Carpet Pythons in person at Birdsville, 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, one of the only dedicated, licensed reptile dealers servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney. Our team is on hand to answer any questions and help you get started.