Northern White Lip Python (Leiopython albertisi)

Common Name: White-Lipped Python
Scientific Name: Leiopython albertisi
Source: WC
Adult Size: Typically 150–200cm (5–7ft), with females often larger than males
Native Range: Northern New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and West Papua, Indonesia), including lowland rainforest and forest-edge habitats

Enclosure: A minimum 180×60×60cm Viperia PVC vivarium is recommended for adults — furnish with a deep moisture-retaining substrate (coconut fibre or a soil/bark blend works well), multiple secure hides at both the warm and cool ends, and sturdy branches or raised perches to satisfy their semi-arboreal (part-climbing) tendencies
Heating: Maintain a warm basking spot of around 32°C, an ambient cool side of 26–28°C, and allow a gentle night-time drop to around 23–24°C
Humidity: 70–80% — achieved through a deep moisture-retaining substrate, regular light misting, and restricted ventilation; a hide packed with damp sphagnum moss is ideal for shedding
UVB: A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's length — although white-lipped pythons are largely crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), a low-output UVB strip supports natural behaviour and general wellbeing; position it so the animal can benefit at a distance of around 25–35cm
Diet: Appropriately sized defrosted rodents (mice for juveniles, rats for adults) every 7–10 days for juveniles and every 10–14 days for adults; always feed using tongs to maintain a clear distinction between feeding time and handling

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

White-lipped pythons hail from the lush, humid rainforests of northern New Guinea — an environment that has shaped them into sleek, highly alert animals with a striking iridescent sheen to their jet-black or dark-brown scales and a vivid white lower jaw that gives the species its name. They are a genuinely eye-catching python, and one that remains relatively uncommon in UK collections, making captive-bred animals particularly sought after by enthusiasts looking for something a little different.

It's worth being honest: white-lipped pythons have a reputation for feistiness, especially as juveniles, and they suit a keeper who already has some experience handling larger, more reactive snakes with confidence and patience. Given consistent, calm handling and a well-structured enclosure that meets their humidity and thermal needs, many individuals do settle into a manageable routine — and their stunning appearance and rarity make them a deeply rewarding species for the dedicated intermediate or advanced keeper.