NATURAL HISTORY:
The Moluccan Scrub Python, or Simalia clastolepis, is an incredible looking species endemic to Southern end of the Maluku province in Indonesia. Until the mid-2010s, scrub pythons were mostly lumped together as Morelia amethistina with only a couple of exceptions. Modern genetic work showed this was incorrect, and the group was split into five distinct species, and now under the genus Simalia. Coincidentally, Simalia means “the similar ones” / “those that resemble one another.”…somewhat of a unique latin name because animals are usually named after a distinct feature but this is clearly pointing to a genus with similar features. These are mostly documented as occurring in Ambon and Seram and rumored to also inhabit nearby Taliabu and Buru Islands but as is the case with so many locality animals, especially in this island region, shift over to another island and there you can find yet another unique population of snakes. Occasionally, this species can top 10’ but the most common size ranges you will see is more in the 7’-10’ range. Typically these are not a heavy bodied snake but in captivity that can happen depending on how heavily they are fed. Moluccans come in a few different appearances. Xanthic is one of the most beautiful which exhibits an intense bright yellow color and often it creatues an almost blue banding effect in the back end. Axanthic is another naturally occuring color phase where you have basically a silver-grey and white colored snake often exhibiting black or dark colored eyes. Some can mature into very dark, heavily pigmented individuals, while others can retain gold, xanthic colors on a dark background. Typical patterns are spotted or dotted but some can be striped. The diversity in appearance is what makes these snakes so attractive. Demeanor can be the full range of what we know with scrub pythons. Some easily agitated and defensive while others super docile and everything in between.
CAPTIVE CARE/ACCLIMATION
Wild-caught Moluccans are only given an annual export qutoa from Indonesia of 28 annually. That means only 28 field collected specimens can be exported from the country per year, not per exporter, for the entire country. This is a huge part of what makes these expensive and rare in the hobby. When these scrub pythons first enter captivity, I have found that they want to soak in water which I suspect is a stress response and the feeling of security and safety is found in something they can fit snugly into with making full body contact. In the wild, many snakes will drop into water from trees or simply enter the water to escape danger so this could also be a component of this behavior. While we do want our snakes to be stress free and to feel comfortable, soaking in water for days on end is not a healthy thing for their skin so I will often downsize a water bowl to something too small for a new animal to soak in but provide many secure dry areas for the animals to resort to for safety. This usually only takes a couple of days to see the animals feeling secure in hideboxes or other safe areas and then I will resume with the larger water bowls or water basins. These will readily eat warm-blooded prey so rodents are preferable and sometimes individuals may hold out for chicks or quail. However, once fully acclimated they tend to be strong feeders and take whatever is offered. My preference is to provide a varied diet by alternating food sources. I maintain these on cypress mulch or coconut husk for bedding. I provide a warm spot of 85-87f, the thermostats provide a night time drop of about 7-8 degrees and my rooms are influenced somewhat by outside temps so colder in the winter and warmer in the summer. If babies, I usually will forego any parasite treatment but for juvie up to adult I will administer panacur and flagyl in standard doses in food just as a precaution. All scrub pythons like to climb so if possible I recommend providing some branches and areas off the ground. During the acclimation period I always advise no handling until fully settled in. Occasional misting is always a good idea to assist with hydration and to increase humidity especially around shed cycles.
BREEDING
Now I have not personally bred this species yet and with an army of youngsters I am raising up here, that isn’t likely to happen for a while unless some adults come my way before I get there with my little guys. Breeding is going to be similar to other scrub pythons and for more on that you can reference my other Masterclass and care sheets on Simalia amethistina but I will add this. Many hobbyists are borrowing tactics from other less challenging and common species where you can breed males at 18 months to 2 years of age and females at 3-4 years. This is typically not the case with scrub pythons in general. Older and more mature animals are key with scrubs. In fact, the most succcessful breeders are ones tha t have purchased adult animals that have changed hands a couple of times because breeders became impatient with animals at 4-5 years because they were not breeding. This is a mistake because this is the time when they are just barely entering their reproductive years. My personal opinion is that scrubs in the 6-8+ year old range are going to make the best breeders. Scrubs also often times play favorites with mates with some pairs being the perfect match and become regular breeders while others reject mates for unknown reasons so having multiple males in my opinion can be very important….not only for the ability to mix and match but also for creating competition whether you are carefully combating males, using scents and sheds from other males to create competition, or whatever the case may be. Simalia clastolepis typically lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch, with larger, well-established females occasionally producing clutches in the mid-teens. I have seen very small babies and much larger babies so this is likely going to depend on the size and age of the female. Eggs will hatch at about 85-90 days if incubated around 88-89f. It will take longer if cooler incuation temps and shorter if warmer. Personally I like to be cautious and incubate cooler and remain patient. Babies will usually take rodents readily and are not difficult to get established.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We regard this species and all of its color phases as quite special. Over the years we continue to add some here and there and are patiently waiting for them to reach adulthood. It has been really exciting to watch them grow from baby size and really blossom into some very nice individuals. My goal, at least for now, is to eventually attempt breeding with my group which is still some ways out unless I end up getting some adults in at some point. A trip to Maluku is in my future so there will be more on that when the time comes.