A Darwin childcare centre has shut down early before Christmas because of a snake infestation.

Louise DeBomford from the Mitchell Street Childcare Centre says snake catchers were called in yesterday when a baby python was spotted.

She says they found a 2.5 metre carpet python and a nest of 23 babies inside a wall.

"Darwin City Council came down, they said we have two choices, we can either plug out the holes in the wall or we can pull the panel off the wall," she said.

"I said 'pull the panel off', and that's when they found a nest of them."

Ms DeBomford says while the mother and most of its babies were caught, there were 41 hatched eggs found inside the wall.

"There are still a few of the babies on the loose, so the staff will be in today."

The snakes that were found were removed and later released in a bushland area.