Petco shopping list

[Kera]

So I'm going to Petco to buy some more things for my Carpet Pythons new tank! (I recently found out that she is actually an Irian Jaya, not a Coastal. She's just very large [almost 7']. I'm thinking she could have both in her;P) and I know I should get another hide and plants cuz her tank is just plain with white walls. Want it to feel more homey for her :) I'm just curious about what you guys suggest I should get for it. Thanks~

[smy_749]

I suggest not going to petco unless you want to pay up the wazoo. Take a look on ebay

[slowhite03]

Just the typical stuff: substrate, hides, some branches. Just get the basics but whatever you like is up to you because it is your tank

[MoreliAddict]

Rats & extra bedding. (I use Aspen for my Irian)

[Kera]

Rats & extra bedding. (I use Aspen for my Irian)

We're actually getting her on small rabbits (1lb.) ;D vet said she needs bigger meals. had her on jumbo's. And thanks :) I use aspen too. 4$ for enough to fill the bottom of her tank 2 times.

[Will0W783]

I doubt you need to feed rabbits to an Irian Jaya carpet. One to two jumbo rats at every feeding should be plenty...unless your rat provider is not actually giving you jumbo rats. Everyone's sizing varies a tiny bit, but a jumbo rat is usually about the size of an adult guinea pig or a bit larger, plus the tail.

I give my 7-8 foot long supertiger retic two XL rats (my provider is generous with sizing) at every feeding (2-3 weeks apart), for example.

I would honestly be concerned about feeding rabbits to a snake as naturally slender as a carpet python.

[Kera]

I doubt you need to feed rabbits to an Irian Jaya carpet. One to two jumbo rats at every feeding should be plenty...unless your rat provider is not actually giving you jumbo rats. Everyone's sizing varies a tiny bit, but a jumbo rat is usually about the size of an adult guinea pig or a bit larger, plus the tail.

I give my 7-8 foot long supertiger retic two XL rats (my provider is generous with sizing) at every feeding (2-3 weeks apart), for example.

I would honestly be concerned about feeding rabbits to a snake as naturally slender as a carpet python.

Thanks for the advice :) so two jumbos or two large rats instead?

[Will0W783]

You want the meal to leave a sizable lump in the snake, but not so much that the snake looks uncomfortably distended. At 7 feet, I'd say two xl-jumbo rats should be fine for her. I'm not entirely sure of the sizing on the rats you're buying, but they should be slightly fatter than the snake is.
This guy's first picture is of a carpet after it's had an appropriate meal:
More pictures of a Jungle Carpet Python | Peter Jolles (http://peterjolles.com/?p=1230)
Keep in mind too, that carpet pythons are naturally slender snakes. They should not be as thick as a ball python, and a lot of people (vets included) who are not familiar with them might think a carpet is too thin when it is just right in fact. You should not be able to see any distinct spinal vertebrae or ribs, but there should be a subtle indication of the spine's location (basically a small dent in the skin there). If you see a pronounced spinal ridge or can clearly make out ribs, the snake is too thin. If the snake has thick jowls or pudgy cheeks it's overweight.

Here are a few pictures of healthy carpet pythons (you can see what I mean by the spinal outline):
http://www.allexoticpet.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Carpet-Python.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/IMG_2395.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/IMG_2395.jpg.html)
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/04ca8c8f.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/04ca8c8f.jpg.html)


This carpet is too fat....note the puffy looking cheeks:
Darwin Carpet Python (newby) (http://www.australianreptileforum.com/arf/f90/darwin-carpet-python-newby-14962/)


Hope this all helps!