Cohabiting Carpet Pythons

[formica]

After some interesting discussions, i've decided its time to get a few carpets, and they will be living in pairs, one male/female pair, and one female/female pair.

Would love to hear peoples experiences, tips, things to watch out for etc :blink:

this is a discussion about the practice of cohabiting carpet pythons, safely, and isnt intended to suggest that the practice is in any way safe for other species, more often that not, it isnt

First up i'm getting a male/female pair (Caramel Jungle Jag/IJ, het Axanthic), they will be in a 4x2x2, divided into 2 cubes until they are mature (late 2015), later next year i'm going to get 2 more females to cohab straight off

I understand the basics, such as feeding separatly and being careful of their interactions after feeds, providing enough hides and basking areas, same size snakes; and the male wont be cohabing until the females are 3.

One particular thing I was wondering about, was joining up the 2 enclosures, so that all 4 snakes could move around a double ''super'' enclosure however they want too - but is that likley to add undue stress, 4 snakes together? both enclosures will be setup so that they can be divided into separate cubes, incase there are any personality clashes lol

[Starbuck]

I persinally feel like a 2x2x2 alotment of space is too small for an adult carpet, aven a small one.... especially if you want to cohab. I would personally do a minimum of 4x2x2 per snake.

Otherwise, I've not cohabbed and can't comment further.

[red ink]

Too small for a pair in 4x2x2 mate...

You always have to account for the Coastal blood when dealing with Jags as it's a pot luck with size.

I would say 6x2x3 for a pair, mate or a 5x2x4 (to accopunt for the IJ/JCP characteristics).

[formica]

i'm not buying adults, for sure I wouldnt keep a 7ft snake in a 2ft cube

[Starbuck]

Original post wasn't clear that they would habe a differently sized adult enclosure, glad to hearvthats the case

[Lankyrob]

Shauny does it from memory, cant remember how big his vivs are tho.

[Terranaut]

I have had a mating pair together about 18 months and actually just seperated them in favor of breeding my male jag. They were in a 4x2x4. I watched them super close for the first few months and checked them over for signs of any biting and there was never an issue. Seperate to feed and it was fine. Both snakes were adults when first introduced. Cage temps were cycled to match seasonal changes for breeding. Rather than try to avoid them sharing a basking spot I just made it large enough for both snakes and used a chair and bar stool. Both snakes can sit together without issue. Never housed 2 females together yet. I know other members here have done the same as I have without issue BUT snakes are all unique so I would still be cautious. But in my experience fron watching my pair share their enclosure I would think carpets to be fairly safe to do this with.
This is a quick video of them in their enclosure.

4RvsFHHuAds

[formica]

Shauny does it from memory, cant remember how big his vivs are tho.

4x2x2 is what he told me, however we where discussing my young snakes, so i dont know if that is for adults aswell, i guess it really depnds on the snake, as he has one adult who is only 4ft, i'm sure he'll turn up on the thread at somepoint to clarify


I have had a mating pair together about 18 months and actually just seperated them in favor of breeding my male jag. They were in a 4x2x4. I watched them super close for the first few months and checked them over for signs of any biting and there was never an issue. Seperate to feed and it was fine. Both snakes were adults when first introduced. Cage temps were cycled to match seasonal changes for breeding. Rather than try to avoid them sharing a basking spot I just made it large enough for both snakes and used a chair and bar stool. Both snakes can sit together without issue. Never housed 2 females together yet. I know other members here have done the same as I have without issue BUT snakes are all unique so I would still be cautious. But in my experience fron watching my pair share their enclosure I would think carpets to be fairly safe to do this with.
This is a quick video of them in their enclosure.

4RvsFHHuAds

nice idea with the chair!

a free standing setup is something else i'm considering, similar to what you have there, but walk-in style, possibly made of aluminium and acrylic

i'd like to do a bioactive setup when thy are full grown, so it would need a significant amount of substrate and floor area

yep either way i go, the enclosures will be dividable just incase!

[Aaron_S]

this is a discussion about the practice of cohabiting carpet pythons, safely, ....

Mutually exclusive there big guy....

[shaunyboy]

Shauny does it from memory, cant remember how big his vivs are tho.


all my co habs are on the smaller end of the Carpet size range,for example my male jungle jags around 4ft,the female jungle jag is around 5ft,they share a 4x2x2ft tank without issues,my pair of irians are just under 5ft each,again they are in a 4x2x2ft tanks

that said,my female diamond lives on her own,and is just about to be moved into a 6x2x2ft as she is a fair size

imo it all depends on their size once they hit adulthood

cheers shaun