Carpet or Ball?

[nazanova]

So I've been planning on getting a Ball Python as my next snake at some point in the near future. I'm not ready for the big Pythons so I thought a ball would be perfect, but then a member on this forum called Franks pm'd me about Carpets and saying how they are much easier so it's got me thinking, now I know Balls have feeding issues and I couldn't bring myself to ever feed live so my question for you guys is should i go for a Carpet over a Ball? I have NO knowledge on Carpets so any advice/info would be welcomed. If they stay almost the same size as Balls, will eat well and eat f/t and don't require a lot of care (such as misting, keeping strict humidity levels etc) then they are something I'm willing to look into and go for.

[pdomensis]

Carpets are climbers so need a bit more room to move around in, 4x2x2 ft is pretty standard. Otherwise it's a no-brainer; carpets are orders of magnitude cooler than ball pythons. It's like asking Dr. Phil or Dr. Who?

[nazanova]

Carpets are climbers so need a bit more room to move around in, 4x2x2 ft is pretty standard. Otherwise it's a no-brainer; carpets are orders of magnitude cooler than ball pythons. It's like asking Dr. Phil or Dr. Who?

That's the same size I'm going to get for my Corn when he's an adult so that's not a problem. But are their care and feeding requirements? Or are they the same as for BP? I literally know nothing about CP

[EL Ziggy]

Does this help Naza?
Carpet Python Care Sheets (http://www.moreliapythons.co.za/carpetpythons_caresheet.php)

[pdomensis]

Care in my opinion is actually easier than BPs. Moderate humidity (30-50%), low 90s hot spot, mid 70s low side. Feeding F/T is simple. The only feeding issue i've heard of is that some Jungle carpets don't like to switch from mice to rats. Juveniles can be nippy, but mine has never bitten or struck at me. They are more active than balls, and as such won't just sit in your lap, but they aren't squirmy like colubrids either. I've got a centralian, he's almost 2 years old, 1.45 meters and 900 g. He should easily go 2 m, but will be was big around as my arm, so not a huge monster. The first year they mostly hide, but after that they spend most of their time on perches so they're good to look at on display. Mine hides after meals and at sheds. There's not much more to say. They are: the perfect size, perfect temperment, and easy to care for. Best snakes on the market.

[nazanova]

Does this help Naza?
Carpet Python Care Sheets (http://www.moreliapythons.co.za/carpetpythons_caresheet.php)

Yes this helps a lot thank you!

[nazanova]

Care in my opinion is actually easier than BPs. Moderate humidity (30-50%), low 90s hot spot, mid 70s low side. Feeding F/T is simple. The only feeding issue i've heard of is that some Jungle carpets don't like to switch from mice to rats. Juveniles can be nippy, but mine has never bitten or struck at me. They are more active than balls, and as such won't just sit in your lap, but they aren't squirmy like colubrids either. I've got a centralian, he's almost 2 years old, 1.45 meters and 900 g. He should easily go 2 m, but will be was big around as my arm, so not a huge monster. The first year they mostly hide, but after that they spend most of their time on perches so they're good to look at on display. Mine hides after meals and at sheds. There's not much more to say. They are: the perfect size, perfect temperment, and easy to care for. Best snakes on the market.

They don't sound half bad lol. The only thing from what you said that I may find difficult is keep humidity up, I own a Corn so obviously I only need have a water dish and that's it, so how do I kind of maintain correct humidity?

[pdomensis]

with a front opening cage and a radiant heat panel I hardly ever mist, maybe once a week, and I live in an area with about 20-30% RH most of the year.

[nazanova]

with a front opening cage and a radiant heat panel I hardly ever mist, maybe once a week, and I live in an area with about 20-30% RH most of the year.

Hmm see all this humidity maintaining is kind of putting me off because I haven't even had my Corn long so I don't think I'm experienced enough to do all that. At least with a BP it'd move into my baby Corns enclosure (he'd be in an adult enclosure by the time I got another snake) and be done but due to humidity issues I don't think that would be possible. Plus Carpets seem to be quite expensive so maybe they're not for me yet.

[joshuajames]

My dad had two carpet pythons and one ball python when i was younger. and from the experience of watching him I think the carpets are much easier. He fed them frozen baby chickens and had no problem at all with them eating. Balls on the other hand, which i just got as my first personal snake, are much more timid. i love my ball but think my next snake will be a carpet!

[nazanova]

My dad had two carpet pythons and one ball python when i was younger. and from the experience of watching him I think the carpets are much easier. He fed them frozen baby chickens and had no problem at all with them eating. Balls on the other hand, which i just got as my first personal snake, are much more timid. i love my ball but think my next snake will be a carpet!

Yeah I just don't know right now. I'm very inexperienced at the moment and also money is an issue so I'll just have to sit on it and think. From what everyone is saying Carpets are ALOT easier but the humidity aspect is something that I'm not too confident on.

[joshuajames]

one thing i learned from when i got my bearded dragon a year and a half ago.. at first every little thing freaked me out and i was on a bearded dragon forum always asking questions and trying to get every little thing perfect. not at all saying you should just wing it but if you have good intentions and know how to take care of your animal i think you'd be fine. don't let the small things stress ya, but its good you're cautious. there are always a lot of people who just get them and don't read up on things; and end up unintentionally not giving their pet what they need

[pdomensis]

don't BPs have a slightly higher humidity requirement, like 50-60%?

[SnoopySnake]

BP's require humidity around 60%, so that's really not going to be any easier to maintain. I think you're over thinking this a bit, it really wouldn't be that hard to maintain 40-50% humidity. I use a 55 gallon tank with an acrylic lid, a heat mat and a fluorescent light and I have a water bowl with an air stone in it, the lid has 1/8" holes throughout the entire thing and I have no problem maintaining 95%+ humidity. I only spray usually every week and a half-ish. If you use a tub with a few holes, and a radiant heat panel over your water dish, you should only have to mist once every week, if that.

[David VB]

Carpet everytime!!!
I have a Cheynei and it's te most lively and active snake i've got. The ball pythons, NOT SO MUCH!!! Hardly ever see them out of their hide.
They get somewhat bigger (longer but skinnier) but they always eat. Awesome display snakes imho.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p261x260/10553405_10204767352490549_2997477083118307289_n.j pg?oh=7824d2aa9b4982b784be8f046d31a684&oe=547AD8F7&__gda__=1417289224_843eec82499cd706323e36babe7c9f7 4

https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10550837_10204767351810532_1084343822068406432_n.j pg?oh=4b39592e9bc963184aa739fceaab4200&oe=547F9A6A

Greetz ;)

[Kera]

My yearling carpet is still nippy, but they are super easy to care for and forgiving with husbandry errors. They don't stay **as** small as balls, but like David said they are skinnier. Also depends on what kind of carpet you get, they have a large range of size. But in all they're great, I had no problem switching from mice to rats. :)

[red ink]

Yeah I just don't know right now. I'm very inexperienced at the moment and also money is an issue so I'll just have to sit on it and think. From what everyone is saying Carpets are ALOT easier but the humidity aspect is something that I'm not too confident on.

Carpets don't have a specific humidity requirement they span nearly all of Oz and are very tolerant of all sorts of conditions...
Large water bowl near the heat source (not under) and there's your humidity sorted.

[nazanova]

don't BPs have a slightly higher humidity requirement, like 50-60%?

I don't think they do they just need to be sprayed down during preshed.

[nazanova]

BP's require humidity around 60%, so that's really not going to be any easier to maintain. I think you're over thinking this a bit, it really wouldn't be that hard to maintain 40-50% humidity. I use a 55 gallon tank with an acrylic lid, a heat mat and a fluorescent light and I have a water bowl with an air stone in it, the lid has 1/8" holes throughout the entire thing and I have no problem maintaining 95%+ humidity. I only spray usually every week and a half-ish. If you use a tub with a few holes, and a radiant heat panel over your water dish, you should only have to mist once every week, if that.

Or maybe you are right pdomensis haha. What I was planning to do is when my Corn is in his adult enclosure I would move my next snake into his current one, it's plastic with quite a few holes in it so I don't think it can hold humidity well. I can post pictures if that would help? Maybe if I do go for a Carpet I should invest in a RUB box for it's baby/Juvenile stages?

[Lankyrob]

I don't think they do they just need to be sprayed down during preshed.

They should be kept at 60-70% normally and then upped to 75%+ during shed.

[nazanova]

Carpets don't have a specific humidity requirement they span nearly all of Oz and are very tolerant of all sorts of conditions...
Large water bowl near the heat source (not under) and there's your humidity sorted.

Really? It's that simple?

[nazanova]

They should be kept at 60-70% normally and then upped to 75%+ during shed.

Damn I didn't know that. Maybe Carpets are easier to keep after all?

[Lankyrob]

With a well sealed enclosure our ball only needed to be sprayed once a week, and slightly more during shed.

[Mikoh4792]

Really? It's that simple?

Too simple

The key is low ventilation. Get a solid cage with no screen top and all you need is a water bowl. No misting required. I do not remember the last time I misted my carpets.

And I have never had a bad shed with my carpets. Always in one piece.

[red ink]

Really? It's that simple?

yes... not much too it provided you don't have a screen topped enclosure as Mikoh mentioned.

[nazanova]

My yearling carpet is still nippy, but they are super easy to care for and forgiving with husbandry errors. They don't stay **as** small as balls, but like David said they are skinnier. Also depends on what kind of carpet you get, they have a large range of size. But in all they're great, I had no problem switching from mice to rats. :)

Yeah being nippy doesn't concern me at all, I'm the type to have a snake latch on to my hand and start giving 101 reasons why it's my fault haha. Yeah I kind of like the fact that BPs are "wider" but that alone doesn't make 100% set on them, I'm swinging more and more to Carpets now with all the advice and help from the lovely people on this forum. I kind of want one that won't grow to like 5 feet in 6 months if you get what I mean? I'd like one that has a moderate growth, maybe quite "chunky/wide" but will only reach maximum like 7ft, very forgiving and eats like a champ!

[nazanova]

Carpet everytime!!!
I have a Cheynei and it's te most lively and active snake i've got. The ball pythons, NOT SO MUCH!!! Hardly ever see them out of their hide.
They get somewhat bigger (longer but skinnier) but they always eat. Awesome display snakes imho.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p261x260/10553405_10204767352490549_2997477083118307289_n.j pg?oh=7824d2aa9b4982b784be8f046d31a684&oe=547AD8F7&__gda__=1417289224_843eec82499cd706323e36babe7c9f7 4

https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10550837_10204767351810532_1084343822068406432_n.j pg?oh=4b39592e9bc963184aa739fceaab4200&oe=547F9A6A

Greetz ;)

Wow! Your snake and enclosure is amazing!

[nazanova]

With a well sealed enclosure our ball only needed to be sprayed once a week, and slightly more during shed.

I don't think I could house it in my Corns current enclosure then. A RUB tank while a juvenile maybe?

[nazanova]

Too simple

The key is low ventilation. Get a solid cage with no screen top and all you need is a water bowl. No misting required. I do not remember the last time I misted my carpets.

And I have never had a bad shed with my carpets. Always in one piece.

I don't think I could house it in my Corns current enclosure then. A RUB tank while a juvenile maybe? (Sorry for the copy & paste but I want to ask you the same question :) )

[nazanova]

yes... not much too it provided you don't have a screen topped enclosure as Mikoh mentioned.

I'll post a picture of my Corns enclosure now. I don't think it would work for a Carpet so I hope maybe a RUB box/tank would.

[nazanova]

Here's some pictures of the enclosure I'd like to move a Carpet it in when I'm in the market (though I'm pretty sure it won't work.

http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah3/zurgaa1/Mobile%20Uploads/0FD629DB-18EB-4545-9C43-0BEAA7590CF2_zpssdopfycd.jpg (http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/zurgaa1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/0FD629DB-18EB-4545-9C43-0BEAA7590CF2_zpssdopfycd.jpg.html)

http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah3/zurgaa1/Mobile%20Uploads/10278437-913D-4494-9A14-7E93B20419DE_zpsiyzqoapj.jpg (http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/zurgaa1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/10278437-913D-4494-9A14-7E93B20419DE_zpsiyzqoapj.jpg.html)

http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah3/zurgaa1/Mobile%20Uploads/4AA594F1-FC65-450C-B491-22B9EAA43102_zpsthohgkww.jpg (http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/zurgaa1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/4AA594F1-FC65-450C-B491-22B9EAA43102_zpsthohgkww.jpg.html)

[Mikoh4792]

It would only work if it is naturally around 80-82F inside the house and the ambient humidity is moderate(40-60%). Otherwise I would say an enclosure like that is a poor choice for carpet pythons.

[nazanova]

It would only work if it is naturally around 80-82F inside the house and the ambient humidity is moderate(40-60%). Otherwise I would say an enclosure like that is a poor choice for carpet pythons.

My room is the coldest room in the house naturally so yeah I thought it'd be poor. As I've asked maybe a RUB box?

[Mikoh4792]

Anything will work as long as you make it work. A rub box will be fine.

[nazanova]

Anything will work as long as you make it work. A rub box will be fine.

Sweet I'll look into those when I'm in the market. What are the dimensions needed to house a baby/juvenile Carpet?

[Mikoh4792]

Sweet I'll look into those when I'm in the market. What are the dimensions needed to house a baby/juvenile Carpet?

Anything works fine. Just make sure it's not too small(enough room to have ambient temperatures of around 80-84F and a hotspot of around 90f). If your carpet can stretch out in the enclosure, it should be a good size. No such thing as too big in my opinion. But remember, the bigger the enclosure the more stuff you need to put in so the snake feels secure.(Branches, hides, leaves...etc)

I house my babies in 2ft cubes or 2ft x 16" tubs for about 1-2 years and then I move them into their adult enclosures.

[franks]

Most breeders suggest keeping babies in smaller enclosures until you get the classic carpet feeding response. A few notes:

Handling- they like to perch and climb. Mine will just wrap around my arm or wrist and will not try to leave me. I am "safe" and can just sit around and do whatever and she will be glued to me. They will not sit in your lap like a ball python, but they are not always on the go like a corn snake.

Feeding- I know you like to feed outside your enclosure. It is not the easiest thing in the world with a carpet python. They are generally calm animals but they do have a heightened feeding response that you will have to learn about while raising your snake. It's not like your corn snake where you can just go grab it while the rodents are defrosting in the room. I hook train mine to teach her when it's time to be handled and when it's time for food. It is not hard to do.

[franks]

Humidity- like Mikoh and others have stayed to you- I have never done anything to increase or decrease humidity and have only gotten perfect sheds.

Size- there are different types of carpets and (with exceptions) they reach different sizes. Your Irian Jaya carpet pythons see typically the smallest at around 5'. Jungles get to around 7'-8'. Coastals get 9'+. This is really just a rule of thumb. The bloodlines are pretty mixed up and the snakes really are so similar. I have seen 7' Irian Jayas and 6' coastals. Males are smaller than females with this species. They are not thick bodied snakes- a 5' carpet can be worn on my wrist.

[shaunyboy]

carpets are one of the easiest snakes to keep mate

a 4x2x2 feet vivarium

a ceramic set up with a pulse or dimming thermostat

set your temperatures up,job done


carpets are a hardy species,they come in all sorts of colours and patterns,they have good feeding responses,and are either out on display hanging off a branch,or cruising around the tank in feeding mode

imo a carpet python is way more interesting to keep than a ball python,ball pythons require specific humidity,they are known to be fussy feeders and imo pretty boring to watch and study

re carpet size
girth wise roughly that of a coke can,length wise,anything from 4ft to 12 ft


cheers shaun

[nazanova]

Thanks a bunch guys for all the info, I'll look back on this thread when I'm in the market. I'm a lot more confident now dealing with the humidity aspect now I know all you have to do is have a big water dish near the warm side and mist once a week, with the feeding Frank I guess I will have to feed the Carpet if/when I get one inside it's enclosure and get used to it while keep feeding my Corn in his feeding box. I will also definitely try the hook training so I can teach it when it's feeding time and when it's time to come and say hello :). To Shaun I also agree with you about BPs feeding and, well, the "boringness" of them but I thought they were the easiest species of Python to have... Clearly I was wrong haha. Just 2 more questions for you guys and I'll stop pestering but so I don't get ripped off what are the average prices for Carpets? I've seen sites charge like $130 for a NORMAL BP so I'd rather be price smart then pay extra when it's unecessary, my other question is what substrate is the best to hold humidity and the best for Carpets? Thanks again everyone :)

[shaunyboy]

as long as the carpet hatchling is NOT a nervous feeder,ive put them straight into 4x2x2ft vivariums without issues,,,

just make sure there is plenty,hides.branches,fake plants.etc

if i'm using smaller viv's.then its 2x2x2ft viv's


cheers shaun

[Mikoh4792]

Just 2 more questions for you guys and I'll stop pestering but so I don't get ripped off what are the average prices for Carpets? I've seen sites charge like $130 for a NORMAL BP so I'd rather be price smart then pay extra when it's unecessary, my other question is what substrate is the best to hold humidity and the best for Carpets? Thanks again everyone :)

Average price is variable depending on the type of carpet and where/who you get it from. It can range anywhere from $75 to a couple grand. Obviously you won't be spending that much on your first carpet so I'd say around $75 to $300. Coastals and IJ's are usually cheaper than jungles and other subspecies.

The best substrate is what works best for your method of husbandry. I personally like unprinted newspaper. You can use sheet substrate or loose substrate like aspen, cypress mulch, coco husk...etc. With newspaper I get about 40% humidity in the winter and about 50-60% humidity in the warmer months. I never mist. Always have perfect sheds, never get respiratory infections.

[nazanova]

Average price is variable depending on the type of carpet and where/who you get it from. It can range anywhere from $75 to a couple grand. Obviously you won't be spending that much on your first carpet so I'd say around $75 to $300. Coastals and IJ's are usually cheaper than jungles and other subspecies.

The best substrate is what works best for your method of husbandry. I personally like unprinted newspaper. You can use sheet substrate or loose substrate like aspen, cypress mulch, coco husk...etc. With newspaper I get about 40% humidity in the winter and about 50-60% humidity in the warmer months. I never mist. Always have perfect sheds, never get respiratory infections.


$70-100 would be my kind of price range for any snake so that's not too bad. Ok I was just checking cause I use aspen with my Corn so I was seeing if that's a good substrate to use because it's cheap and easy to use so. As a side note do you or anyone else reading this have any recommendations for a species of snake that's quite thick but not too long?

[nazanova]

Would a RUB tub with the dimensions being 71cm x 44cm x 31 be ok for a baby/juvenile until they become an adult? That's the biggest RUB container there is so if that's not good enough I'd house it in it's adult enclosure from the start and just have lots of cover.

[Mikoh4792]

$70-100 would be my kind of price range for any snake so that's not too bad. Ok I was just checking cause I use aspen with my Corn so I was seeing if that's a good substrate to use because it's cheap and easy to use so. As a side note do you or anyone else reading this have any recommendations for a species of snake that's quite thick but not too long?

Boa constrictor Imperator of a central american locality. Nicaraguans are the cheapest of known localities, and if your central american is unknown it will be even cheaper. They grow to about 4-5 feet and because they are boas, grow quite thick.

[nazanova]

Boa constrictor Imperator of a central american locality. Nicaraguans are the cheapest of known localities, and if your central american is unknown it will be even cheaper. They grow to about 4-5 feet and because they are boas, grow quite thick.

Thanks for the info.

[David VB]

As a side note do you or anyone else reading this have any recommendations for a species of snake that's quite thick but not too long?


Thick and short : Blood pythons (Python brongersmai) :p

[nazanova]

Thick and short : Blood pythons (Python brongersmai) :p

Thanks :) I'll do bits and pieces of research on them but my main target is a Carpet for now.

[Mikoh4792]

I will say compared to other carpets, jungle carpets tend to be stouter as adults. I would contact Paul Harris at UKpythons.

[nazanova]

I will say compared to other carpets, jungle carpets tend to be stouter as adults. I would contact Paul Harris at UKpythons.

Ok thanks for the advice. I'll get in touch when I'm in the market for sure. Thanks for all your help