First carpet

[EL Ziggy]

I didn't think I'd be joining team Morelia quite so soon. While waiting for one of Nick Mutton's jungle clutches to hatch in a few weeks I kept seeing some really nice looking coastals. I guess my curiosity got the best of me so I went ahead and purchased this guy. He's a 2014 Caramel Coastal produced by Nick Mutton at Inland Reptiles. He'll ship out in the next 6-8 weeks with my jungle hatchling. I didn't want to pay for shipping twice and enclosures are on the way :). Nick Mutton is a guru when it comes to carpets IMO. He's been great to deal with, his animals are among the best out there, and the information he's given me has been priceless. I can't wait to start working with these guys. Let me know what you all think. Even though I've read every care sheet, and watched every video on YouTube, I'm sure I'll have tons of questions.

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t674/EL-Ziggy/coastal_zpsbya0x8hm.jpg (http://s1319.photobucket.com/user/EL-Ziggy/media/coastal_zpsbya0x8hm.jpg.html)

[eminart]

Sweet! Congrats! Keep us updated once you get him.

[Minkness]

Aha, sounds as bad as me! Meant to get 1, end up with 2!

[EL Ziggy]

Aha, sounds as bad as me! Meant to get 1, end up with 2!

You caught that aye? I plead the Mink! :rolleyes:

[Minkness]

XD

If you get 2 more we will be even! Lol

[EL Ziggy]

XD

If you get 2 more we will be even! Lol

NO way, NO how, I am done!! The funny thing is I was going to keep quiet and not say anything to my gf until both snakes arrived and I'd just deal with the backlash then. Last night for some odd reason while we were talking about the things that make us happy I spilled the beans and told her I was getting two snakes instead of one. She rolled her eyes and threw a piece of paper at me but she was cool after that. She even liked the look of the new guy and when I showed her some pics of the jungles she was really impressed. Her reaction wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. Of course I offered to get her hair and nails done and to buy her an outfit afterwards but I figured that's just the cost of doing business. She's happy and I'm HAPPIER!!!

[Albert Clark]

Big leap of faith EL!!! You been talking about it and now you gonna be walking with it. Really nice choice and that is a handsome caramel. Congrats on the pick ups.

[Minkness]

Lol! Dang Ziggy....I need one of you here....or a gf like yours lol!

But yes...you need 2 more...maybe a woma? ;)

Just think of how many people had faith in my declaration of abstanence! Lol

[EL Ziggy]

Big leap of faith EL!!! You been talking about it and now you gonna be walking with it. Really nice choice and that is a handsome caramel. Congrats on the pick up

Thanks AL. I kinda broke my promise (again) but it all worked out well in the end. :cool:

[MDT]

Very nice zig!

[EL Ziggy]

Very nice zig!

Thanks Doc. I've been looking forward to keeping carpets for well over a year now. You and Mikoh have both been a great help and inspiration. Quick question for you. Do you heat your enclosures with heat tape, UTH, or RHP? Where do you keep your ambient temps and hot spots? I'm ordering the AP enclosures and was wondering what's the best heating method.

[Moreau]

Well now you need an IJ, and a Diamond lol

[Minkness]

Lol! I'm glad I'm not the only enabler here!

[EL Ziggy]

Well now you need an IJ, and a Diamond lol

la la la la. I can't hear you! la la la la :eek:

[SnoopySnake]

Awesome Ziggy! Can't wait to see actual pics of them

[MDT]

Thanks Doc. I've been looking forward to keeping carpets for well over a year now. You and Mikoh have both been a great help and inspiration. Quick question for you. Do you heat your enclosures with heat tape, UTH, or RHP? Where do you keep your ambient temps and hot spots? I'm ordering the AP enclosures and was wondering what's the best heating method.


Right now, I have mine heated with the 6"heat tape from AP. I have the thermostat set hot side to 100 F daytime and a drop to 85 at night... With the insulation from the cage itself, I get (measured w a IR temp gun) around 92 F daytime and about 78 at night. Because the cages are stacked, I actually get a vertical gradient as well. They seem to be doing well. I was a little worried at first and thought I may need the RHPs, but thought I'd give the tape a try. So far, so good. Not saying that I won't eventually switch, but my guys are putting on size, they are active, they are pooping and shedding, so.....I'm not gonna jack up the apple cart just yet :D

oh....and, you do need a diamond now :)

[EL Ziggy]

Right now, I have mine heated with the 6"heat tape from AP. I have the thermostat set hot side to 100 F daytime and a drop to 85 at night... With the insulation from the cage itself, I get (measured w a IR temp gun) around 92 F daytime and about 78 at night. Because the cages are stacked, I actually get a vertical gradient as well. They seem to be doing well. I was a little worried at first and thought I may need the RHPs, but thought I'd give the tape a try. So far, so good. Not saying that I won't eventually switch, but my guys are putting on size, they are active, they are pooping and shedding, so.....I'm not gonna jack up the apple cart just yet :D

oh....and, you do need a diamond now :)

Copy that. I was going to start with a UTH but would get the RHP if necessary. I can get the desired hot spot with a uth but I was concerned about the ambient temps especially during the colder months. My cool sides are usually in the low 70's during the winter days.
I was actually very interested in a diamond or diamond cross but knew I really wanted a jungle. The coastals kinda took me by surprise and I got a really good deal on mine.

[toddnbecka]

Really outstanding caramel coastal in the pic, gratz on the double down deal, lol.

[pinefamily]

Well done on your new additions! Is the coastal pure or a jag?
BTW, 34 degrees at the warm end, and low to mid 20's at the other. That's Celsius, I don't do Fahrenheit sorry. Coastals are pussycats, but I hope you know about jungles. 😀

[revent]

Great looking snake Ziggy, love the head pattern on that guy. Just for the record I have constrictors new cages not ap cages and I heat with rhp. They heat so efficiently even in the winter they are probably only on about 40% of the time and I almost never see them running over 60%ish power.

[Minkness]

What is an RHP?

[eminart]

What is an RHP?

Radiant Heat Panel

[EL Ziggy]

Really outstanding caramel coastal in the pic, gratz on the double down deal, lol.
Thanks Todd. I got such a good deal on the coastal that I couldn't pass it up. I'll end up with the coastal and the jungle for just a tad more than I was prepared to spend for the jungle alone. Thanks again to Nick Mutton.

Well done on your new additions! Is the coastal pure or a jag?
BTW, 34 degrees at the warm end, and low to mid 20's at the other. That's Celsius, I don't do Fahrenheit sorry. Coastals are pussycats, but I hope you know about jungles. 😀

Thanks Pine. It's a pure coastal. I love the look on some of the jags but the potential neuro issues kept me away. The breeder did say that coastals are usually pretty mellow. I've read and heard that jungles can be nippy when they're young. That's why I wanted to start with a hatchling. I hope I get one that's not too bitey but I'm looking forward to working with it. I'm confident it'll calm down with some gentle, consistent handling. Those temps seem right in line with what I've read.

Great looking snake Ziggy, love the head pattern on that guy. Just for the record I have constrictors new cages not ap cages and I heat with rhp. They heat so efficiently even in the winter they are probably only on about 40% of the time and I almost never see them running over 60%ish power.

Thanks Revent. I like UTH's for my colubrids but it seems like the RHP's are the best way to keep the ambient temps up for the carpets. I guess that'll help with the vertical gradient as opposed to only having belly heat even though I know others that use heat tape or UTH's without issues. UTH @ $25 or RHP @ $80? That is the question. Our humidity here is always 50-60% which should be fine.

[eminart]

Don't forget the ceramic heat emitters either. I'm using a small one for my boa, and it is working quite well. I'm not sure how they'll work when he moves to a larger enclosure, but so far it's great.

[pinefamily]

We use CHE's for all of our python tanks, with no problem at all.

[toddnbecka]

I'm use CHE's for my carpet, BCI's and 2 smaller DRMB enclosures. Screen topped aquariums (29-55 gallon) with foam board covering most of the tops, holds humidity in quite well. When I finish building larger enclosures (and the snakes outgrow their tanks) I won't be using the CHE's, likely ultratherm UTH's and RHP's deoending on the inhabitants. The carpet seems to prefer hanging from branches, so the RHP would be a better option there, but the BCI's are most often on the substrate. The larger DRMB's are set up with UTH's and seem to do well with those.

[Mikoh4792]

Nice pick!

[EL Ziggy]

Thanks again you guys. I forgot about CHE's. I was advised by the breeder to start the young ones in very small tubs until they get some size on them so it's UTH's to start.
On another note, does anybody use eco earth as substrate? I was thinking of giving it a try instead of the aspen sani chips I typically use.

[dave himself]

Nice pick up Ziggy looking forward to seeing pics when they arrive ;)

[MDT]

On another note, does anybody use eco earth as substrate? I was thinking of giving it a try instead of the aspen sani chips I typically use.

I have used both over the years....the overall cleanup for me is the issue.

I started using this recently.....

Disposable Cage Liners Inc. (http://www.cageliners.net)

Bulk roll, cut to size for my APs. I like it over loose substrate.

[Minkness]

I used eco earth wgen I first got my hoggies since they like to burrow. It was very dirty and seemed to get stuck in their scales, so they are just on news paper or shelving liner for now until they all get better, then I'll probably switch back to the sanichips. I wish there was a darker color of sanichips to simulate a more natural substrate, but keeping them clean is more important to me.

I may consider having a large container with some eco earth as their borrowing space and their humid hide. But not right now.

[EL Ziggy]

@ MDT- I like the cage liners. I'd probably use them beneath the loose substrate. Even though I haven't heard of carpets burrowing much I like the aesthetics of substrate over paper.

@ Mink- I wish there was a darker aspen option too. I hadn't thought of any issues the eco earth might cause for their scales. You're right though, I wouldn't want to see my beautiful carpets dirty. :)

[Minkness]

There's also reptibark, but not sure how that would do with high humidity. I think that stuff has a tendency to deteriorate pretty quickly if it gets wet, but not sure.

[SnoopySnake]

I use eco earth for my white lip and rainbow boas. It holds humidity well but can be dusty when its too dry. Try cypress mulch. Bigger pieces, holds humidity well with no dust. Just make sure it isn't cypress mulch blend.

[D Grade]

Nice addition, EL!

[Mikoh4792]

I have used both over the years....the overall cleanup for me is the issue.

I started using this recently.....

Disposable Cage Liners Inc. (http://www.cageliners.net)

Bulk roll, cut to size for my APs. I like it over loose substrate.

I just started using this as well. I like this the best out of all "liner" substrate I've used. Real thick like kraft paper.

There's also reptibark, but not sure how that would do with high humidity. I think that stuff has a tendency to deteriorate pretty quickly if it gets wet, but not sure.

I use reptibark in some of my enclosures and for carpet pythons it does well.(sometimes I'll spill water from the bowl by accident and have had no mold problems)

[Minkness]

I was thinking of using reptibark for my hoggies but still on the fense about it really. I just like how clean the sanichips are.

[prairiepanda]

I'm stoked to see more Aussie pythons on the forums! Great picks, El!



I was thinking of using reptibark for my hoggies but still on the fense about it really. I just like how clean the sanichips are.
I'm yet to find a dark substrate that isn't a pain to deal with. The bark is always either too dusty or just annoying to clean because you're taking out big chunks. It's also quite expensive. Lately I've started just putting newspapers through a shredder and using that so that I can have free substrate that is still burrower-friendly.

[Garvness]

Beautiful snake!

[reptiledude987]

For my carpets I use a 50/50 blend of repti bark and coco husk. Until recently I started using cypress mulch from a local nursery and Im loving it