It's all your fault!! and I have a few questions...

[trailblazer295]

You're all terrible influences *cough* Mink *cough* Ziggy *cough* reptitldude *cough* jpsteele80.

It also didn't help going to local herp store looking for wood decor to remodel my other snake cages only to discover they had added more tanks and had a baby coastal carpet who had a nice black and white pattern. I held an adult for a bit but he wasn't in the best mood and wanted to climb me and the store guy suggested not trusting him by my face. The climbing part was cool but the nerves got to me. I could feel the solid muscle of the snake, not sure on length but it was 3-4" girth. Just seems arboreal snakes have a different feel in your hands when climbing you. Now coastals are too big for me in terms of caging but an IJ is in the realm of possibility. This of course got the wheels turning a bit. But I do have a few questions as care sheets vary wildly and are never specific about humidity most of the time.

What size cage does a baby IJ need?
-I have a 10g and a 24x18x24 exo terra that could be used
How fast do they grow?
What size/age would they need an adult cage?
What's a proper adult size cage?
What is the proper humidity range?
Do you just provide a basking hot spot top corner of the tank and let the carpet move around as needed?

[Minkness]

I know I already told you but I'm happy to leave a comment as well.

I got my baby at about 18 inches long. She is in a standard 15 gallon tank with a uth. She is now about 2.5 feet long and about the thickness of a standard sharpie marker and still has plenty of space as she tends to curl up. But if she chooses to go diagonal in her tank, she has a full length stretchinf space.
She is not particularly active unless it's feedi g time so I do not feel the need to up her tank size just yet. When I do I will be using a 40 gallong breeder which measures 3 feet long by 2 feet deep by 18 inches tall. I will prop it in the long side to change the dimensions to 3 feet long, 18 inches deep and 2 feet tall so that she can still utilize vertical space. I will offer both belly heat for her warm hide. My room generally stays between 75-80 ambient temps. Humidity will fluctuate between about 60-80% but I do keep a large bowl of water and mist once to twice a week, or more depending on if she's shedding or not.
She is just as hot on food as every other carpet I have heard of and seems to digest very quickly.

Also, she seems very interested in what's gping on outside of her tank and often perches in a place to keep a vigilant surveillance of her surroundings.

Hope this helps. =)

[EL Ziggy]

Good choice on the carpet Blaze. I'm glad we could help pique your interest. IJs are one of the smaller carpets so caging should be easy. If it's a baby you could start it in a small tub. That 24x18x24 sounds good too but you'll have to clutter it up a bit. That might even work for a small adult. They average about 5-6 ft for adults. They'll reach adult size in about 3 years and I imagine the largest cage size you you'd need is a 3x2x2 for an IJ but a 4x2 would work as well. Ambient humidity of 40-60% will be fine. My humidity has dropped into the low 30s during winter and I've had no issues with shedding or RIs. As long as they have fresh water they should stay hydrated. I'd go with a RHP as my heat source. A basking spot of 90-95 and an ambient temp of about 82 and your carpet should be a happy camper.

[trailblazer295]

I keep my house at 71 in the winter and it's 78-74 in summer. Humidity in the reptile room between 35-40% in winter and 50-70% in summer. But during the winter the humidity in my other cages seems to drop a lot faster too. I'm a bit OCD so have inside/out temp and humidty in the room and also at my thermostat for the furnace.

The exo terra is pretty cluttered already as it houses a single crested gecko but I'd have to modify the branches a bit so cluttering a bit more isn't an issue. I didn't know if that was too big for a baby carpet or not.

How long would one be okay in a cage that size? I would be using a CHE in the terra but intend to move to a aboreal PVC with an RHP as a permanent home. the exo terra would be just a grow out tank as I have it already and all the pieces to set up for one. I'd probably be looking at a 3x2x2 PVC final home and order a new RHP from pro products.

[Minkness]

Carpets are super hardy in my limited experience. Probably easier to keep/maintain than a ball. =)

In some ways, they are even better because of their natural display in their enclosures and activity level when handled. But balls are a great 'cuddle' snake and movie buddy lol.

Also, carpets will almost never miss a meal!

[trailblazer295]

This is the exo terra as it sits now. I had another failed attempt with live plants so just ripped them out mostly as they were dying. I'd modify the branches to offer more lateral perches.

[chairman]

Almost from the beginning I put my IJs in a large, adult-size enclosure. At a year old they're in AP T10s (24"x48"x15"H). Never saw any indications of stress, never missed a meal, etc. I think that because they spend so much time perched out in the open they're unfazed by "less secure" caging. So I'm sure that you could start them off in that smaller space but you could probably use the adult enclosure as soon as you can get it.

[jpsteele80]

I'm gunna need to see some pics soon :D

[trailblazer295]

I'm gunna need to see some pics soon :D

Oh you're getting added to the list man, damn I can't edit on this site.

Mod I need you to add jpsteele to the list lol

[EL Ziggy]

Our seasonal ambient temps and humidity are almost identical Blaze. That enclosure is perfect for a carpet for a good 2 years IMO. My coastal will be 2 in June and he'd be fine in there. You'll get maximum display value and your IJ will love the climbing options. The CHE is a good heating option too. You may or may not need a UTH to go along with it.

[trailblazer295]

The fake plants will come out as I'll be using those to clutter a 10g for the crestie but I'll replace them with something i think will better benefit a carpet. It's a 100w CHE that kept the corner area hot enough for my vine snake.

If I offer a flatish secure area in the hot upper corner of the cage would I still need a UTH? The wood piece would stay and I can figure out a way to have a piece of cork bark and hide up high for heat/digestion. I have UTHs but right now the cage has 2" of hydro balls and another 2" of soil so belly heat isn't easy to do at the moment.

Last summer my house hits 80-81f in the reptile room with a setpoint of 79f on my thermostat during the day as electricity is most expensive but I'll have to set the AC a couple degrees lower for the crestie. So I'll have my AC set for 78f during the day and 76-74f afternoon and overnight.

[EL Ziggy]

You're ready for business and good to go Blaze. :)

[trailblazer295]

lol Still in the research phase, I'll be looking into acrylic panels for the terra tomorrow as Mink told me home depots sells them. I have a mistking mister on the terra so maintaining humidity isn't an issue there.

Would a hide up high in the hot spot plus foliage cover be sufficent for a carpet?

[Minkness]

Don't really need a high hide. Also don't really need a mister. That could make it too humid. You'd do better to some how put the mister on the 10 for the crestie.

[trailblazer295]

Don't really need a high hide. Also don't really need a moster. That could make it too humid. You'd do better to some how put the mister on the 10 for the crestie.

Ummm that's a 5g pail, pump hosing and mister nozel soooooooo no lol I could leave the top open and monitor it and see. Might take playing around with, I imagine with summer coming up it will be a lot easier, winter will be a new challenge.

[trailblazer295]

One question I do have is do IJ's fade in colour as they age? I worry they are like BPs where adults look nothing like juvies.

[EL Ziggy]

I agree with Mink, I doubt you'll need a mister. I have seen others use high hides with great results. I wish I could attach some to the top of my enclosure but I'm not very mechanically inclined. I haven't heard of IJs losing much of their coloring as adults but I can't say definitively. They may dull some as they age.

[trailblazer295]

The mister is basically built into the cage and stand I can always turn it off or use it as a booster in the winter. I intend to get some new humidity sensors so I'll regulate from there.

When I refered to high hides I didn't mean right to the top but more so just up in the air supported off the ground a few branches, a cork bark ledge and a hide and you're done. I'm also kind of a mechanic by trade so maybe it just seems easy to me I don't know. I can figure out a hide up in the air in the hot spot and provide cover in other areas so it can seek refuge in various temps.

A slight dulling is one thing but as you know BPs change A LOT which is my worry.

[Minkness]

So far, my female IJ has had a beautiful chamge in colors. Very subtle. When I got her she was black and cream. And now she's got black, deep chocolate, pale cream and some rich gold tones.

[toddnbecka]

Regarding how quickly they grow, here's a couple pics of my jungle/cross. First was when he/she arrived about 15-16 months ago hanging on the edge of a 12" wide aquarium, then about a week or so ago. Note the difference in colors, the baby beige has become bright yellow peppered with black. Still the same easygoing disposition though, even when hungry:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Snakes/529b6f23-98f9-4b7d-9876-4d93c81abbac_zpsa87af02c.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toddnbecka/media/Snakes/529b6f23-98f9-4b7d-9876-4d93c81abbac_zpsa87af02c.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Snakes/P1060478_zps25525b8d.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toddnbecka/media/Snakes/P1060478_zps25525b8d.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Snakes/P1060779_zpsrwh2ztvm.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toddnbecka/media/Snakes/P1060779_zpsrwh2ztvm.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Snakes/P1060782_zpsfh0ihknj.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toddnbecka/media/Snakes/P1060782_zpsfh0ihknj.jpg.html)

I moved this one out of the 29 and into a 40 breeder at about one year old, the new baby IJ now has the 29. The jungle/cross has been as mellow as a red tail boa from the start. The little IJ was striking at anything that moved at first, but settled down after a couple months. Still not quite as easy to pick up as the first one (a bit cage defensive) but not a problem to handle once in hand.
Though not bright yellow like the jungle/cross, she is showing some lighter/brighter colors as she grows.
This was on arrival, looked like a month-old hatchling then:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Snakes/P1060699_zpsrz44gvjp.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toddnbecka/media/Snakes/P1060699_zpsrz44gvjp.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Snakes/P1060698_zpsyemhldo6.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toddnbecka/media/Snakes/P1060698_zpsyemhldo6.jpg.html)

I don't have any recent pics, but the cream color is becoming brighter, leaning towards yellow in some areas. Growth is also fast, just like the first one. Carpets do change as they grow, but always for the better, unlike BP's that dull out with size and age.

[trailblazer295]

Thanks for the pics, getting better is fine I was worried IJs were like coastals and dulled out a lot. I don't mind getting tagged by a baby and work on taming before they are adults. I'm nervous holding nervous adults, I got very lucky holding a new to the store adult bolovian boa, I intentionally held her body and positioned my hand in such a way the slack to her head couldn't reach my head and sure enough at one point when I looked away I could see out of the corner of my eye a flash of grey. She fell short of hitting me but I'm pretty damn sure she striked at me. Thankfully long arms and hand position saved me. Needless to say she went back in her cage after that. I'm also nervous holding largish snakes now because of fear of being struck in the face. Small snakes biting my hands and arms I'm not worried about, a baby spotted python bit my thumb like it was huge but really didn't break the skin.

I trust my snakes because I have worked with them. Mushu I can wrap around my neck and chill, banzai is mostly there but work in progress and yzma is still just nervous in general but working on calming her down. She doesn't bite or fight just stays very still or flees.

[toddnbecka]

None of our snakes have ever gone for the face. I have been tagged on the fingers by both carpets, once when the jungle/cross was moving from the footrest toward my lap. I really think that was due to lack of stable support. As he came up along my leg he seemed a bit wobbly, and grabbed my finger a split second before he fell onto the floor. I remamber a similar incident with a red tail boa many years ago. A girl wanted to hold my 5' snake, and before I could say anything picked her up with both hands across the back. No belly support, the snake started wiggling a bit, then the girl panicked and literally threw her at me. The snake bit her in the forearm to grab hold of something before she fell.
The little IJ got me when I was reaching down too close to her cave entrance to retrieve a f/t mouse that had fallen down into the tank. Both drew a little blood, but the strike from the much smaller IJ hurt because she had her full force behind it.
One or both of the thayeri kings have tried to eat a finger that smelled like rodent at feeding time, but neither incident broke the skin, though I did have to run water over one to discourage it, lol.

[EL Ziggy]

I like your carpets TnB. You have a very diverse and impressive collection.

[trailblazer295]

That's good to hear, I would be getting a baby so I would be able to work with it as it grows. I always use tongs for handling food so there isn't any association with my hand and food. I've been tap training my boa as well although he is just a worm at the moment but just getting into that habit. Would be tap training a carpet as well.

[EL Ziggy]

Blaze, I think getting a young snake is a good idea too. I like growing with my snakes. Better a nippy hatchling than a nippy adult :). If you want a great book on Morelia try to find a copy of The Complete Carpet Python by Nick Mutton and Justin Julander. The information and pictures are great.

[trailblazer295]

Yeah a carpet isn't the kind of snake I'd want to get as an adult. With feeding response and size I don't have the experience with herps in general and certainly large snakes to handle a adult biter from someone else.

[Aaron_S]

Oh you're getting added to the list man, damn I can't edit on this site.

Mod I need you to add jpsteele to the list lol

Done.

We had an issue some years back so there was a change to only allow edits for 30 minutes after a post.

[trailblazer295]

Done.

We had an issue some years back so there was a change to only allow edits for 30 minutes after a post.

Thanks lol

That's weird I'm on a lot of forums and they all allow you to edit. It's very annoying sometimes.

[Aaron_S]

Thanks lol

That's weird I'm on a lot of forums and they all allow you to edit. It's very annoying sometimes.

Yup. We don't. We had an issue and this was the resolution.

[trailblazer295]

Back on to serious topic what would be the size of a carpet that a 24x18x24 wouldn't be big enough?

[EL Ziggy]

I think that'll be a tight fit for any carpet over 5' Blaze.

[Albert Clark]

Congrats on the planning stages. Hope all goes well.

[toddnbecka]

Back on to serious topic what would be the size of a carpet that a 24x18x24 wouldn't be big enough?

For a smaller carpet (IJ or jungle, not a coastal) I wouldn't keep them on anything smaller than 24x48x18. I know plenty of people keep them in tubs, but I simple prefer to allow them a bit more room to move around.
The 24x18x24 would be fine for the first year or so, but even the smaller male carpets will most likely grow to 5-6'.

[trailblazer295]

So I've torn apart my exo terra. The live plants weren't doing well. I set up a 10g and moved a lot of my fake plants and ledges for my crestie into that. Set that up and looks half decent. This is the wood decor I had left accumulated over a few tanks and moving things around. It doesn't match terribly well but was trying to create a few "levels". The back left is where the CHE would be above that large wood stump and then a carpet would be able to move away from there as needed. I plan on adding live plants and getting that established without an occupant. Cover aside is the perch setup suitable for an IJ? I can add and move things around but this is all the decor I have at the moment.

[Minkness]

Beautiful set up!

I suggest fake plants because as it grows, those plants will just be plowed, climbed on, and thoroughly damaged.

[trailblazer295]

Beautiful set up!

I suggest fake plants because as it grows, those plants will just be plowed, climbed on, and thoroughly damaged.

Hmmm good point, I think I'll give it one last hooray. I really want a live planted terrarium and so far have failed miserably. I'll give it another shot and if they get damaged then I'll replace them later. Only tank I have to setup as a live terrarium. Even if they get destroyed eventually if I can keep them alive for a year before that point then I've found the right plants going forward to setup with a different inhabitant once the IJ moves onto a bigger cage.

[chairman]

Looks good. As a temporary measure while plants grow in, you can use zip ties to attach plastic vines to the perch. That should provide some cover for the perch.

As an idea for additional natural hide opportunities, you could add a cork round. My IJ likes to switch between perching on the top of the round and hiding in it.

[trailblazer295]

Looks good. As a temporary measure while plants grow in, you can use zip ties to attach plastic vines to the perch. That should provide some cover for the perch.

As an idea for additional natural hide opportunities, you could add a cork round. My IJ likes to switch between perching on the top of the round and hiding in it.

Don't know when I would actually add a snake to the cage. Next expo isn't for a month and don't know if I'll make it or not yet. Then need to find a IJ and one I want. I'll buy fake ones in a pinch if I find a IJ but the plants aren't good.

That's a good idea with the cork round, I'll pick one up as well.

[EL Ziggy]

Your enclosure looks pretty good to me too Blaze. Add a floor hide and you're ready for a critter. Do you prefer to buy at expos? Are there not any good carpet breeders in your area?

[trailblazer295]

Your enclosure looks pretty good to me too Blaze. Add a floor hide and you're ready for a critter. Do you prefer to buy at expos? Are there not any good carpet breeders in your area?

I don't know of any off hand but haven't looked either to be honest. I don't think we have the same breeder volume you guys do south of the border.

[trailblazer295]

So added some plants that are supposed to handle high light and high humidity. They are small for now but will fill in a lot with time. I won't be adding anything until it fills in successfully or it fails again horribly and I just go fake plants.