housing questions...

[lordkovacs]

Do IJ's prefer a branch/dowel or a shelf? Like, do they wrap themselves around a branch like an emerald does, or do they prefer to sit on a shelf off hte ground? I'm just putting together my new viv and thought I'd ask before I get ahead of myself.
Thanks.
Cheers,
MIKE

[ReptiZone]

sorry I dident respond to the Pm they all sound like good perches for carpet'sI would try puting a branch an a shelf a littel higher just see witsh he likes better then fill us in on the answer

[stormyva]

I have a dowel running the width of the cage. Then I wrapped some artificial pothos around the dowel. The snake will use it to go back and forth across the cage and he'll hang out on end in the greenery.

[JIMI]

I dont think they have much of a preference as far as perches go. a shelf would be good because carpets are about half terrestrial and a shelf would be just like being on the ground. so it may sit on the shelf comfortably while providing you with a great viewing oppertunity. of course a carpet curled up on a shelf isnt as cool to see as it curled up like a chondro on a big branch smack in the middle of the cage. sometimes i think they love to show off. my male always displays himself in the most visible spots (very proudly it seems lol) right after he sheds. i cant complain!

[Zoe]

I have a shelf and many branches... My smaller female spends her day on the shelf (she's the queen!) and her nights exploring branches... But she doesn't wrap around the branch or perch like an ATB or ETB would.

I suggest both!

Zoe

[AnthonyC]

I wouldn't count on seeing a carpet draped like a GTP...I've only encountered it a couple of times in my collection...and that's usually been with Jungle Carpets.

Just provide plenty of hiding places and places to climb, at least until you find out where your snake prefers to hang out...this way, the snake will be happy nomatter what it's preference is.

[vanderkm]

Ours use branches extensively when younger and some up to 4 feet still seem to prefer being in the crook of a tree limb to being on a shelf. When very young, both jungles and Irians spent time draped like green tree pythons, but only until about a year of age. When they get bigger than 4-5 feet long, we provide only the shelf and they spend at least 50% of their time on it - the jungles more than the irians. When they are not on the shelves, they are in their hideboxes. Our jungle X coastal is in a taller cage with a couple tree limbs and a couple shelves and he definately prefers the shelves, especially after feeding when he is heavier. For a youngster, like everyone else has suggested, I would offer both.

maryv