New to the forums AND Snakes.

[Grimleo]

Hello :D My name is Corey and I am very new to these forums. Although I have had snakes in the past, I just started keeping them after a few years of not having any snakes, but a room full of lizards. I had a corn snake as a kid, and more recently I had a ball python that grew to a good 4 in a half feet before I had to give him away before I moved.

Just recently(about a week ago) I got my first pair of Kenyan Sand Boas. They are cute little things and they are doing great for me. At the end of the month, though(as some of you might know), there is a reptile expo in San Jose, CA and I plan on getting myself a nice, beautiful python. I have been researching Coastal and Jungle Carpets mostly but I would gladly take suggestions on getting my first big snake. Carpets seem perfect because they don't get incredibly huge, but they aren't as small as a corn or ball python.

If anyone has any suggestions on what I should look into getting, or info(from experienced keepers like yourselves) and suggestions on how to properly care for a jungle carpet, I would be more than glad to read about it!

Anyway, I look forward to learning more here and meeting some of the very experienced snake keepers on the forums =) Thanks for reading.

[C.Phillips]

I would like a carpet my self heard some mix reviews on them though, I just have BPs

WELCOME to the forum

[Lankyrob]

Welcome to the forum - sure you will get plenty of info on which to go for.

[dragunov.762]

welcome there are many carpet python keepers here that are more than willing to help you out

[Nafun]

I own 11 snakes.
I have been bitten dozens of times.
Once by a corn.
Once by a ball.
At least 10 times each and every time I handle my carpet.
Some carpets tame down and are cuddly little puppies. Some are malevolent serpents of pure evil. Flip of a coin really.

[marvelfreak]

Hello and 9837 I have 3 carpets use to have two other jungle. Never had one bite or strike at me. Guess i been lucky. I love carpets. They are the most active snakes i ever own. I swear my bredli carpet spends 75% of the day climbing all over his cage. You have any question feel free to ask. :)

[kayleegrace]

... oh i was going to go to that expo... where do you live?

[percey39]

Hello and welcome to the site. Carpets are great snakes. Coastals can get pretty big i have heard of some over 9-10 feet, so they can be big but are usually very very tame. Jungles start out nearly always bitey, but most calm down with age. They usually hang around the 5-7 foot mark and great display snakes.

[Grimleo]

Thank you so much everyone for the warm welcome.

The fact that there is a very good chance it will be bitey doesn't discourage me. To be honest I lean towards the more aggressive types of herps anyways. I don't know exactly why, though. I think it's because I like the feeling of being able to tame down a specifically aggressive animal and make them friendly. Even if I can't do that, I love them just as much as any other animal. :D

kayleegrace - -I live near the Truckee area. Right near the Nevada border. San Jose will be my first show so the long drive really doesn't bother me any, lol. Too excited! :P

Still leaning toward Jungle Carpets. I think they will be a perfect next snake for me. :D I was wondering, though, since the basking spot in my tank for the new JCP hits about 102 at the hottest part of the day, should I get a thermostat to take it down a bit? Or is t his an acceptable temp? If I need to get one I would like to know if there is a good cheap one I could buy. x.x Got to get everything right before I get my next addition. xD

[marvelfreak]

Thank you so much everyone for the warm welcome.

Still leaning toward Jungle Carpets. I think they will be a perfect next snake for me. :D I was wondering, though, since the basking spot in my tank for the new JCP hits about 102 at the hottest part of the day, should I get a thermostat to take it down a bit? Or is t his an acceptable temp? If I need to get one I would like to know if there is a good cheap one I could buy. x.x Got to get everything right before I get my next addition. xD
I would that a little too hot you don't want to cook it. lol Between 80 to 86 is perfect for the hot side.

[Grimleo]

No I would not like to cook it, lol. Thanks :D

I'm definitely in need of a rheostat or a thermostat or something. They have them at expos right? Are they normally pretty expensive...?

[Nafun]

I recommend Zoo Med 500R thermostat with probe (http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/thermometers-thermostats-and-timers/-/zoo-med-500r-thermostat-with-probe/) they're cheap and reliable. You can get a low end thermostat for $25-$35 bucks. High end ones are in the $75-$125 range.

[Grimleo]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate all the help.

[shaunyboy]

hello and welcome

i run all my carpets with a basking spot of 95f.ambeint temp of 84f.it may be better if you get a carpet thats around a year old.this will let you know its temprement.it will also give you a better idea of how its going to colour up.hatchling carpets can be a bit nippy.most calm down with handling but there are a few that stay nippy right through their lives to adult hood.funnily enough its all been jungles that were my biters.imo they tend to be the nippiest of all the carpets ive worked with.coastals tend to get a bit bigger.they can attain 10 feet (sometimes more but not very often).jungles tend to be smaller say 5 to 7 feet.im sure you'll love carpets when you get into them.ive found them highly addictive.
cheers shaun

[Grimleo]

Thanks Shaun!

I was wondering if you had a number of coastals? What are the dimensions of the tanks you keep them in? What's the smallest tank you want to keep them in?

I absolutely love the patters and coloring of some of the jungle carpets I've seen, but I do like the patterns of the coastals, even if their coloring isn't as stunning. The size of either would be great considering I am completely willing to get(or build) the right size of a tank by the time they are adults. Also I am not too scared of the biting, I'll still handle them.

Do coastals have different husbandry requirements than jungles?

Sorry for all the questions! Thanks for reading.

[percey39]

The smallest tank i would have for a coastal adult would be a 6x2x2, but i wuld keep them in a 6x3x4 as it gives them more height to climb and also more floor space you would be surprised by how muchtime coastals spend on the ground.

[Grimleo]

Since this is my intro thread I thought I would post all my critters xD Sooo...Pic dump incoming O_O

My two current snakes Pebbles(Anery) and Pearce(Normal). Both are Kenyan Sand Boas but you probably know that o_o
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/PebsnPearce2.jpg
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/PebsnPearce.jpg

My Two beardies Squeak and Herc...Up first is Herc(and me lol)
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/MeandHerc.jpg
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/Hercbutt.jpg
And Squeaks next..
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/Squeakss.jpg

Here are my Cresties Chibi and Lily :D Chi is up first..
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/Happychi.jpg
And Lily..
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/Lily-1.jpg

More inc, lol. Don't want to overload the post I guess o.O

[percey39]

nice boas and love the beardies.

[Grimleo]

Here are my Tokays Kinko, Greko, and Zoey. Up first is Kinko..
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/Kinko.jpg
And Greko...
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/Greko.jpg
And Zoey, who is a word I can't say..
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/ZoeytheBrat.jpg

Here are my Leos Zeke and Missy with Zekey up first..
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/Zekey.jpg
And Missy!
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/Missy.jpg

Annnd can't forget Princess. xD
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af173/Grimleo/Princess.jpg

[Grimleo]

nice boas and love the beardies.

Thanks! They've got a lot of room to grow. :P

[shaunyboy]

Thanks Shaun!

I was wondering if you had a number of coastals? What are the dimensions of the tanks you keep them in? What's the smallest tank you want to keep them in?

I absolutely love the patters and coloring of some of the jungle carpets I've seen, but I do like the patterns of the coastals, even if their coloring isn't as stunning. The size of either would be great considering I am completely willing to get(or build) the right size of a tank by the time they are adults. Also I am not too scared of the biting, I'll still handle them.

Do coastals have different husbandry requirements than jungles?

Sorry for all the questions! Thanks for reading.

no need to apologise for questions mate.i ask loads of them all the time.

carpets and jungles have pretty much the same husbandary requirements mate.i keep all my adults in 4x2x2ft.if you happened to get one of the larger coastal imo a 6x2x2ft or a 6x2x3hieght would be ok for them.


really nice pictures mate,remember to post pic's of any new snakes you get.

cheers shaun

[Grimleo]

no need to apologise for questions mate.i ask loads of them all the time.

carpets and jungles have pretty much the same husbandary requirements mate.i keep all my adults in 4x2x2ft.if you happened to get one of the larger coastal imo a 6x2x2ft or a 6x2x3hieght would be ok for them.


really nice pictures mate,remember to post pic's of any new snakes you get.

cheers shaun

Thanks for the help. I will be sure to post pics of whatever I get at the expo :D

[marvelfreak]

You got some really nice lizards there. The KSBs are sweet my friend as one 9857

[.: Laura :.]

Your beardies and cresties are just TOO cute!

[Grimleo]

Thanks Marvelfreak:D They are really interesting. Really funny how they stick their heads up from under the sand, lol. I have never really kept a real ambush predator before, makes it that much more interesting. xD

And thanks Laura :D the cresties are definitely amazing :) They are so clumsy and full of personality it makes them that much more cute :D