I think i have the bug.

[sch1sm]

I have been a snake owner for a couple of years and i have successfully cared for Corns, Royals (BP's), and most recently a gorgeous BCI. all my animals are amazing and i get so much enjoyment from watching them feeding them and handeling them but. There is something missing in my life lol.
I have decided that my next snake has to be a carpet python, specifically Irian Jaya. No doubt about it. i guess the point is that the reserch starts here.
so far i have read a lot of conflicting stuff about idea enclosure conditions and temperement.
Any advise wether it be a link to a good caresheet or hands on personal experience would be hugely appreciated.

Cheerz
Si

[marvelfreak]

Carpets rule! The nice thing about carpets is they're one of the easy kinds of snakes to care for. They're very forgive if temps or humidity isn't perfect.
Things you need.
1) Branch or climbs. Mine spend about 80% of their time off the ground. My 8 foot 9 year old jungle is the only one that hangs out on the floor all the time.
2) Hides hot and cold ends of cage.
3) Water bowl cool side
4) Heat source I use heat pads. I keep my hot side between 85 to 90. Cool side between 70 to 75. If it get a little cooler it want hurt them like with most snakes. Humidity 30% to 40% works just find for me. I do mist their cages once daily when they're in shed. I have never had any problem with them shedding. Perfect sheds every time.

5) A secure locked cage. This is the most important thing of all. Carpets are escape artist.

Also be very careful, because carpets are very addictive. Once you get one you'll want another and another. Once this happens the only you can do is give in to the addiction. :D lol

[sch1sm]

Thanx for that. I kind of want to be compleatly prepared for what im getting into. Ive taken snakes on before without having all the correct settup and knowlege (rescues) and i fealt like i was trying to catch up the whole time. The other thing is i dont have any friends close by who own carpets so any info i get on them will be from the internet, and i know as soon as i have one, a hundred other local carpet owners will spring out of nowhere and start asking me stuff (this happened when i got my first BP).
I want to know as much as i can because i dont want to pass on poor advice.

[stephanbakir]

Good luck finding the right one :)

[SnakeManKyle]

Damn the bug, eh? I started with 1 snake, caught the bug, and now I have 14. >.<

Eventually, as the bug continues to have it's way with you and your collection grows, the amount of time and work required reaches critical mass and keeps the bug in check.

The problem is, you don't know what your critical mass is until you get there. =P

[morelia4life]

Carpet pythons are very easy to care for. They are a very hardy snake. The Irian Jayas are the smallest species of carpet python. Depending on if you are getting a baby or an adult will determine the cage size but make sure whatever cage you get, you have a decent amount of height to it because most carpets love to climb. Just get some branches or perches, a water bowl, your choice of substrate ( I stick with either newspaper or aspen), a heat lamp. I had an undertank heater and my old jag only used it sometimes. Also, lots of cover and hide boxes so they feel secure. The temp for Irian jayas can be around 88 to 90 degrees for the warm spot and then the temp in the room should be around the high 70's.

It doesn't really matter though about the ambient temp in the room, when I had my jag the temp in the room was only maybe 65 at the highest and he did fine. I had him for about 3 months until I traded him. As long as you give them a nice hot spot of 88 to 90 and proper temps so they can thermoregulate, it should be fine.

[Aaran]

:)have fun

[shaunyboy]

Good luck finding the right one :)


here is good place to read up on your carpet care

Carpet Python Care (http://www.acreptiles.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=140)


cheers shaun