Carpet or Ball?

nazanova · 08-12-14, 10:36 AM

So I've been planning on getting a Ball Python as my next snake at some point in the near future. I'm not ready for the big Pythons so I thought a ball would be perfect, but then a member on this forum called Franks pm'd me about Carpets and saying how they are much easier so it's got me thinking, now I know Balls have feeding issues and I couldn't bring myself to ever feed live so my question for you guys is should i go for a Carpet over a Ball? I have NO knowledge on Carpets so any advice/info would be welcomed. If they stay almost the same size as Balls, will eat well and eat f/t and don't require a lot of care (such as misting, keeping strict humidity levels etc) then they are something I'm willing to look into and go for.

pdomensis · 08-12-14, 10:46 AM

Carpets are climbers so need a bit more room to move around in, 4x2x2 ft is pretty standard. Otherwise it's a no-brainer; carpets are orders of magnitude cooler than ball pythons. It's like asking Dr. Phil or Dr. Who?

nazanova · 08-12-14, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdomensis

Carpets are climbers so need a bit more room to move around in, 4x2x2 ft is pretty standard. Otherwise it's a no-brainer; carpets are orders of magnitude cooler than ball pythons. It's like asking Dr. Phil or Dr. Who?

That's the same size I'm going to get for my Corn when he's an adult so that's not a problem. But are their care and feeding requirements? Or are they the same as for BP? I literally know nothing about CP

**EL Ziggy** · 08-12-14, 11:00 AM

Does this help Naza?
Carpet Python Care Sheets

pdomensis · 08-12-14, 11:03 AM

Care in my opinion is actually easier than BPs. Moderate humidity (30-50%), low 90s hot spot, mid 70s low side. Feeding F/T is simple. The only feeding issue i've heard of is that some Jungle carpets don't like to switch from mice to rats. Juveniles can be nippy, but mine has never bitten or struck at me. They are more active than balls, and as such won't just sit in your lap, but they aren't squirmy like colubrids either. I've got a centralian, he's almost 2 years old, 1.45 meters and 900 g. He should easily go 2 m, but will be was big around as my arm, so not a huge monster. The first year they mostly hide, but after that they spend most of their time on perches so they're good to look at on display. Mine hides after meals and at sheds. There's not much more to say. They are: the perfect size, perfect temperment, and easy to care for. Best snakes on the market.

nazanova · 08-12-14, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Does this help Naza?
Carpet Python Care Sheets

Yes this helps a lot thank you!

nazanova · 08-12-14, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdomensis

Care in my opinion is actually easier than BPs. Moderate humidity (30-50%), low 90s hot spot, mid 70s low side. Feeding F/T is simple. The only feeding issue i've heard of is that some Jungle carpets don't like to switch from mice to rats. Juveniles can be nippy, but mine has never bitten or struck at me. They are more active than balls, and as such won't just sit in your lap, but they aren't squirmy like colubrids either. I've got a centralian, he's almost 2 years old, 1.45 meters and 900 g. He should easily go 2 m, but will be was big around as my arm, so not a huge monster. The first year they mostly hide, but after that they spend most of their time on perches so they're good to look at on display. Mine hides after meals and at sheds. There's not much more to say. They are: the perfect size, perfect temperment, and easy to care for. Best snakes on the market.

They don't sound half bad lol. The only thing from what you said that I may find difficult is keep humidity up, I own a Corn so obviously I only need have a water dish and that's it, so how do I kind of maintain correct humidity?

pdomensis · 08-12-14, 11:29 AM

with a front opening cage and a radiant heat panel I hardly ever mist, maybe once a week, and I live in an area with about 20-30% RH most of the year.

nazanova · 08-12-14, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdomensis

with a front opening cage and a radiant heat panel I hardly ever mist, maybe once a week, and I live in an area with about 20-30% RH most of the year.

Hmm see all this humidity maintaining is kind of putting me off because I haven't even had my Corn long so I don't think I'm experienced enough to do all that. At least with a BP it'd move into my baby Corns enclosure (he'd be in an adult enclosure by the time I got another snake) and be done but due to humidity issues I don't think that would be possible. Plus Carpets seem to be quite expensive so maybe they're not for me yet.

joshuajames · 08-12-14, 12:30 PM

My dad had two carpet pythons and one ball python when i was younger. and from the experience of watching him I think the carpets are much easier. He fed them frozen baby chickens and had no problem at all with them eating. Balls on the other hand, which i just got as my first personal snake, are much more timid. i love my ball but think my next snake will be a carpet!

nazanova · 08-12-14, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshuajames

My dad had two carpet pythons and one ball python when i was younger. and from the experience of watching him I think the carpets are much easier. He fed them frozen baby chickens and had no problem at all with them eating. Balls on the other hand, which i just got as my first personal snake, are much more timid. i love my ball but think my next snake will be a carpet!

Yeah I just don't know right now. I'm very inexperienced at the moment and also money is an issue so I'll just have to sit on it and think. From what everyone is saying Carpets are ALOT easier but the humidity aspect is something that I'm not too confident on.

joshuajames · 08-12-14, 12:40 PM

one thing i learned from when i got my bearded dragon a year and a half ago.. at first every little thing freaked me out and i was on a bearded dragon forum always asking questions and trying to get every little thing perfect. not at all saying you should just wing it but if you have good intentions and know how to take care of your animal i think you'd be fine. don't let the small things stress ya, but its good you're cautious. there are always a lot of people who just get them and don't read up on things; and end up unintentionally not giving their pet what they need

pdomensis · 08-12-14, 12:42 PM

don't BPs have a slightly higher humidity requirement, like 50-60%?

SnoopySnake · 08-12-14, 12:50 PM

BP's require humidity around 60%, so that's really not going to be any easier to maintain. I think you're over thinking this a bit, it really wouldn't be that hard to maintain 40-50% humidity. I use a 55 gallon tank with an acrylic lid, a heat mat and a fluorescent light and I have a water bowl with an air stone in it, the lid has 1/8" holes throughout the entire thing and I have no problem maintaining 95%+ humidity. I only spray usually every week and a half-ish. If you use a tub with a few holes, and a radiant heat panel over your water dish, you should only have to mist once every week, if that.

David VB · 08-12-14, 01:13 PM

Carpet everytime!!!
I have a Cheynei and it's te most lively and active snake i've got. The ball pythons, NOT SO MUCH!!! Hardly ever see them out of their hide.
They get somewhat bigger (longer but skinnier) but they always eat. Awesome display snakes imho.

Greetz