Going Coastal

[fortoday634]

An empty cage can be a serious problem in the life of a snake enthusiast. After some on-line research and hands on experience I've decided to go with a Coastal Carpet for our next snake but I have a question. It will be housed in a 4'x2'x15" AP cage. I went with the 11" Felxwatt but since they are semi-arboreal is it beneficial to go with a RHP on the hot side as well? Or perhaps in the middle/cool side to raise the ambient temperature?

Lastly, I was hoping those of you who keep larger Carpets could show of your enclosures and provide any helpful husbandry tips.

Thanks everyone.

[gman8585]

I would put the heat on the bottOm of the cage. My carpet has a hotspot under one of his hides. He is fine with it. Carpets are semi arboreal but I'd say less arboreal the older they get and less arboreal then often represented. The size sounds perfect. I keep my carpets hot spot @90 and the rest of the cage room temp.
Www.moreliapythons.com is the best carpet python forum around!

[The Serpent Merchant]

This is my Coastal/Jungle males cage, it is half of an Animal Plastics T8 (4'x2'x1')



And here is a close up:



My little guy is 30" long right now and doesn't currently have a RHP, but I have an Animal Plastics T12 (4'x2'x2') reserved for him, and that cage has 2 RHP's in it and I ditched the flexwatt. The 2 RHP's are set up so that 1 controls the hot side and the other maintains the cool side.

Carpet Pythons are great, they are more active and exploitive than Ball Pythons. Some are nippy others are not. Mine is pretty chill most of the time but if you piss him off you are in trouble lol.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I would put the heat on the bottOm of the cage. My carpet has a hotspot under one of his hides. He is fine with it. Carpets are semi arboreal but I'd say less arboreal the older they get and less arboreal then often represented. The size sounds perfect. I keep my carpets hot spot @90 and the rest of the cage room temp.
Www.moreliapythons.com is the best carpet python forum around!

x2 (especially about moreliapythons.com)

[fortoday634]

Thanks guys.

I've been lurking on moreliapythons.com and it's been very helpful. I am looking into a sub adult or adult come NARBC time in March.

[gman8585]

Thanks guys.

I've been lurking on moreliapythons.com and it's been very helpful. I am looking into a sub adult or adult come NARBC time in March.

That's awesome you'll have plenty to check out there! I picked up an amazing jungle carpet from www.cbreptiles.com from Chris he is a member on here. It's honestly gOt the brightest yellow on a jungle I have ever seen in real life. I'm also picking up an adult coastal and another jungle carpet the 1st of feb. I'm super excited to get them.

[fortoday634]

Alright, I took the plunge and picked up this '10 Coastal Jag yesterday. He's about 4.5ft and very curious. I do have my work cut out for me as he is a bit on the aggressive side. I'm sure with some time and handling he will calm down.

My wife was able to snap a few pics of him while was out and about yesterday. Today he has spent most of the day hiding out.

Here's my boy, Silas.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Looks good, I love Jags hopefully I'll get to own one someday.

[redstormlax12]

Congrats on the pickup. Now part of the morelia club. Haha. There is a lot to look into with morelia and they are an extremely interesting Genus, especially the diversity of the M. spilota complex.

You'll find that there is some controversy in the husbandry temperatures that are recommended for M. s. ssp. The environment and climate of Australia is extremely complex and varies immensly so some of the subspecies dont neccesarily need the 90's temperatures that we need.

Also contrary to popular belief, the M. s. ssp. is not extremely arboreal witht he exception of a couple of the subspecies.

But great looking coastal jag!

[fortoday634]

This guy is something else. On Monday he hid all day. Then he came out later that evening and has been on the move or perched ever since. In watching him I realized he is NOT aggressive but defensive. He is used to a hook but once you open his door and/or touch him with your hand he becomes very protective and flighty. This is the first time I've had a snake like this. What is the best plan of action in working with him?

Saturday is also feeding day and I'm not sure what approach to take. I was thinking it is best to continue using the hook and getting him used to human touch. Then on feeding days no contact what so ever and feed in the cage. Or in this case is feeding in a separate bin recommended?