A few questions (morelia newb)

I recently fell in love with a centralian/bredli at an expo and, even though I couldn't buy at the time, I'm seriously considering them as my first carpet python. They're beautiful and I'd like more pythons in my collection. But I'm also someone who has waffled over redtail boas because of "how big they get." I like that carpet pythons are slimmer bodied, but I keep reading that bredlis get to be 7 - 8 feet long. Is this accurate from people's experience here? If I get a male, will they be more like 6 - 7? I want a larger python than my BPs, but I don't want to buy something that's so big I'm not comfortable handling it.

All of my snakes are being kept on aspen. Is this suitable for a bredli, since (from what I've read) they don't have high humidity requirements? I've also read that they can take prey wider than their girth. I'm interested in this if so, because I like a fast growing snake.

Thank you for any advice you can toss this newbie's way. I'm sure I'll think of more questions after posting. ;)

ah the Morelia bug . . . I've seen this . . . I've had this . . . I still live in this. . .

Bredl's are probably one of the heaviest bodied Carpet Pythons available in the complex. Their lengths will usually max out some where just south of 3 meters (9ft) for a nice sized female, and around 7ft for a male. That being said, the more average sizes would be around 7ft for a female, and 6 solid feet for a male. The difference with this complex will be the amount of weight they carry. They are one of the broadest bodied subspecies in the complex and carry their weight well weighing up to 2 times that of a similar sized coastal or Jungle carpet python. . .

Adults are generally not a hassel to handle, and if you keep them on a good diet they will grow in due time, but I would not advise in power feeding to intentionally produce a larger snake faster. This will only lead to possibly issues later on down the road. They can be kept on aspen, I personally keep my collection on coconut shavings with a little bit of cypress mulch mixed in. They don't require a demanding humidity though so you can keep them on pretty much any of the more common substrates available including newspaper and papertowels even.

Cheers

Too funny, I got the bug too, I found a great deal on a 2.5m female, the wife isnt having it though. Hope I can convice her to let me get one at some point.

Buy it!

Don't worry too much about length for any Morelia. Brendls' can get on the heavier side but still can do fine in a 6 foot cage their entire life. They can get long as well but they usually stay coiled up and they still end up being much smaller than any red tail boa in terms of weight. My 3 foot JCP used less of her cage space than sub-adult corn snake.


...amazing snakes. You should think about it.

Thanks for the information, guys. :) I have no problem with a six foot male python. I could probably even handle seven. I just kept seeing the numbers 7.5 and 8 flying around on care sheets, which is more than I bargained for. lol If I find another handsome male with a chill temperament, it'll be hard to say no. I'll be sure to not power feed him. Sounds like they grow like a weed regardless.

I'd probably keep him in a tub/rack system until he's big enough for his "forever tank." I'd like him to eventually be a display animal, but I prefer how durable and easy to clean tubs are.

What is it about the size that you think might be too much for you? Carpets can be a lot more active then a boa of the same length so be sure that their activity is something you will be ok with. A buddy of mine that has many boas some around 9 feet but he still had trouble getting used to holding my 7 foot coastal carpet becuase of how active it was. He did get used to it but it did intimidate him a little at first.

Good question. To put it into perspective, I'm 5'4" and 120 pounds. I've had an 8 foot Burmese draped across my puny shoulders before, and his weight just wasn't comfortable. I'm not afraid of a large snake, I just don't think they suit my frame? I was a little disappointed to learn that Bredlis are heavier than jungle carpets, but if my male is only 6 or so feet, I think that's doable. I actually like the sound of a more active snake. Part of what made my heart melt for the young Bredli I met was how he slithered right up my shoulder and on into my hair. lol