JCP Temperment?

I am considering buying a JCP soon. I love them. I think they are tied with GTP's as my favourite snake.

I am curious. Any tips for a new JCP owner? How much different are they from ball pythons? How are their attitudes? Most things I found say they are snippy as babies but mellow out as they get older. But isnt that typical for most snakes? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks! :)

My JCP, Esmarelda was a year old when I got her. She has never bit me or struck at me.

My BP spends at least 50% of her life in her hide. My JCP never spent any time in her hide whatsoever until I mounted a hide on the ceiling. Now she goes in during her shed or uses it for hunting.

She also never ever spent any time on the ground under until I got a new enclosure with belly heat. She uses it for a day or two after meals. She used spend all of her time on her perch in her old home.

Now that she has a forever home with many options she takes advantage of all of them.

You will need to up your handling game when moving from Balls to Carpets. But it is not difficult by any means.

Esmarelda is at the top of my favorite list. Being highly arboreal she is a joy to watch and makes a top notch display snake, which is why I have afforded her the largest cage.

Best of luck with your research, I trust that you would be quite pleased with a JCP.

Sorry, photos are not working with Tapatalk at the moment.

They are VERY different from royal pythons and should be set up to display they behaviors the exhibit in the wild.

SEMI to HIGHLY arboreal. JCP's are said to be the most arboreal of the carpet group.

This is a coastal mutt (not sure the mix)
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...tput_4752.jpeg

She is very active most days. This snake wins as far as constant activity levels go. I have a royal, a boa constrictor and a retic here.

The royal is the least active snake in the home.

Carpets are amazing and I have been told better ACTIVE display animals than GTPs, although the beauty of a green tree is special.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...tput_4080.jpeg

Carpets are not mean, and early bites don't often break the skin.

Use a branch to handle them early and use a closed fist near their face. They won't strike at a big closed fist like they will fingers.

Highly recommend carpets of any type. Diamonds require some very exacting husbandry though. The others are very easy.

My JCP has always been super calm and never snippy! I love him! I also love my Royal's as well. ...but it's like comparing apples to pomegranates!

I also have many Corns, which I see you have too, I would say my JCP is more like my corns as far as curiosity and activity except more arboreal.

Thanks all for your replies. I think most species get a bad name when it comes to being "mean". They dont really deserve it.

I just got my first carpet (a 2016) and she's never tried to bite. Babies of most species are a bit nervous just from being so low on the food chain at that small size. I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you keep them in comfortable conditions and get them used to handling they should be fine.

Like the others have already said, carpets are awesome snakes to keep. They're definitely my favorite species. Two of my five carpets are jungles and I've never had an issue with them being nippy. My female did tag me once when she was a baby. I was trying to stuff her into a container so I could weigh her and she gave me a quick nip that time but none since. I can watch my carpets perch and roam their enclosures for hours. I think every keeper needs at least one carpet in their collection :). I highly recommend them for beginners and experienced keepers.

You have some great info above from people with experience who are willing to help. I jumped from balls to a Bredli rather quickly and it was because of my research and the people in this thread who helped me.

You will acquire a remarkable snake in a JCP. It was the snake that first got me interested in Carpet Pythons because they are so amazing.

Good luck in choosing just one!

I have a JCP that was snippy as a baby. He grew out of it with me before he was big enough to really do damage. Took a little longer for him to be good for other people, but IIRC it still wasn't bitey behavior, more "no, I'm staying with my person and doing threat strikes at not-my-person if they try to insist".

My IJCP is an absolute sweetheart, I think he's done maybe one strike in my general direction because I startled him, and one small feeding accident that was my own dumb fault.

Carpets are much more active than balls, they like to be on the go and explore, but I don't think they're difficult to handle.


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Did you end up getting your carpet?