Getting Carpet Python... help.

I live in the dorms, and i can have a snake here... but i mean i doubt theyre going to be ok with a 6 foot snake in a 4 foot tank in the dorm...

so...

what is a practical tank for a hatchling JCP? (please give in inches, not gallons...) im only going to be in the dorms for 2 years, so i just need it to suit the python until i get out of the dorms, then ill purchase a large tank for it to chill in.

and what tank should i look at gettin for that 2 year old - adult.

any suggestions on good tanks that look good? (for the baby) preferably <$200..

Two years might be pushing it a little bit to have a carpet in a small cage. With decent feeding after two years you will have a fairly large snake on your hands. You might want to consider waiting a year so that you only have it in a small cage for one year...but I guess you could make it work if you were really set on it.


We house our hatchlings in shoebox rubbermaids (approx 1 foot long, 4 inches wide, and 4-6 inches tall). By one year we usually move them up to cages that are about twice the size, and during that second year if they are feeding well they will put on some serious size. But, I guess if you knew you were staying in the dorms for 2 yrs you could grow it up slowly and maybe be OK with a smaller cage. Anyway, for a small to medium adult 2 foot deep X 4 foot long X 1.5 ft-2ft high, for a real large female you might need a little more space than this.

If you do decide to get one this year, there are a few people that post on here that have some very nice babies at decent prices. Just ask around before you buy and make sure you purchase from a reputable breeder that will be around to help you out through any questions/problems you might have. Well, let us know how the hunt goes!!! You have picked one of the best species, that is for sure :rockon:

My JCP was hatched in 06 and he's in a 20"x10"x18" or so (normal 10g) but he's already starting to look like he'll need a nicer tank in the winter/spring. As a fellow college student, I'd say your best bet isjust not telling them . Seriously, unless you have security in there all the time, it's probably not that big a deal, just disguise the cage as a bookshelf or something :D

As a fellow carpet breeder, I would recommend Ben's advice.

Agreed 2 years is going to let a JCP put a lot of size on. You could wait a year that would solve the issue with the dorm space for you. A yearling is not that big but in their second year they do put on the pound and inches.

If you do get one soon, going with a male will help as they are generaly smaller but you will have to move one up a bit for space in a two year period.

You could also consider a different python for your next snake and defer the JCP until you have a better situation. A Spotted or Childrens is a nice Aussie python that can do well in quite a small viv and they are a kick to boot.

For some nice but affordable caging you can't go wrong with BARRS caging.

http://www.herpcages.com/cages/cprice2.html

I'm getting a female coastal on Tuesday :D and I will have her housed in a 10 gallon (she is TINY) for a little while then go to a 24x12x12. Then a T5 and so on.....

If your not going to be able to provide proper caging for a JCP...as hard as it is....I would hold off. But I believe you will be able to properly house it. So I say go for it man and ENJOY!!!


Mike