JCP Terrarium

Hey guys! I'm going to be getting a couple snakes this coming August. At least one will be a ball python, and for the second, I've been exploring my options. One snake I really like is the jungle carpet python! I was able to hold and interact with one recently and I really enjoy their inquisitive yet docile nature. There's a lot to them that I really enjoy.

Been looking over some care sheets and I find most recommending 3 ft wide, 18in deep, and 24in tall enclosures. The tanks I have are both 36x18x18 - will the 6 inch height difference be a huge problem if I decide on a JCP? Worth noting that I will be getting a male JCP, so he'd more than likely be on the smaller side of your JCP size. He would have plenty of things to climb in there (I accidentally ordered too many things due to a website malfunction... whoops).

Tips and info are very welcomed! Thank you!

Old Man Cheynei says males get plenty given enough time.

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...akes/jcp04.jpg

Awesome JP John!!

I love the double eagle head pattern on his head!

Gorgeous snake! He looks so healthy!

but yeah, I just want to doublecheck that they could do well in a 36x18x18. I don't want to pick up a snake that wouldn't be comfortable, you know? :snake:

Should do fine unless you end up with a mutant JCP. You even have enough height with 18 inches to add some perches or a shelf.

Picking up my JCP tomorrow!

36x18x18 will be fine for most adult JCP. I keep them in 36x24x15 or 48x24x15 for larger females.

One common misconception with SOME carpet pythons is the thought that sexual size dimorphism always favors the females. While it does for certain species, it is not the case with Coastal carpets, or Darwin carpets, or for that matter any of the species where males combat for breeding rights.

JCP and Coastal carpets share the same DNA, though studies are ongoing and I'm not certain there is a lot of difference between male and female JCP size. That said you could certainly wind up with a decent sized male as John1982 pointed out. And BTW John, that is one smoking hot snake there.

Captivity factors in and may change things, again there are not real studies I can find stating that sizes are different in captive VS wild carpets. But chances are breeders and keepers of multiple JCPs will have an idea based on their collections.

I highly recommend,,,,, Wait for it,,,,, wait for it,,,, THE COMPLETE CARPET PYTHON By Nick Mutton and Justin Julander for anything carpet python related. I feel it is the best source for learning about this species out there.

To answer you question,,,,, Yeah I think you'll be fine with your caging, and you may decide in a year or 2 that you'd like to see your carpet move around more and climb higher. At that point you could check into another cage. Right now I have a female coastal in a 48" x 24" x 14". She does fine but is close to 6 feet long at 2 years old. I have her new cage sitting here and it is the same dimensions but 24" tall instead of 14".

They (carpets) are one of the best display snakes out there. I actually find them a bit more fun to see the Green Tree Pythons or some of the other completely arboreal snakes. With carpets, you get a mix of arboreal and terrestrial behaviors and that makes them interesting IMO.

Good luck and have fun.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John1982

Old Man Cheynei says males get plenty given enough time.

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...akes/jcp04.jpg

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Man,,,, Look at the big cheeks on that guy! Just beautiful!

Thanks for all the advice! It's actually really cool that they don't entirely follow the whole "bigger females" thing. I wanted a JCP because I wanted something bigger than a ball, but not huge like a retic. Even larger JCPs are still manageable so I definitely liked that.
And yeah! I'll likely be moving in the next couple years, so when I have a little more space I'm certain I'd enjoy giving the snake a taller cage. And then I would have a cage freed up.... totally not for another snake... nope....

I'll check for that book at the reptile shop today! If they don't have it I'll just order myself a copy. Thanks for the recommendation!!

Picking up the JCP in a few short hours... I'll be posting pics!

Edit: Gio, I'm your 666th "thanks" ;)

Ok, I called the guy I'm getting the JCP from. He says hes 6 months old and is eating XL adult mice... Should I start offering him rats after he settles in? What size? I'd want to switch to rats ASAP as I know how these guys are....

Well I made a friend today....

http://36.media.tumblr.com/63c45c4f7...i0wo1_1280.jpg

Striping
http://41.media.tumblr.com/254467af5...i0wo1_1280.jpg

That's a fancy stripe! I'd go ahead and offer a rat. It's impossible to tell from the picture how secure the wood is but always be careful with heavier pieces. They are stronger than they look and that's a fair bit of weight that can come crushing down on him if he decides to redecorate.

That wood is fairly heavy, I'm trying to find a way to secure it nicely. So far he's crawled all through it (with me supervising just in case) and it's done fine, but I won't rely on that as he grows.

Gonna go thaw him a rat then!

edit: Should mention that the guy told me he'll eat whatever you put in front of him, he's eaten XL mice, wean rats, and small rats...so I got him some small rats just because I know they can surprise you with the prey size they'll take!

Ok I'm 99% sure he isn't a jungle like he was sold to me as. He looks part coastal to me with that stripe.
Any ideas? When I questioned the guy he assured me he is a jungle but I don't see it. I'm going to call back tomorrow and ask more questions.
I really wouldn't care what he is, but I can't have him outgrow this tank... I don't have room for anything wider, only taller.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Prahanien

Ok I'm 99% sure he isn't a jungle like he was sold to me as. He looks part coastal to me with that stripe.

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You're probably right. See if you can get pictures of the parents.

So far no parent pics, but I did get ahold of the previous owner who also gave me the breeder's name. The snake is apparently a striped jungle carpet python... so still a jungle.
Also sold to me as male but probed female...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Prahanien

Thanks for all the advice! It's actually really cool that they don't entirely follow the whole "bigger females" thing. I wanted a JCP because I wanted something bigger than a ball, but not huge like a retic. Even larger JCPs are still manageable so I definitely liked that.
And yeah! I'll likely be moving in the next couple years, so when I have a little more space I'm certain I'd enjoy giving the snake a taller cage. And then I would have a cage freed up.... totally not for another snake... nope....

I'll check for that book at the reptile shop today! If they don't have it I'll just order myself a copy. Thanks for the recommendation!!

Picking up the JCP in a few short hours... I'll be posting pics!

Edit: Gio, I'm your 666th "thanks" ;)

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Ha ha,,,

Good luck charm. Number Of The Beast.

Enjoy your JCP!


2nd edit. Probably a mix just like my coastal "looks" jungle.

They share the same DNA and the mentioned book goes into it a bit more.

Here in the US pure lines are rare. Even in OZ, there are intergrade zones so you can often have a mix or cross or intergrade breeding with intergrade.

The book explains far better than I can.


My Coastal

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2479.jpg

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2482.jpg


Breeders girlfriend 2-3 years ago with mother of my coastal. She is about 10 feet long now.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...17150334_n.jpg


Lots and lots of variation.

I ran out of edit time, and want to add more. Your snake is beautiful!

I would not be at all upset whether or not it is 100% jungle, unless they tried to get more $$ as Coastal are often the least expensive of the carpets.

Inland Reptile is the book author's web page and you can see he has some pure stuff if you want to compare.

Your snake could be any number of combinations, and it is really impossible to tell unless you trace back the lines it came from.

My female hits 2 years old on the 19th and she is about 6 feet. A tad thicker than a common garden hose, but she is eating large rats. If you have issues with the rat change. Try keeping the rat in a bag with F/T chicks or quail. That should be like the frosting on the cake so to speak.

Sorry I'm in a bit of a rush and doing this on a cell phone. Typo's spelling/grammar not up to par.

Gio - awesome looking Coastal mix! I love the "guitar" head pattern, that is so cool.
:partyon:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Gio - awesome looking Coastal mix! I love the "guitar" head pattern, that is so cool.
:partyon:

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Thanks bud,

You can see she looks nothing like her mother and her father looks similar to the mother although has a possible "diamond" influence.

There are litters after the one I purchased that look different than the litter I bought from.

That's carpets for you.

The OP has a really nice looking animal.

Woah guys, thanks!
I'm very certain it isn't full jungle but part coastal. When I got ahold of the previous owner, she said it was a striped jungle and gave me the name of the breeder. I looked up striped jungles and notice their stripe is on their back, not their sides (like a coastal trait). Regardless I contacted the breeder to see if he could help me out any. A friend pointed me to the breeder's iherp page, to one of the breeder females, who had some ok striping on here but nothing like mine (and she is listed as a pure JCP).
I dunno, hopefully we can figure it out! It'd be nice to know. I'm a little sad I didn't get the jungle carpet I was really hoping for (with bands at least, I understand they aren't all high yellow), but if it's a nice tempered snake at the end of the day, I guess I won't mind too much. :)

also since I saw some mention of $ - I paid $200 for this snake, for what it's worth.

Prahanien, you have an amazing looking snake that deserves no apologies whatsoever. And well worth the price that you paid. I'll look forward to seeing
her progress.

Gio- that is very interesting about your Carpet's parents and such.