First Carpet

Hi, I'm a newbie and also from the UK, so please be kind! [emoji27] [emoji4] I've been checking this forum for a while now since I got my first snake in December 2015, he's a royal (ball) python! Anyway I got the bug and started searching for my next snake and came across carpet pythons and saw how passionate the keepers of carpets are! So I've been doing my research and I'd just like you're guys help/opinions! (we don't seem to have a forum/thread dedicated to morelia in the UK [emoji20])
My first question is how you guys go about heating arboreal vivs? My royal python is in a 4x1.5x1.5 ft (wxdxh) and I use a 150w ceramic bulb for heating and so I was wondering how you guys heat you're vivs? A coastal hatchling has caught my eye and I'm aware she'll need a big viv when adult so want to be prepared! [emoji4] thanks in advance for any help you can give!

for heating i would look into radiant heat panels. Here are a few links i would take a look at while your doing some research.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/rbi-radiant-heat-panels

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...+pythons+setup
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...+pythons+setup

I agree that RHPs are the best hest source. I'm currently using UTHs and IR heat bulbs but I'm making the transition to RHPs soon. Good luck with the new carpet. They're great snakes to keep.

Congrats.

IMO far more interesting than any royal, and possibly many other boas and pythons.

Snatch up a copy of this.

THE COMPLETE CARPET PYTHON

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Comp.../dp/098327892X


The set up a cage to your liking. I prefer all of my animals in display enclosures and carpets are especially worth setting up in nice digs.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2635.jpg


You can see the radiant heat panel in the upper left here. (White On Ceiling).
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3278.jpg


I have 2 other cages on a different wall similar to this. I'd like to add another carpet and cage to the mix.http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2640.jpg

My bet is you'll be looking at another one soon too!

Enjoy it and spoil it. Have fun!

Ok thats great I will certainly look into RHP's! And i will take a look at getting the book too! I didn't do much research before getting my BP and feel as though I let him down in the first few weeks! I don't want to repeat my errors! Gio you're set ups look amazing! Would you guys say a coastal would make a good first carpet? I know she's going to get big and am a little worried about going from my 4ft BP to a 9ft CCP!!

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@ Flower. The Complete Carpet Python is a GREAT book for anyone that keeps carpets. The authors, Nick Mutton and Justin Julander, are both top notch breeders who produce some amazing animals. Three of my four carpets came from Nick Mutton at Inland Reptile. I haven't noticed any significant differences in the attitudes/behavior of my various carpets. It's just a matter of the size and which sub-species you prefer. The husbandry requirements are pretty much the same but I have read that Bredli are a little more tolerant of cooler temps. I have a Caramel Coastal, a Bredli, and (2) Jungles. All of them are very docile and great feeders. You really can't go wrong with any carpet in my opinion.

Coastal
http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/...psbrfyfzva.jpg

Bredli
http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/...psjauiivkv.jpg

Jungle
http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/...psmywwjoba.jpg

I have heard of the name Nick Mutton in my research! Paul Harris is a big name here in the UK apparently! I've been checking out this forum a lot recently and have seen some of your carpets progressions! You certainly have some stunners! Yours helped me make my mind up between another BP or a CCP! That's great to know you haven't noticed a big difference in behaviour! I'm getting a bit impatient/excited about getting one now!

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You're definitely on the right track Kez. Paul Harris is the Godfather of Morelia. I'm looking forward to seeing what you pick out ;).

That's good to know! I will be sure to post some pictures! [emoji1]

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Well she's arrived! Hoping the pics come out ok! Still needs a name! Suggestions welcome! She's pretty with attitude! [emoji7] http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...a20647023a.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...6c6c486a29.jpg

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Gorgeous baby!

I thought she was in shed until I zoomed in and saw she's got pale eyes. [emoji846]


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I'm in Love!!!:bow:

She's so beautiful :) congratulations! Carpet pythons are fantastic and full of personality. I can't wait to watch your girl grow!

Thanks everyone! I'm very pleased with her and can't wait to watch her grow! 😍 not sure on a name yet!

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Wow, she's a beauty Kez. Who produced her? What are her genetics like? I need a carpet like that!

She is gorgeous! Definitely a looker! They are awesome snakes to keep, you will not be disappointed. I think she looks like a Chloe :)


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Ziggy- she certainly is! I wanted to get something decent as this will be my last snake until I get my own place! She's produced by 'Morelia Morphology' (take a look on Facebook) a bloke called Oliver is the founder and has good connections with Paul Harris. She was sold as an axanthic jag but the breeder was hesitant as to whether she is a caramel axanthic jag, he did hold her back with plans to prove her out but his breeding plans have chamged slightly so he had to let her go. Her Mum is an axanthic jag (pure coastal) and her Dad is a caramel jag 100% het axanthic (50% coastal, 50% ij) the only thing that made me hesitate was that jag gene! But after taking a good look at her and handling she has no signs of head wobble or cork screwing.. Even after the stress of travel she seems just as fine as my normal BP!
BigLou- she definitely caught my eye when he posted her as a hold back so when I saw she was up for sale I just had to take a look!! She's got that feisty attitude that everyone talks about, definitely a challenge after my puppydog BP! But I love her already!

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Amazingly beautiful!

Congrats on your new carpet. There eyes are so cool. I'm planning on adding more of them to my collection. I just can't decide which type of carpet I want next. Yours looks great.

Don't worry I'm pretty sure she will calm down with time. How old is she? Just FYI I have read that chemicals may negatively affect the jag gene in carpet pythons causing neurological issues. They are supposedly more sensitive to them however I don't believe it has been scientifically proven.


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You've got me going back to the carpet drawing board Kez. I need something really sexy now. You've set a high bar ;). Your girl looks like a Delilah or Xena to me.

Tigerhawk - I was also fascinated by there eyes! I can definitely see why they are so addicting, I'm already thinking what will be my next! Before I spotted this little one I was looking at jungles, the Ivory jungle Paul Harris produces looks amazing!
BigLou - She is a little over a year, hatched late April 2015! Not tagged me yet but very alert and quick! Ok thats really good to know, thanks! Maybe I'll look at cleaning the viv with warm soapy water instead of f10 or the likes of!
Ziggy- You have some pretty awesome carpets in your collect already! I've got some catching up to do! 😉 ooo I do like Xena! I like names with meaning, I called my BP Willow when I got him cause I thought it was girl and he has some nice natural earthy brown colours, when he probed male I was stuck but he's now calles Salix which is Latin for Willow and i think Salix is a pretty cool snakey name hahaa!

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She is beautiful! I am jealous :D

Kez- if you like names with meaning then your girl looks more like a Selene to me. I'm also a fan of vampire movies and that was the name of the beautiful heroine in the Underworld series. She was definitely pretty with an attitude too. :)

Thanks Ziggy but I fell in love with your suggestion Xena! And i think it suits my little noodle [emoji4] plus we live in Cornwall UK, and there is a beautiful little village called Zennor which is pronounced 'zen-nah' so instead of Xena (zee-nah) she's a Xena (zen-nah) which just seems to fit! Thanks for the help [emoji1]

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So Xena took her first feed for me on Thursday (a 'small mouse' 16-20g) I wasn't sure if it was too small/too big but it left a nice little lump which has gone by today! What do you guys feed your yearlings? (she's actually 16months as of yesterday!) She came out to play today and was lovely and inquisitive! Measuring in at a whopping 66cm! [emoji23] I feel she should be bigger for her age? http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...4a094382ca.jpg

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Congrats on the first successful feed Kez. Carpets can take down pretty large meals. My Coastal would eat jumbo mice at 125g. A small mouse is a pretty small meal for a yearling carpet imo. I'd also try to get her off of mice and onto rats asap. I'm not exactly sure how big your girl Xena is but from the pictures I saw she could definitely eat a weaned rat if not a small. Have you weighed her? My yearling male jungle eats medium rats, my yearling female jungle eats small rats, and my yearling male bredli eats weaned rats. I also feed them chicks, asfs, and jumbo mice sometimes.

Thanks Ziggy! After having a drop fed BP as my only snake that feeding response was pretty awesome! The breeder I got her from just showed me the mice he fed her on and didn't say a size so I was guessing what she was already eating, he said to give her 2 each feed once settled in. I think as he was planning on keeping her for his plans he was just maintenance feeding her to be honest so she is quite small compared to others I've seen, including a 2year old 6ft coastal!! [emoji15] I do plan on getting her on rats asap so next feed will be a similar sized rat or 2! How often do you suggest I feed her? I haven't weighed her yet as I'm waiting until she's 'empty'. I wouldn't say she's any heavier than 125g but thats a very uneducated guess!

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Pretty!

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Kez- My yearling coastal was only 85g when he arrived from the breeder last September. He's well over 1300g now so they grow fast. If your girl is 125g I'd probably feed her rat pups every 6-7 days until she gets a little more size on her. I usually feed my young or undersized carpets 10-20% of their body weight per feeding. I extend the time between feedings and decrease their portion sizes as they age and grow.

Ziggy- wow thats a big jump up in weight!! I quite like her being so little at the minute but at the same time can't wait to see her grow!! Ok thats some great advice, thank again for your help! [emoji4]

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