New Member / New Owner

Hey guys. Lucky new member here. My cousin wanted to get rid of hes jungle carpet python, i decided to take it. I did alot of researching and reading about these creatures but theres one thing i need help with. Everytime i want to take him out of hes cage, he hisses at me and coils up. Either he doesnt like me or im doing something wrong. I had him for a week now and my cousin use to take him out all the time. Im not sure what information you guys need though so ask away.

Oh and theres another thing... i cant get enough humidity in its cage, any tips?
The water bowl is right under the light and i mist the tank 1 or 2 times a day but it wont go higher then 30%.

Heres a pic. Named him Sidd.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9476/photo004f.jpg
I been reading a bit around here and it seems its normal it hisses and coils up and i touch him? I dunno... my first snake.

Hello? Is there anyone on this forum??

Hello!

:welcome:

That's a HAWT carpet man!

I'd wait a week or so, if you only just got it (not sure).

My JCP usually hisses and when I take him out of his cage, but then calms down. Some days he seems really pissed and others he's very mellow.

Just give him some time.

As for the humidity, can you give us info on your setup?

-Temps
-Cage size
-Kind of cage; screen top, PVC, etc.
-Substrate

A pic would help.

Some things that work for me are Repti-Bark substrate and a 10" water bowl. I never mist and humidity is always in the 60s.

Do you have a screen top? If you do i recommend going to home depot or lowes and getting some Plexiglas to cover it... about 80% of the top probably... also make sure you have a water bowl... and some type of good water holding substrate... cypress mulch works well. Also avoid running high wattage lighting for a long period of time as this sucks out a lot of humidity... you should have a 10-12 hour day cycle. If you do this then you shouldnt have to mist it but maybe a couple times a day to get the required 65% humidity for your snake... you got it easy... try a brazilian rainbow boa or other snake that needs 75%-80% humidity. :D
-Brant

Some people say mist and others don't. I prefer to mist because the snake prefers to drink off thier body over a bowl.

You got a nice one.

The cage is 4 feet long and 1.4 feet high and wide (i know its not the best for a JCP). It was hand built. Heres a picture. http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1171/pict0309c.jpg
The opening over the window is about the only screening there is on top (also one behind the grill.) Not sure what type of substrate it is, its called Aspen Bedding on the bag. I keep the tempeture at around 80°F. As you can see, he has a fairly big water bowl, its right under the light (which wasnt turn on at the moment of the picture.)

I would move the water bowl. Do you enjoy drinking warm water? Heat promotes bacterial growth as well. Try to up the temp into the high 80s on one end as well. You need a gradient, meaning a cool and hot side. Aspen is Aspen wood bark. Not the best for a jungle because it molds easily. However, nothing wrong with using it as long as you spot clean it and change it every month or so. If you see mold clean a lot of that area.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DavidG

I would move the water bowl. Do you enjoy drinking warm water? Heat promotes bacterial growth as well. Try to up the temp into the high 80s on one end as well. You need a gradient, meaning a cool and hot side. Aspen is Aspen wood bark. Not the best for a jungle because it molds easily. However, nothing wrong with using it as long as you spot clean it and change it every month or so. If you see mold clean a lot of that area.

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Ok, thanks. I was told to put the water under the light so it makes humidity when it evaporates. Guess they where wrong. What substrate would you suggest for better humidity?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IonicRipper

Heres a pic. Named him Sidd.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9476/photo004f.jpg
I been reading a bit around here and it seems its normal it hisses and coils up and i touch him? I dunno... my first snake.

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I'm a little concerned about his bump on his nose there. Has he been seen by a vet for it?

For a bump in humidity, I would suggest looking into cypress mulch as a substrate. We use it for all of our snakes and love it. :gj:

Let him adjust to his new surroundings for two full weeks. It will give him time to acclimate, and you to work out any husbandry issues.

Then, I would get the top of his nose checked out, it's looks puffy to me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I'm a little concerned about his bump on his nose there. Has he been seen by a vet for it?

For a bump in humidity, I would suggest looking into cypress mulch as a substrate. We use it for all of our snakes and love it. :gj:

Let him adjust to his new surroundings for two full weeks. It will give him time to acclimate, and you to work out any husbandry issues.

Then, I would get the top of his nose checked out, it's looks puffy to me.

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Its just one of hes nostrils. It does look weird from the angle though.

I think i got a pretty pissy one. I was just changing hes water bowl's placement and he was hissing and even tried to bite 2 times! He was pretty far though, probably just wanted to scare my hand away. Looks like hes about to shed though. Is it possible hes in a bad mood because hes gonna shed?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IonicRipper

Is it possible hes in a bad mood because hes gonna shed?

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Very possible. Snakes eyes haze when they are getting ready to shed which distorts vision. Ever wear the "drunk goggles" in school? Some carpets are also very cage defensive and fine once outside of it. Just depends on the animal.

There is no science to substrate! Gonna put that out first.
I use co-co soft

http://www.petmountain.com/photos/pr...ip-bedding.jpg

Mixing it with some eco-earth will also help humidity, but I don't really like this stuff so much. It's really cheap though, but IMO needs to be mixed with something else to dry it up.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images...1602_15848.jpg

Coco soft is about 10 bucks a bag. One brick of eco is about 3 bucks and the 3 pack is about 7. You soak the brink in water for a bit and it expands to make a ton of bedding. Half a brick will fill a 30 gal tank when mixed with about 3-4 cups aspen bedding.

Cypress is good, no complaints except it's a hard bedding, coco is very soft and I think of it as "If I had to choose, what would I like to sleep on."
Cypress is more available and reasonably priced at about 8 bucks for a huge back (if I remember correctly) so if you have a lot of snakes it's a great option.

There are so many beddings out there, just look around. Stay away from the obvious; sand, millet, desert beddings, ect.

Someone told me about a substrate he thinks is very good... but i cant remember the name. Something like dark forest or black jungle... really cant remember exacly but he said its a brown substrate thats fairly expensive but you dont need to change often, any ideas?

I love Repti-Bark. It's too heavy for a full grown JCP to move and it holds humidity great. In a 3x2x2 cage with a 10" water bowl and Repti-Bark humidity is always in the high 50's, low 60's.

I never even mist the cage.

I would say Cypress Mulch, but I have my negativity about it, as it can get under the snakes scales and such, When I tried to use it for my White Lip Python, when she burrows, it somehow got lodged in her mouth, which I took her to the vet and got some antibiotics which i've been giving her. I started using that Co-Co husk completely. I want to try the Flukers Repta Lawn as I think real grass would be neat, but im kinda worried about how youd actualy clean it, and then replant every month? because you cant cut the grass in a tank. lol