She's Just That Cool

[Gio]

I keep coming back to this girl as the "go to" for outdoor R&R.

The reticulated python doesn't like to easily come out of his viv, he doesn't sit still when he is out and I could never go totally hands off with him outside.

The boa constrictor did make it out last night. He's one I enjoy having out but he usually ends up on a mission and typically tries to work his way to the grass from the rail.

The royal is one I don't like to disturb too often.


Jewel is different. Almost every time I take her out, she stretches to full length and relaxes. This lasted about 35 minutes last night while I had a frosty beverage and waited for the grill to warm up. By the way, these are actually photos I took last night even though they appear similar to all the rest of the deck rail pictures.



We were waiting on some big storms to come in later in the evening, something I enjoy watching develop, so it was close to the perfect night here.

If you are one that is on the fence about reticulated pythons due to the size and activity level, I highly recommend carpet pythons.

This Coastal Carpet Python mix was purchased for next to nothing at an expo back in 2014. She's 6 years old now and probably the best all around snake in the collection.

[richardhind1972]

Looks great gio, can't beat a nice cold beverage or two and a great bbq even better when you can hang with snakes too.

really love the markings on your carpet
Always make me smile when the snakes are on flat surfaces and the flatten them selves out for extra grip

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[EL-Ziggy]

Good to see your beautiful girl Jewel outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine Gio!

[Craiga 01453]

As you know, I always love your outdoor pics.

And seriously, there isn't much better than snakes, cold beverages (sweet tea for me) and grilling some delicious dinner.

Thanks for sharing!

[Bogertophis]

Jewel really IS a "jewel"....what an awesome snake, beauty & knows a good railing when she sees one. Nice to be able to relax with a snake without them
getting in too much trouble.

[Reinz]

I love how she likes to hang out.

How does her girth compare with Wallace right now?

[Gio]

Thanks folks! She is simply awesome. She had an interesting start here. She was a non-eater for a long time. I remember trying to feed her and she'd try to crawl up the tongs and up my arm to hang out. Food out in the open and a snake headed your way usually ends with a bite but she just wasn't hungry.

Now, things are very different and she eats whenever I offer.

I love how she likes to hang out.

How does her girth compare with Wallace right now?

Reinz,

Jewel and Wallace are close he may be a tad thicker and is also 3 years younger than she is.

Jewel is the second longest snake here and Wallace is #1 in that category.

My experience with retics is limited to the one I own. Wallace always seems tight, and rarely relaxed. Jewel is almost always relaxed and very easy to handle.

Aussie snakes,,,,You have to love them!

[PiperPython]

I believe carpets to be the snake that does everything very well, and therefore is one of the best snakes to keep.

She is beautiful, Gio

[Skyrivers]

Thanks folks! She is simply awesome. She had an interesting start here. She was a non-eater for a long time. I remember trying to feed her and she'd try to crawl up the tongs and up my arm to hang out. Food out in the open and a snake headed your way usually ends with a bite but she just wasn't hungry.

Now, things are very different and she eats whenever I offer.




Reinz,

Jewel and Wallace are close he may be a tad thicker and is also 3 years younger than she is.

Jewel is the second longest snake here and Wallace is #1 in that category.

My experience with retics is limited to the one I own. Wallace always seems tight, and rarely relaxed. Jewel is almost always relaxed and very easy to handle.

Aussie snakes,,,,You have to love them!

Love the beauty of Carpets. Is good to see him calm and amazing in his own right. Retics can be much more active for sure and stronger personalities. I have no experience with carpets yet but they look amazing. Did you have the stage where he wanted to bite you when you went in his enclosure? I hear young ones are more defensive that older ones (normal in most cases)? Keep up working with your retic though. I have found as they get older they do get easier to deal with or atleast that is my experience.

Best wishes.

[Gio]

Love the beauty of Carpets. Is good to see him calm and amazing in his own right. Retics can be much more active for sure and stronger personalities. I have no experience with carpets yet but they look amazing. Did you have the stage where he wanted to bite you when you went in his enclosure? I hear young ones are more defensive that older ones (normal in most cases)? Keep up working with your retic though. I have found as they get older they do get easier to deal with or atleast that is my experience.

Best wishes.

Every snake in the collection has bitten me more than once sans the royal. The carpet was no exception, and I do think it is fairly common. That said I now acclimate new snakes with a branch to crawl on early in the handling sessions so the have some security other than my arms or hands.

Carpets cover all the bases in my opinion.

I've had my metic for 3 years and have found the older he gets, the more of a prick he becomes. He was handled a couple of times a week when he was younger and was wonderful. Once he matured, he got his testosterone and isn't trustable. There are 2 other guys here on the board that seem to have experienced the same thing, and one of those 2 had nightmare type experiences with both his male and female. Neither of them keep the species any longer and I don't blame them. I can handle mine, but the experience isn't at all relaxing, and I'm always prepared for the potential bite.

I find very, very, few people that decided to "jump" into retics having much to say 3 or 4 years down the road. The species are demanding and different from almost every other snake.

I'm planning on keeping the retic, but would never recommend the species to anybody that isn't 100% committed to their LONG TERM care and prepared to deal with their habits. Family members, friends and other pets need to be taken into consideration. The species is a lot of work.

I can get everything I need in carpet pythons and boa constrictors without the irritants that retics come with.

Pardon me for changing the subject of my own post completely.

Thanks for the nice comments about the carpet. $80 at an expo is all she cost me, but she's priceless in the collection.