First Time Morelia Owner, and I have some ?s

[PeteV]

I received a 10 year old male jungle carpet python from a friend of a friend that is going through a divorce. He was getting kicked out of his house and the snake was going to be left behind. I have been keeping blood/ short-tail pythons for awhile but this is my first carpet. The snake is about 5' long and seems real healthy. I have him temporarily set up in a Vision 332 which is 36x24x18. I also have an empty T-8 I could use, which would have less vertical height, but more length. I ordered an AP A-20 which is 48x36x24, and a Vision 433(48x28x28). He was free, so I have splurged to make sure he has a good permanent home. Would these be too big for him? Do they like lots of space? Also, in his current setup, he sits on his elevated basking spot under the RHP most of the time. His body temp is around 88-91 degrees in his basking spot, measured with a temp gun. Do they sit in the hotspot all the time? His cage floor is heated by UTHs and the floor is around 80 degrees. He has a thermostat controlling a ground level hide box that heats to around 90 degrees. Does that seem OK? Heat ate for me right away the first night with no hesitation so I assume he is reasonably comfortable. Do they even use hide boxes? Do they like to soak? I could replace his hide box with a larger water dish if they like that better. Thanks. Also, how do you post pics over here?

[Reptile$ 4 Life]

I am not a Morelia owner so I can't really help you there. I would suggest looking at some other peoples set ups on here like Gio, dakski, and El-Ziggy. I know all of them own carpets and are on here often and there are a lot of other Morelia owners on here.

As for the pictures here you go: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-Post-Pictures

[PeteV]

Thanks, I followed the instructions for posting pics, photos from my phone are too big, files from my computer are the wrong format. Oh well, thanks anyway.

[Reptile$ 4 Life]

You could download the app tap talk. A lot of people on here use it

[PeteV]

Yeah I saw that, I guess the pics aren't that important, just need some insight on this guy. Thanks anyway for the suggestions.

[bcr229]

I would just keep him in the Vision 332 and provide stuff to climb on for now. I have a male carpet python in a taller enclosure and he likes to perch on his driftwood "jungle gym" under the DHP. They really do like vertical space and mine at least doesn't seem at all stressed being in an oversized enclosure if you want to upgrade yours in the future.

[Reinz]

I think it all depends upon the snake.

I have 2 adult Jungle Carpets. One is in an AP25 (48x24x48) with shelves, cross poles, and a Skyhide. She spends most of her time up off the ground. And also outgrew and broke her Skyhide when she got too big.

My other one is In a T12 (48x24x24) with cross poles and a Skyhide. He spends almost all of the time on the ground and never gets in the Skyhide and rarely utilizes the poles.

Same species but they live opposite lives.

Also, they rarely utilize the heat, either the RHPs or heat mats. I will say that the snake room stays at 78-81 depending upon the time of year.


I also have three adult Coastal Carpets and they utilize all the height they can get and they all utilize their Skyhides.


^^^ Esmarelda, JCP in her A25. She got way too big for the branches, so I replaced them with cross poles.



vvv Mack and Lizzy CCP loving their Skyhides



vvv Etta, CCP

[PeteV]

Those are cool setups. I like the upside down VE hides. Does anyone use UVB for daytime lighting?

[Gio]

The sky is the limit.
I am one of those that likes the art of the setup as much as I enjoy the animals. We started here with a royal python, and I quickly gravitated to the medium to larger species of snakes that are semi arboreal and somewhat active.

A jungle carpet python is definitely one of the better display animals so you may want to do something pleasing. Your snake won't care about your efforts as long as you provide the basics.

If you are able to find a copy of THE COMPLETE CARPET PYTHON by Nick Mutton and Justin Julander, you'll have a greater understanding of your new animal.

I highly recommend climbing options, and I like the cages you are considering.

This is how I set my animals up.



These 3 cages are all 4 feet wide. The top is the royal python. She has 14" of height and 2 feet of depth.

The middle is for a coastal carpet. She has the same cage specs except she gets 2 feet of ceiling space.

The bottom is the boa constrictor. He gets 30" of depth and 20" of height. I wish I'd gone for 2 feet of ceiling space.


This cage is 6 feet wide, 30 inches deep and 2 feet tall. It used to house a Dwarf X SD X mainland retic. He was very ill tempered and sadly, I had to place him as he and I were not the perfect fit.

I filled the cage with a male, Bredli python.


Every animal, including the royal will use the perches.

The carpets and boa use them frequently.

The Bredli seems to the most arboreal of my crew.



Unfortunately Constrictors Northwest no longer makes Pro-Line Cages.


Animal Plastics is an excellent choice.
My fake rock backgrounds are from Universal Rocks.
https://www.universalrocks.com

I'd skip any shelf option if you are considering a realistic, rock background.

I use a combination of real tree branches and dowels wrapped with fake vines, or in this case a huge fence post wrapped in twine.


Hope some of these ideas help you out.

[PeteV]

Those look awesome! The Vision Cage I ordered was originally intended for my ball python when he grows up. Unfortunately, he is afraid of his own shadow and won't eat outside of his ARS70 rack tub. This Carpet fell in my lap so now plans are changing. I really like this guy. He seems to react to movement way more than my other snakes, and he has a hell of a food response. He is a good looking dude too.