What type of carpet is he?

[Reinz]

Thanks so much everyone. It's interesting that there is such a consensus on the species being an IJ, on the other forum I asked on everyone seems to think he's a coastal. I am on fact in the US and I do think that the lighting is what makes him look so yellow in those last two shots. The first photo is truest to his actual coloration. Can anyone clarify for me what indicators you are using to guess the variety? He is probably about 3.5 ft long and not quite 200 grams if I remember correctly. So that would be a normal size at two years old then?

Beautiful Carpet!

One the features that made me lean to mostly or pure IJ is the lack of horizontal stripes going down the sides. The bands are complete to the abdomen, as well as color. Also your snake looks much like a pure IJ that a local breeder here just sold. It was his last one, as he just got out of the IJ market after many years of breeding.

IJ's are the smallest of the Carpets usually reaching 5-6 ft long. Of course there are always exceptions. The one that my local guy just sold was 5.5 feet and the breeder considered her a big girl.

As noted by Gio, a large percentage of Carpets are mixed here the US. If yours has Coastal mixed in, being the largest Carpets at 7-9 ft norm, it MAY get longer.

I am fortunate that I have 2 local breeders that are hard core purists, well actually one now. There are others, but not many. So if you don't know where the original owner got the snake there is just no telling for 100% as Ziggy said. But I agree with the consensus that it sure leans towards IJ or mostly.

As far as the size proportion to age, can't really tell. Even snakes from the same clutch can grow at different rates. However, IJ's are known to mature faster than others.


If you really want to know about Carpets, Me and many others highly suggest that you get this book. It's available on Amazon for $40-45 I believe. It's the Carpet owner's Bible so to speak, with tons of nice color photos, my favorite kind of book!