Adopted a new very dark Carpet.

[Raven01]

Hopefully I can post some photo's tonight. I just got him (maybe her, I won't try to sex her untill after I've bought him/her a few dinners).
He/she is in his/her own room and I will only spot clean tonight until I can get some food into this not so little guy/girl. Trying to leave this snake alone isn't easy, it perks up when you walk in the room and pays close attention to what is going on around it. I think it might be a bit underweight but, overall for a snake that has only been very rarely handled for over a year it doesn't seem to be worse for the wear.

At any rate my question for all the Morelia experts out here is,
What is the average (or range) on sub-caudal scale count for male and female Carpets?

[mikoh4792]

8-15 for males, 2-5 for females.

I'd like to see what a dark carpet looks like.

[Raven01]

Thank you very much.
Here is what he/she looks like. I am not sure how long till the next shed but the only yellow/gold on this one seems to be along the sides toward the belly.
Still trying not to mess with it too much until it adjusts and is feeding well (I am going to have to move him a bit to get rid of the last of the urates that were in his enclosure), but the previous owners saved sheds and I measured one at 6.5 feet so I am guessing he has at least reached the 5 foot mark.

[mikoh4792]

Wow he's definitely dark. lol.

Looks a bit overweight I'd put him on a conservative feeding schedule. Healthy carpets are not supposed to look like that.

[Raven01]

Okay will consider that, he was apparently only eating adult white mice but, they didn't say how many he was getting at a time, I was hoping to have him weighed this weekend before feeding is attempted.

To be honest when stretched out he does look considerably slimmer than adult Carpets I've seen at Expos but, I will definitely chat with the vet after I have a good length/girth and weight to provide him with.

I take it the brown is not at all unusual? In this area the non-morph carpets I have seen are all yellow, pale tan and, olive base colours.

[mikoh4792]

Maybe he's just old. Do you know his age?

[Alicia]

Cool Irian Jaya! Really like that chestnut color. Coiled like that, he does look a little chunky, but that could just be the angle.

Are the wild-type carpets where you are mostly Coastals and Coastal mixes?

[treeboa]

Yep nice Irian Jaya. Definitely a little chubby. You can see the skin between his scales. He looks like he maybe heading toward a shed. It' not uncommon for IJ's to get hooked on mice. I have a female like that. Unlike BP's, though, they will usually take as many as you give them. Most carpets are eager feeders and prone to getting fat.

[Raven01]

Yes I hadn`t considered just how old this snake could be since the original owner is a rather young girl, moved away for school for the first time.

And, yes Coastals, and Jungles and, Jags are all far more popular in this area. I noticed he is a tad dull so might be close to the next shed, even dull he has a wonderful iridescence that I can't wait to capture in pics. Almost reminiscent of Amythestine's. Honestly, I don't care if this one ever enters my breeding plans nut, he is super cool and already very alert and checking me out every time I am in his room.
Hopefully since he has had bare minimal handling in the last year he warms up quickly and doesn't mind going on a diet. That head is rather intimidating when combined with a 5+ foot body bigger around than my forearm.

I am liking Carpets and Boa's more and more every day.

[mikoh4792]

Yeah I could keep adding carpets to my collection, I'd never get bored. Good thing I have self control lol.