Diamond x Jungle using tail as lure?

[Gio]

Sorry I did not know this was going into a housing discussion, so I will explain.

The male came from the same petstore last week, (housed in groups of pairs or all females) and I suspect same breeder based on time they all came in. So I decided to quarantine them together in a 2'x2'x1' tank together with ample hiding, heat/cool and perch area, at least while young. I have administered many medications in the past over the last 30 years, so feel comfortable in this aspect of the husbandry. I would be more careful if I start buying more carpets, from private breeders who's snakes have not found themselves in the pet store chain.

From reading threads (comments of those who have large collections) and discussing with a couple breeders, no one has ever witnessed an issue with pairs or all females if kept close to the same size. The only issue I have heard being of concern is at feeding time, and I plan to spend more time understanding if that is going to be the deal breaker in housing them together. Also I will investigate if she could breed too early under these conditions. That seems to be another valid concern.

To the point of: To this point everything seems wrong here. A young male coastal "hiding away" which leads me to believe that snake is rather new as well and possibly nervous and unsettled.

It was in the evening that I introduced the female and the male had not come out of his hide yet. Not sure what is weird about that. He hides in the day and comes out on his perch at night. I think if you provide an appropriate hide for a Carpet Python, you will see they use it too. For example, not a big open hide box for zero since of security. I have a hide that he can squeeze into and feel protection on top/bottom. Actually, they are both using this hide now (it is more of a crevice than a hide) and I suspect they will both be on the perch tonight. I have a similar hide on the warm side, but since it is warm right now in Southern California, they prefer the cool hide.

This turned into a discussion about housing because of the initial post. It does not matter where you bought the snakes and what they did prior to you accommodating them. You have a COASTAL and a DIAMOND/JUNGLE cross. They are not the same and it is ALWAYS recommended to start snakes off separately when first acquired. The "few" breeders you know that house them together may have done so without incident. That's great, however you are establishing 2 new animals and you will not find ANY care sheet whether it be internet or written text that says snakes should be housed together.

If you are questioning internet opinion/advice then why are you here asking about tail luring in carpet pythons? I agree that it is a neat topic and it's fairly common in many species of snakes. Observing the event happening in front of you is definitely interesting, and worthy of discussion.

Not a soul here wants to start off tearing a new member apart, but if you think you are going to bypass quarantine procedures and basic housing practices, people here will question you, and that isn't to be offensive, but rather to try to figure out what you are doing. You will find folks here genuinely have the animal's best interest in mind.

I personally am not overly impressed with "breeders" of any species of snake unless they are well versed in the biology of the animals they keep.

I will respect folks that have extremely long lived animals and are not motivated by profit or having a special morph that hasn't been produced yet. Large collections mean little if the basic needs of an animal are being overlooked. Too many breeders pump out crap for profit and care little for the animals or actually have done any biological research on the animals they keep.

Introducing 2 two juvenile animals is not a good idea period.

As Frosty stated the two pythons you have will compete for the best spots in the enclosure. Biologically these animals are solitary and that's how they should be raised. Years and years of captive keeping and breeding proves this and you will find this as the best practice with just about every species of snake in existence.

There are a lot of snakes I'd like to own, but because I will not compromise the environment I keep them in, I have to settle for what I am able to keep properly and responsibly.


Best of luck to you and your new snakes.