Cage size for adult carpet?

[Gio]

Well, it looks like the Morelia community prefers 4 ft or larger with height.

To the OP’s original question, floor space is more important than height. Carpets of all kinds will most certainly utilize the height, but it is not a necessity. If I had to choose 3 ft and tall or 4 ft and short, I’d go 4 ft and short. Since you’re looking at AP cages a T10 at 48x24x15 is only $20 more than a T3 36x24x12. Once you go to a 4 ft 18 in or taller cage, the price escalates dramatically. If you want to go there, you can get 24 tall for only a $9 more than an 18 tall. It comes down to personal preference. If you have the space and are so inclined, large display cages are nice.

The thing is no one knows how large this snake will grow. if it maxes out at 6 ft (which is my expectation, though I wouldn’t be shocked to be wrong about that with diamond/coastal in the mix) 3x2 is enough. But 4 ft and taller would by no means be overkill. And if the snake exceeds my expectations, 4 ft will be necessary. I don’t buy adult cages for youngsters, I grow the cage with the snake. A carpet python would probably go through 5-6 cages before moving to its permanent home.

Gio, as for JCP easily hitting 8 ft, I must disagree. Can they hit that? Yes, they can. It’s pretty rare, I’d put that in the same in the same category as humans can hit 7 ft tall. I’ve had over 50 carpet’s in my collection at one time or another over the past 2 decades. 16 of them were/are “pure” JCP. Many of those JCP have hit 6 ft, none have come close to 8. “pure”/high% coastals/diamonds/dci will easily hit this mark. The only jungle cross I’ve had that hit 8 ft is a 75% diamond.

Also for Gio, you are certainly correct about not keeping carpets in tubs. I keep hatchlings in tubs, but nothing else. They just come flying out as soon as you crack it open!

Also, for the OP, yes a 3 ft AP cage will stack atop a 4 ft without problem as they are the same depth. You just won’t be able to line up the stacking pins.

I say easily hit 8 feet because it is possible but not the rule. It is just something to be aware of as there can be surprises in anybody's collection. MOST carpets in the US are not 100% pure, and even some exceptional jungles from the southern part of their range have made 10 feet according to Nick Mutton. Again, this is the exception and certainly not the rule. I agree with you that a pure jungle from the northern part of their range should be much smaller, and rather lean.

I spent 2 plus hours speaking to Nick Mutton on the phone about 3 weeks ago. Nick seems to also like the 48" x 24" x 24" size.

Both male and female coastal carpets have been found 40 feet into the canopy and jungles are considered one of the more arboreal carpets, so I say the taller the cage the better to an extent, but don't sacrifice too much floor space.

All of that said, Ed Lilley, who also breeds and sells quality carpets and makes the cages I use, will often put some smaller carpets in a 3 foot wide cage. However, Ed makes cages and if he thinks a snake is too large, he can whip up a 4 footer and not think twice.

Can you use a smaller cage? The answer is yes!

IF you want to see your snake preform the wide variety of behaviors it will with a taller, more spacious cage, you should go that route.

If you are limited and can only spend so much, find a compromise that works for you and the snake.

You may want to look into used enclosures, or if you are at all handy, try to build something.