What type of carpet is he?

[kiiarah]

Hi everyone, I recently brought home a little carpet python. His former keeper apparently purchased him from a chain pet store which had him labeled as simply "carpet python". I called the store and they said he is probably about 1.5 to 2 years old. Just curious if anyone can shed any light on what type he might be and how old he might be based on his size. He seems too small to be two years old, but I know they gain length before bulk and am by no means an expert on the subject. Any insight would be wonderful. Thanks!




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[Herpo]

Looks like a darwin carpet python (Morelia Spilota Variegat​a). They're more often seen in their Albino form.

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He's beautiful by the way!

[DennisM]

Looks like a darwin carpet python (Morelia Spilota Variegat​a). They're more often seen in their Albino form.

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He's beautiful by the way!

possibly, but I think it's far more likely an Irian Jaya, m.s.harissoni, if the OP is in the U.S. (I don't know OP's location) Darwins are still somewhat uncommon in the U.S. and most have been out crossed to other m.s.ssp in an attempt to accelerate the albino project. I doubt they've hit the chain stores here yet.

[Herpo]

I'm not too sure anymore. I looked up IJ's, and you may be right. But I still wouldn't rule out darwins entirely.

[DennisM]

I'm not too sure anymore. I looked up IJ's, and you may be right. But I still wouldn't rule out darwins entirely.

agreed, the 2 ssp are very similar in basic appearance and can't be differentiated based on these photos. however, if OP is from the U.S., which I believe to be the case based on their membership in USARK, it is almost certainly IJ. harissoni has been well established in U.S. collections for over two decades. variegata was extremely rare for most of that time and is still somewhat uncommon, though available now. variegata caught the U.S. market's attention with the introduction of the albino. As with any new morph the price point was extreme when the the first few hit the market. Rather than buying pairs of variegata , most of those who got into the early stages of the albino project purchased a single animal and mated it to other ssp, primarily m.s.mcdowelli. unfortunately, an overwhelming percentage of albinos available here are not pure variegata. and of course, neither are the hets and PH. Pure variegata (albino,het or not) are available at a reasonable price point now, but most that have the albino gene are not pure. I'm going to make up a number now, if the OP is located in the U.S. I'd say there's a better than 99% chance this is harissoni based on the place of purchase. Reverse that made up odds if the OP is in Australia.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Irian Jaya

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[enginee837]

My vote is for IJ as well although the yellow throws me off a little and the pattern on the head almost looks like a jungle. Unless the lighting is adding the yellow I would almost say it could be a IJ/carpet cross.

[EL-Ziggy]

Without lineage information it's impossible to tell exactly what type of carpet you have. I would agree with the other members that it's most likely an IJ or IJ x Jungle cross. Either way it's a very nice carpet. Congrats on the new addition.

[kiiarah]

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?

[Gio]

Without lineage information it's impossible to tell exactly what type of carpet you have. I would agree with the other members that it's most likely an IJ or IJ x Jungle cross. Either way it's a very nice carpet. Congrats on the new addition.

Spot on Zig,

There is so much variation even within the SAME clutch of many carpets that without information from the breeder you'll never be certain.

I certainly see what I think are IJ characteristics there, but here in the US so many things have been crossed and bred it's never a sure bet.

Here is an example. These are the parents of my snake.


The breeder found/rescued the female (background) from the side of the road. She is 9.5-10 feet long now. The male is around 8 feet.

Mum on a clutch.


Pops out for a picture.


At purchase, all I wanted was a carpet python and the price was decent so I was not overly upset not knowing what the mix was. They were sold as coastal carpets.

This is what I have from that clutch. She is 6 feet long, maybe 6' 2" and pretty thin. She will be 3 years old this spring. I see very little resemblance so far but she is young still.



I occasionally ask others what they think.





I usually get a mixed bag of guesses.

Jungle, coastal x jungle, coastal x jungle x diamond (diamond based on 1 parent's appearance), coastal x jungle x Darwin, and yesterday jag sibling x was tossed in. I'll never breed her so I don't care.

My point??

Nobody knows.

My next point?

If you like your snake, and it is very pretty, don't get too wrapped up in the "What is it?" part.

ALL morelia are semi arboreal, most in the carpet/bredli group are fairly busy and not shy.

That said I THINK the others who've said IJ are on track as there are characteristics that the Ssp has that show up in your snake.

Enjoy.


Edit: OP, I agree that in photos they can come out more yellow. My girl looks more yellow than she is a lot of the time.