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!

[kiiarah]

I will definitely check out that book, thanks for the recommendations. Glad to know I was on the right track as I felt reasonably confident that he was an IJ. I do want to clarify that I don't care one bit what type he is, at least in terms of having him. I love all carpets. My main curiosity was what size I can expect him to reach so I know what to plan for on the future. I think he is absolutely stunning and feel so lucky to finally have a Morelia of any kind. We just got so little information from his previous keeper, I am trying to gather as much information as I can about him. He seems to be thriving so far though. He didn't have the best care in the previous home, but since becoming part of our family he has had his first perfect shed and is eating well. Now to work on the switch from mice to rats.

[Reinz]

Don't know about IJ's, but I switched 2, 2 year old Coastals and a one year old Jungle by skipping a feed. It's hard to skip I know, we all love to keep our snakes well fed. But all three of these guys did not hesitate to strike when offered their first F/T.

[MarkS]

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.

Since it's in the US, I'd say probably not a darwins carpet. My first guess was also IJ but as others have said you'll never really know.

Is it pretty much accepted now that Jungle carpets and Coastal carpets are the same subspecies only with different regional variations? I keep hearing it both ways...

I've got three that were sold to me as Coastal Carpet pythons. They're nice snakes

[DennisM]

Since it's in the US, I'd say probably not a darwins carpet. My first guess was also IJ but as others have said you'll never really know.

Is it pretty much accepted now that Jungle carpets and Coastal carpets are the same subspecies only with different regional variations? I keep hearing it both ways...

I've got three that were sold to me as Coastal Carpet pythons. They're nice snakes

As far as I know they are still classified as distinct subspecies, for whatever that's worth. The re-classification of species/sub-species is a never ending affair. I do seem to recall that most of the taxonomic differences regarding scale counts that gave credence to separate ssp. were not really differences at all. the JCP normally has a narrower range, but it's range being a subset of the coastal's range. I am not a biologist nor have I ever played one on TV. I'm recalling some things from my foggy past.