Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently purchased a pair of juvenile Diamonds from a breeder whom I have the utmost respect for. However, to assure the best care for them, I'd really like to hear a variety of opinions on husbandry from those of you who have experience with them. Can I get something going here? Presently, they're at 72 degree lows to 82 highs. Approx 20", they're fed 2 fuzzies weekly. Any & all input will be appreciated.

The temps sound good, they tend to hang out on the cool side anyways. I would probably also keep the humidity around 70-80%.

And that's my biggest dilemma, humidity. We live in Florida but, the AC keeps it low. We've yet to find a means of keeping humidity at the 60% level w/o constantly misting. Too much misting creates wet substrate. No good either. The only thing I can figure is to put in a tupperware box with moistened sphagnum & hope they can figure it out on their own.
Thanks!

What a disappointment that only one good person chose to respond to a plea for advice. ONE Response! Is this because this forum is without qualified & caring members? Is it because most of you only respond to the latest color morphs? Whatever, I'm really let down at the collective lack of interest. You folks suck.

Patience young Grasshopper… We all don’t visit this forum everyday! Also Diamonds aren’t as common as other carpets. They use to have a sub forum for diamonds but that’s now gone.

I have herd that diamonds like a sharp contrast between hot and cold sides (a little colder on the cold and hotter on the hot). Remember to put a hiding spot on hot and cold sides!

As far as the humidity concerned, what type of cage do you have? Is it a glass fish tank? If it is you will need to cover most of the top. I use clear vinyl with a hole for the light. If it gets too humid I role it back a bit. It also matters what kind of substrate you use. I am using coconut chips because it holds a lot of moisture without feeling wet. When I mist I always use distilled water so it does not leave water stains on the glass.

The biggest bit of advice I can give is to convert them to rats ASAP! It is sooo hard to do it later! If they are eating fuzzies now feed them rat pinkies instead. Call around and I’m sure you can find them. Unless you want to feed them 7 or more mice at a time when they grow up? It’s expensive and it sucks!

I hope this helps a little. A great source for general info is- http://www.acreptiles.com/carpet_python_care.htm

And I apologize for my exasperated final comment! I reckon there's not too many folks out there with Diamond experience.
As far as rats vs mice (we raise ours), the volume vs dollar ratio seems to even out in the long run. When we're forced to buy from the critter shop, three adult mice at 85 cents each more than compare with a "2 dollar rat" & they're easier to swallow.
As to humidity, aren't Diamonds from a VERY arid environment? Granted, their underground retreats offer more humidity but, just how much is needed? We have kept Uromastyx for years & never mist or offer water except an occasional spray on their greens. Apples & oranges, I realize, but I really question whether Diamonds need water beyond what they drink.
Whatever, my post was about what OTHER people have to contribute about Diamonds, not about MINE!!
Thank you for your input. Grasshoppa appreciates it.

Ya know, some people are humidity and temp crazy. If you look at their natural environment it’s not exactly the same day in and day out, or for that matter, year in and year out. Some live in wetter and slightly cooler places than others. As humans we try to give them the optimal artificial environment. I do agree with Anthony Caponetto on humidity, treat them like balls until they turn blue (before a shed) and mist the substrate to raze humidity so they have a nice shed. I have found over misting the day of the shed makes the shed come off in multiple pieces (not good).

This is my first time on the Diamond Python forum. I have great interest in this now, as I have had Diamond Pythons now for about 5 years. My female laid eggs 2 weeks ago and will be due in mid-late July. I am excited about them because there is no one I know of in the Houston area that has them. I have been reading all the different posts from you guys and I want to say that I keep mine in 90-100 gallon aquariums with a modified lid for reptiles. I have a screen top on one end, that is also half glass. I have smaller circular vents in different locations in the aquarium. I keep my Diamonds on regular newspaper, and have a large hide box for them and a bowl of water. I do have an undertank heat pad for reptiles and they seem to like this a lot. Also, a lot of the time, they are coiled on top of eachother on top of the hide box. They are very aggressive feeders and are doing great for me. They are now about 7 feet in length. I purchased mine as yearlings from Dr. Tom Harbin from Tennessee. I will be selling my babies sometime in August. I have an idea of what they should go for, but I am trying to feel around and get an idea from someone. What do healthy hatchling pure Diamonds go for now? Yearlings???? Anyway, I do not really do anything special for my diamonds and they are doing awesome. Sometimes I will put different substrate in the cage for looks and some branches for them to climb on, but they seem to do fine the way I have them right now. I never have to mist them.

Wayne H.

Thankyou all for this additional input! I'd love to see this thread continue a little longer. Obviously, Diamond keepers are hugely outnumbered by Carpet keepers. One thing has been made clear to me; you don't raise them the same way, not in terms of temps, humidity or feeding regimen. I'd like to see the Diamond forum resurrected, wouldn't you?
Again, I appreciate your responses.
Dan.

Hey Wayne,

You should post your Diamonds so we can see the happy parents! I don’t get to see a lot of Diamonds here. I would love to get my hands on a full blood Diamond but selection, price and timing have restricted me. I have almost resolved my self to settling for a 75% cross. I could save my pennies up by the time yours are ready if the parents look good and the price is reasonable. Please keep me in mind…oh and post those Diamonds!

Two of mine. A couple of young carpets (an IJ and a JC)

Here ya go. These were taken a couple of weeks ago. I arrived back home from snake hunting in West Texas and found her coiled around these. There were 5 eggs that were bad, (she kicked three out of the pile) and there were 2 eggs that were hard and yellow. I still have like 13-16 good eggs it looks like. You can also see more pics on www.snakeworld.com. I have a few pics posted under breeding projects. Those pics could be a little better though. I need to re-photograph. Enjoy the pics.

Wayne

She is exceptional! Is dad as nice as mom? I'M VERY INTERESTED!

Thanks

He is getting dusky looking so he will be shedding soon, but he is as if not more gogeous as the female. I am super excited about producing these snakes! I will take more photos of him in the sunlight after he sheds. Enjoy.

Wayne

Those babies are going to be great! I’ll send you my e-mail address on your web site so I can get on the waiting list! Adding some more Diamonds to Northern CA would be nice. I only know of two people who breed them and one sells mixes. I don’t know if you guys ever saw Python Pete’s collection before he sold them off, but those were some very fine Diamonds! Hopefully the gentlemen in the east bay that acquired them will honor us by posting some pics!

Wait a minute!! Don't tell us you went on a collecting trip to Texas without giving the envious details... Let's hear it!

Well, unfortunately there is nothing to tell other than I got 1 Tans-Pecos Rat Snake and everything else was dead. There are alot of people catching alterna now, and I will be back out next weekend, and for 3 more weeks after that so I should come up with something. I ALWAYS post on the alterna forum and that's where the pics and what I do will be posted. Also on my website I have weekly updates (actually I update it when I can) but I post pics of the trips on there and you can also see archived pictures and stories of our outings as a family and otherwise. Now that I am producing pure Diamond pythons, it looks like I will be making everyone's aquaintance on this forum. Now I have to post the male for you guys. The daddy to the up and coming babies that will hatch out in mid to late July.

Wayne