Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am keeping a carpet python for a friend. It is about 6 ft. long. all I have to keep it in for the time being is a 20 gallon high aquarium. Right now, I have the aquarium on its side with a heat lamp hanging down on one side of the screen. I live in a cold, humid environment. So far, the maximum temp. reached inside his cage has been 91.5 F and the min. has been 59.5 F with averages between 75 and 86.(not too sure). With the way its set up I have to remove the heat lamp and lift the cage up to remove the screen anytime I want to get into the cage. He has been very active. I know that his cage is too small for him. What I am wondering is if the cage could be right side up, so that he has room to climb around. My friend thinks that he might not get a thermal gradient if it is set taller rather than longer. Does anyone have any suggestions.

Temps should not go down to 60 degrees.I wouldn't go down any lower than high 60's.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.0 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

How long are you keeping this snake in this environment? Talk your friend into giving you $40 or $50 for a large sweater box from Walmart (make sure to provide ventilation holes and a secure lid) and a large heat pad to be placed on one end of the tub. There is no way to provide a 6' Carpet a sufficient temp gradient in an enclosure that size.
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

if you can get together some money get the biggest clearish rubber maide you can find they have some nice ones at good ol walmart here that are 3 long X 16 wide X 16 tall i think and even that is to small but ALOT better than what you are using and that only cost $13 here or there are even bigger ones the bigger the better i have a 6' male who hates his 3 x 2 x 18 cage lol hes getting a bigger cage once i get some more cash in lol

Do you have any suggestions on how to make it escape proof? With the plastic box I am thinking of, maybe I could flip it upside down?

I clamp the lip of the lid with a few little clamps I bought at Lowes.

pending on the kind some have nice snapping lids and a small space from the "legs" of the box this makes the ends nioce and tight from the lil snapping lid ends butt hen you take 2 bungee cords and put around middle or if you have a piece of wood big enough to cover the whole lid set that on there and add lots of weight not saying it will be 100% escape proof either way but if he isnt trying to get out the 20 gallon he is in i doubt he will put much effort in trying to get out big rubbermaid or one more option go to a hardware store big or small and buy lil clamps of some sort

I've used bungee cords in a pinch, but you could also drill/melt holes through the lid and lip of the tub, through which you could run clips or a bolt/wing nut combo. I'd suggest placing it in a rack, but for one snake it seems a little cost/time prohibitive.
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

n/p
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.0 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

n/p
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

I have him in a big plastic box now. I have one side zip tied and the other side secured with C-clamps...for now. I really don't want to give him back. lol

or if your not giving him back just buy him a nice cage with two lights, two heaters, THE WORKS, or buy your own and a new cage for it.
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Pat
"You keep WHAT in your freezer?" "Mice. And rats. If that bothers you, I can call them 'cows' instead."

1.2 Water Pythons (Liasis Fuscus)
1.1 (100% het albino Clark Strain) Retics
1.1 Coastal Carpet Pythons
.1 Nhandu Chromatus
.1 Pitbull Wolfe mix

hhhmm... I took this snake in knowing it might be a permanent deal. I have tried to make arrangements for giving it back multiple times. I've been looking at animal plastics enclosures. Can you or anyone else tell me how an enclosure with two heaters and two lights compares to what they have going on with belly heat and a lamp fixture?
and I'll probably pay my friend the difference of whatever I already paid towards his care.

I've taken in several snakes in your situation, and have never paid for one of them. Your friend doesn't want it...you're doing him a favor...hash that out before offerring him anything. Offer $$ only as a last resort for the good of the snake.
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin