Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted a little while back about the carpet python I was taking in, and I need some advice about his setup.

Now, I've looked around on the internet, and as always, everyone seems to have varying opinions on making a python comfortable...

The Python itself is around 6'4" (the woman I took him from had measured one of his sheds, I havent personally measured...)

His tank is 36x12x18 is this too small for a snake that size?

Also he has a heatrock with adjustable temp, I know that everyone is on the same page generally about heatrocks being evil, but I've never heard of one with a thermostat... Obviously I want to get rid of this asap, but I need to know whether this is gonna be his perm tank, as the substrate heaters are permanent...

As for his behavior, he's been pretty spooked since he got here, there's a shoebox in there with him, and he hasnt moved out of it. He'll come out a little bit to watch me sit at the computer, but he hasnt fully come out of the box... I want to get him to a point where I can handle him, so should I just leave him for now? or just pick him up? (i've put my hand in once or twice and he's come up to smell me)

Would really appreciate some advice

id go ahead and get him a 4x2x2 go to animal plastics you can get them with heat and everything, at a pretty good price a 4x2x2 is big enough for now, my jcp's are very active so i would say get a cage even bigger, but im no expert , hope this helps
but a 36x12x18 is definitely too small
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1.1 jungle carpets
1.1 sumatran bloods
1.1 het albino rtb

IMO, radiant heat panels work best due to the Carpets' semi-arboreal nature. In addition, slowly placing your warm hand into your new snakes enclosure and allowing him to come check you out isn't a very good idea....I'd say your hand is roughly the same size and temp as...food. Be careful! Let him settle into his new larger enclosure (4x2x2), have a few meals under his belt, and generally de-stress. Then you can work on his attitude.

Good luck!
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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 the shed skin measured 6'4", the animal is a bit over 5'6".

Shed skins stretch a LOT.
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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

it is important to acclimate snakes with handeling. A scared snake will sit in its hide box till death if it is afraid in its surroundings. Work with it till it is tame and you will have a happier healthier snake. Because ive never heard of a snake having a heart attack from being spooked. And as far as enclosure size goes, bigger is not always better especially if a snake is nervous. but i would still want a cage at least four feet long for a six foot snake.
Jason