Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Folks --

Just a quick couple of questions about the habits of some of your morelia. I had some JCPs several years ago that I kept in my office that were wonderful display animals. Just loved to sit on branches and snooze during the day. There were hide boxes available, but they never used 'em. I moved and my JCPs had to go to other homes. I have two WPCPs now (one recent, the other for about a year), and in exactly the same environment they spend all day in hide boxes. They are yearlings now. Great girls, not nippy any longer, calm to handle and great F/T rat eaters. But oh so very shy. So my question is this: Have others noticed this behaviour difference between cheynei and harrisoni? (My sample size is small, so its hard for me to draw conclusions.) Do harrisoni become braver with age? Is there any way to coax them out during the day?

Thanks for any insight from more experienced keepers.

Dowman

Dowman, great question! I was just about to ask the same thing about my harrisoni. I heard that the WP Carpets are one of the more arboreal species that makes a great display, but my male is never seen during the day. I'd love to see him hanging out on a branch now and then!

I don't have much experience w/ IJ's specifically, but off the top of my head, I'd suggest making sure the enclosure is in the quietest low traffic area of the room, as well as adding some artificial broad leafed plants around and hanging over the perches. The little bit of added security may help. Good luck, and you may want to post this in the general python forum, as this one's pretty dead.
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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

IJs are generally more aboreal but that could be merely because they are a smaller carpet form. Smaller snakes perch more easily as they can find more suitable perchesthat support them and make them feel comfortable. But also, IJs are definitely the most shy subpecies of carpet I have ever worked with. They are also consistently the least subspecies willing to bite, in my experience.
Also, attached is a pic of one of our subadult females we have been raising up just for giggles.

-Yasser

SPITFIRE REPTILES

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I have a one year old female IJ carpet, she spends most of the time on her branches, but she does occasionally hide during the day. My theory is snakes hide when they are scared, the only thing a captive snake has to fear is its keeper, so maybe try holding them more often, acclimate them to your presence and they wont hide so much. I hold my carpet almost every day, let her crawl around and climb stuff, watch TV, she really enjoys it and I think it makes for a less timid, more relaxed animal. She is fearless, tame and eats voraciously, and I attribute this all to regular handeling.
Jason