Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to the December IRBA show in LA and I am planning on bringing home a pair of hatchling JCPs (if I can find them) and have a few questions about housing. Now, I have done plenty of research and I am by no means a beginner to herps. I am just a newbie to Carpet Pythons.

1. What size Sterilite/Rubbermaid would be fine for a hatchling?
2. How would I go about anchoring a climbing branch to the walls (so it goes across the cage)?
3. Is Aspen a good substrate?
4. Are 2 hides enough (one on hot side, one on cool side)?
5. Heat pad or heat light?

Sorry for all the questions, I just don't want to do anything that could affect the health of the JCPs.

-Thanks and happy herping!
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~Future breeder of~
Morelia spilota cheynei
Epicrates cenchria alvarezi
Python regius
Eryx colubrinus
Lichanura trivirgata
Python brongersmai
Boa constrictor constrictor

HEY! Another LA carpet keeper...or soon to be! I personally wouldn't wait for the show. rarely do they have a good selection and those that usually bring them also have them available before then at their stores. I'd recomend LLL Reptiles. They take pretty good care of their herps and they usually have a pretty good selection of Carpets year round. As far as breeders...the only carpet breeders I've ever seen at IRBA shows have been Bredli and DiamondxJungle breeders.

>>1. What size Sterilite/Rubbermaid would be fine for a hatchling?

I don't use tubs so I'll try to be what help I can...I keep my hatchlings in 5-10gal tanks. They usually don't like it too roomy so 10gal is a max usually. If you kept snakes before I'm sure you have a certail size you tend to like using for hatchling snakes.

>>2. How would I go about anchoring a climbing branch to the walls (so it goes across the cage)?

Drill holes wide enough for a small brach to fit in on both ends, get a branch long enough to stick through both ends, and then use aquarium cocking to seal it in so there isn't anywhere the little ones can squeeze out.

>>3. Is Aspen a good substrate?

As long as you don't feed inside the cage as shavings aren't good for snake digestion.

>>4. Are 2 hides enough (one on hot side, one on cool side)?

Perfect

>>5. Heat pad or heat light?

Depends on your preferences/cage setup/and how warm you keep the room they'll be in. I personally use heat lamps during the winter but during the summer our house keeps in the low to mid 80's so no heat is usually needed. When I get my rack system put together I'll be using heat tape, but with glass tanks they don't heat as well as lamps...make sense?

Darci
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Takes all kinds to make a World...

I was thinking about LLL but I figured at a show I would have a bigger selection and better prices. But if they aren't going to have a lot anyways, I may as well try a local pet store. I'll check out LLL's website.

Also, did you get your Carpets from LLL? If so, how was the service?
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~Future breeder of~
Morelia spilota cheynei
Epicrates cenchria alvarezi
Python regius
Eryx colubrinus
Lichanura trivirgata
Python brongersmai
Boa constrictor constrictor

1. What size Sterilite/Rubbermaid would be fine for a hatchling?

If you are going with a plastic container of some sort, anything under 1 cubic foot is good for a hatchling with a nice sized water bowl and a few hides and perches

2. How would I go about anchoring a climbing branch to the walls (so it goes across the cage)?

Like Darci said, drilling holes through the side works well, I would recommand pvc with end caps for ease of cleaning, you can get stick ons for the sides if you go with a glass tank, or just drill through the sides if you use a container.

3. Is Aspen a good substrate?

Substrate is really up to you, but I personally recommend newspaper once again for cleanliness and to avoid ingestion like Darci said.

4. Are 2 hides enough (one on hot side, one on cool side)?

"Perfect" ...ditto

5. Heat pad or heat light?

Heat pads can be used with both tanks and containers. I wouldn't use overhead lights if you can get away with it, as they tend to dry out the air too quickly. And can't really be used with containers unless you get creative with melting or glueing mesh to the top.
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Jim Kuroski

Seeing that you are going to buy a jcp and you want quality animals, I'd suggest not buying from the reptile shows. Rather I'd suggest you buy from the top breeders. These animals will be healthy and will look gorgeous as adults. You will pay a little more but it's worth it. Because hatchlings don't look like they do as adults, you might get one that doesn't color up as well as the pictures you see on the Internet. I've seen some ugly looking adults. Just my two cents. Good luck.

Thanks everybody! I think I know what I'm gonna do now. As soon as I get him/her/them, I will post pics!

-Thanks again, and happy herping!
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~Future breeder of~
Morelia spilota cheynei
Epicrates cenchria alvarezi
Python regius
Eryx colubrinus
Lichanura trivirgata
Python brongersmai
Boa constrictor constrictor