Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,
This is my first time posting on this forum. I am thinking about getting an irian jaya carpet python in the near future. I have lizards and other pets, but this will be my first snake. I've been reading up caresheets, and i know i still have a lot more research to do, but i have a few quick questions.

How long does it usually take to reach its full size? and what is their growth rate?

I was planning on keeping it in a 10 gallon as a baby, then eventually upgrading to a 30, and then to a 60 breeder. But i just read that they do better in cloudy rubber containers so they dont get as stressed when they are younger. what size then, if i get the rubbermaid container? and how would i ventilate it?

Thanks for any replies, i'm still learning and I want to make sure i give my guy the best home possible. and if anyone knows of some good care sheets it would be appreciated =) Thanks!

-----
~Melissa~

Melissas Menagerie

"How long does it usually take to reach its full size? and what is their growth rate?"

Snakes grow throught their entire lives, but after age 3 or so it pretty much at a crawl. You will see the greatest growth the first two years. You can expect it to go from 12 or so inches at birth to 3-4' in the first year, and then up to 5-6 ' the second.

"I was planning on keeping it in a 10 gallon as a baby, then eventually upgrading to a 30, and then to a 60 breeder. But i just read that they do better in cloudy rubber containers so they dont get as stressed when they are younger. what size then, if i get the rubbermaid container? and how would i ventilate it?"

I would recommend a 12x8x6ish container for your little one. Add some rods for climbing, a hide for security, a small waterbowl for drinking and soaking, and a little 5-10 gallon heating pad under one corner. To vetilate, just drill 1/2 pencil thick holes on all four sides at the top about an inch apart.
-----
www.moreliapythons.com

Also, when your snake is an adult, keep it in a specially made reptile enclosure, not an aquarium. Aquariums with screen tops don't keep humidity, and just really aren't suited for herps, IMO. I keep my 0.1 adult IJ in a vision cage measuring 36"x28"x18", and she has more than enough room. Bo

read read read lol, then read a whole lot more. a shoebox sized rubbermaid is great for baby carpets. you can either drill or solder holes into the box, i prefer soldering, with drilling you have to drill into a piece of wood or youll crack the rubbermaid. you can add some perches midlevel of the cage for climbing, and a hide area on the warm end and another on the cool end with a water bowl. carpets tend to prefer slightly larger prey items, fuzzies or hoppers, really depends on the size of the snake. if i were you id just forget about any kind of tank, go with rubbermaid, it may not look the best, but they work just as well as any of the big money cages, at a millionth (i intentionally exaggerated) of the price.
-----
Jaymz
"got a bowlin ball in my stomache, got a desert in my mouth. figures that my courage would choose to sell out now..."

Thanks for the help, everyone Ive been reading a lot on them. I even copied one good care sheet to my computer, and i have been pasting more info from other care sheets, and the answers i am getting from this forum, that arent on it and...i just have one....big caresheet, lol. and i think i will go with rubbermaid while he's growing up, but i will probably get a 60 breeder display tank for its full size, and i will just put a towel or plastic over some of the screen to keep in humidity.

about the rubbermaids. i guess im kinda worried, wont they be able to just pop the tops right off of them? all the ones ive seen have just had those tops that sorta just snap on them and arent sealed enough to where i would think a snake could easily push it off if it really wanted to. do you guys weight em down with something or anything? maybe i'm just being paranoid, lol. Thanks again!
-----
~Melissa~

Melissas Menagerie

All great advice given. I keep mine in a sweaterbox size rack until age one and then I graduate caging as needed. Good luck, they are great animals.
-----
"Victory is reserved for those willing to pay its price"

You'd be much happier with a vision, Barrs, boaphile, or similar herp specific enclosure than with an aquarium. But, do as you like. Bo

The thing is, i have a tank stand with a 50 breeder on top with my bearded dragon in it, and there is room for another tank on the bottom, so it basically wont take up the extra room. dont get me wrong though, i love the look of vision cages.
-----
~Melissa~

Melissas Menagerie

I've learned this the hard way- don't use a towel to keep in humidity if you've got a screen lid, use plastic wrap or glass! I'm currently torn between plastic and glass, but these other guys are the experts.
Also, a good tip in my opinion is to start a baby out on baby rats and then keep it on rats its whole life. It's no fun when your 4 or 5 foot snake will only eat mice.

where should i get rat pups they don't sell them in my neibor hood? i have a small collection of reptiles should still order rat pups over the internet?

MY PETS
1 savannah monitor
1 iguana
1 spotted python
and soon one ((jungle carpet python))!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

from Alex

yes, I have used mousefactory.com with very good results, but I also hear good things about rodentpro.com. Buying over the internet seems for me to be the best way.
-----
"Victory is reserved for those willing to pay its price"

Yeah, just order 'em frozen, my three will all take them off tongs.

Hello,

I dont think you need to worry about the snake popping the top of your rubbermaid off. For my rubbermaids that I dont have in racks I simply drill four holes under the bottom of the lip of the rubber maid through the top lid. I then run a bolt from the bottom lip through the top then tighten a nut down on the lid. I use four bolts/nuts per side and it works well, I've never had a snake get out. If I didn't explain this clearly just ask for more clarification and I will do a better job.