Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As a recently new owner of snakes, i've found these forums to be like a bible of suggestions to everyones problems. But, i've come across a few of my own...

I have a Jungle Python (morelia spilota cheynei - who is about 2'6" and a Brisbane Carpet Python (morelia spilota mcdowelli - who is considerably smaller framed and comming in at 2')

I have a 4'x2'x2' malamine front opening enclosure, with a paper substrate, and a 250Watt Zoo-Med Ceramic Heat Emitter. I have also purchased a 3' UVB light to soon be fitted inside (i figure that as an owner of such an animal i'm obliged to mimic its natural environment as far as lighting and heating as much as possible... and besides, it can't hurt).

My first concern ... the heat emitter is only heating one end of the tank adequately (32 (90F) degrees hot side, 22 (73F) degrees cool side). Is 73 degrees too cool for a young snake? (I know it is recommended that smaller snakes stay in smaller enclosures, but my guy is a feeding machine, so i've had no problems getting him to eat, and he has plenty of hiding places. I have placed a thermostatically controlled heat rock at the cool end.

My second concern ... i currently let my jungle have free reign of the tank, whilst the carpet is in a smaller click-clack case (a well ventilated 16"x7"x7" case). Provided the snakes are fed separately, have adequate hiding spaces, access to heat and water, could they both live together in the full tank without attacking each other? I'm too scared to even introduce them because i don't know whether snakes of different sizing/species will fight, attack, etc.

Finally, one i've just thought of now, do i need to cover the uvb globe with some wire sheet to prevent the snakes wrapping around it, possibly shattering it with weight?

Any help is greatly appreciated
Cheers!

1 Jungle Python - morelia spilota cheynei
1 Coastal Carpet Python - morelia spilota mcdowelli
1 Bearded Dragon - pogona vitticeps
1 Central Netted Dragon - Ctenophorus nuchalis
3 Northern Blue-tongued skinks - Tiliqua scincoides intermedia

Regarding your first concern ... IMHO, 73 is not too cool, particularly as you've got a gradient, so the snake can stay in the warmer end if it wishes. People often overestimate the amount of heat required. You mentioned a heat rock... I'd get rid of it, even if it is thermostatically controlled. There's too much potential for bad things to happen.

Regarding your second concern ... I wouldn't even keep them in the same enclosure, even if they are physically separated. There are lots of reasons to keep snakes separately (just do a search and you'll see the number of times this issue comes up!) but health concerns are my main reason for separate enclosures.

Finally, a lot of people don't worry about the danger from lights but if one of your animals burns (even "warm" lights can be hazardous) or injures itself on a light, I guarantee you'll be kicking yourself and wondering why you didn't take the time to make things safer and more secure for your animal. Carpets can climb on anything. I make sure my lights are "off limits", even if I think they don't pose much of a danger.