Morelia Spilota McDowelli(coastal carpet)

[theamazingphil]

As some of you know i am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my RTB(wednesday). So in the meanwhile i also decided to get a CCP.

So i put a hold on this little girl im getting a few days ago and today i went to see her. I picked her up and she bit the heck out of my hands...Which i understand is a typical Morelia response to handling at this age. its a confirmed female(we probed her) and im getting a good deal on her.

So anyways on to my questions. Shes is only about 16" long right now and i intend to keep her in a 10g tank for a few months(any idea how many?? Whats the growth rate) before moving her into a custom built arboreal-ish enclosure.

Shes feeding well on live fuzzy mice right now but she will be turned to F/T or P/K as soon as i get her.

Im going to be hook training her from the start because there is no way im gonna chase her around her enclosure with a bare hand when shes 10ft long . And ill be using a bite gloves for the first few month of handling while she calms(im not worried abotu being bitten...I dont want her to hurt herself.

So final questions

Bedding?? Aspen??
Branches?? I have grapevine available in HUGE amounts
Temp and humidity?

Thanks guys and of course ill be posting pics as soon as i get her

-Phil.

[faroutinmt]

I kept both of my carpets in 10 gallon tanks until they were about 3 feet long (seperately, of course). I observed that they would not eat or move around in a larger enclosure when they were small (2 feet). I had one hide box on the cool end and a branch going under a red heat lamp, as well as some small vines for cover. They regularly basked, especially at night, and were quite active.

They are pretty thin snakes and are not cramped when kept in smaller enclosures as juveniles. Of course, mine wouldn't eat until I put them back in the smaller cages.

Both of mine reached around 3 feet at the one year mark. At that time I moved them into 3 x 2 cages and they adjusted perfectly.

Hope this helps.

btw, I guess I was fortunate as my carpets have never attempted to bite me. My hand has been head-butted twice, but that's it.

[theamazingphil]

Originally Posted by faroutinmt

I kept both of my carpets in 10 gallon tanks until they were about 3 feet long (seperately, of course). I observed that they would not eat or move around in a larger enclosure when they were small (2 feet). I had one hide box on the cool end and a branch going under a red heat lamp, as well as some small vines for cover. They regularly basked, especially at night, and were quite active.

They are pretty thin snakes and are not cramped when kept in smaller enclosures as juveniles. Of course, mine wouldn't eat until I put them back in the smaller cages.

Both of mine reached around 3 feet at the one year mark. At that time I moved them into 3 x 2 cages and they adjusted perfectly.

Hope this helps.

btw, I guess I was fortunate as my carpets have never attempted to bite me. My hand has been head-butted twice, but that's it.

The setup you described is pretty much what i planned to provide to the letter lol. And i plan to feed in seperate a seperate cage all her life so that wont be an issue

As for the biting it doesnt really hurt( it left quite a bit of blood though lots of little teeth), i just want to get her out of the habit before she gets too big, The reason for the hook training and the gloves.

Thanks for the tips! Now temp and humidity anyone?

-Phil.

[faroutinmt]

I keep both of mine (IJ and an IJ/Coastal cross) within a range of 78 on the cool side and 85 on the warm side with a basking spot of 88. The coastal integrade spends equal amounts of time on both sides of the cage. My IJ spends slightly more time on the cool side.

[theamazingphil]

Thanks alot...I can get the temps up to that no problem. Im guess ing humidity isnt much of a concern as long as adequate water is provided?

[faroutinmt]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I keep mine at 50 to 60 percent humidity and have never had a problem. I had to increase the water dishes to achieve that humidity since I live in a very arid climate. I think the Jungles are the only carpets which are sensitive to lower humidity (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

My IJ loves to soak in his water dish. My coastal cross never soaks. Congratulations on acquiring the carpet, by the way!

[theamazingphil]

Ok... That awsome...youve been a big help... I wish i had enough posts to use the thank function... But im adding to your rep...thanks alot!!!

[faroutinmt]

You're welcome. On behalf of other morelia lovers here, post pics when you can!

[theamazingphil]

I sure will!!