CARPET PYTHON
- Native to the forests of Southern Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia.
- One of the most beautiful and sought after pythons in the hobby.
- Adults can reach lengths of 5-8 feet.
- Average lifespan of 20-30 years.
- There are many different types of Carpet Pythons.
- Arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time off of the ground.
Diet
Like most snakes, Carpet Pythons will eat once every 7-10 days. They should be fed prey that is slightly larger than the widest part of their body. It is best to feed them 1 appropriate sized prey item instead of multiple smaller prey items. If possible, all snakes should be fed frozen/thawed prey items to avoid injury to them that is associated with feeding live prey. A dish of fresh water should be available at all times.
Housing
Carpet Pythons are a medium-large sized snake and adults will require a 75 gallon cage, but there are many arboreal cages that are much more suitable. Babies and juveniles will require a smaller cage for starters. If they are kept in too large of an enclosure they will often become stressed and go off of feeding. Carpet Pythons are not social snakes and should always be housed by themselves to avoid stress.
There should be enough decorations provided to give the snake adequate cover. Branches and vines, as well as a couple hide spots are sufficient. Be sure no cage furniture can shift, or fall, and injure your snake. Cypress mulch is the best choice for substrate but other bark based beddings may work as well.
Temperatures should be in between 85 - 90º F on the hot side and mid 70’s on the cool side in order to provide a proper thermal gradient. At night temperatures can drop in the low 70’s and supplemental heat is not needed. If room temperature is below 70 º F at night a low wattage (about 50 watts) infrared or black night bulb can be used.
Humidity should range between 40-60%. A light misting once every few days, as needed, will help keep the humidity up during drier times of the year.
Handling & Care
Young Carpet Pythons may be nippy at first, and a little fast moving, but with regular handling they will typically become more docile. Carpet Pythons are very active when being handled and generally do not like to sit still. Babies should not be handled for more than 20-30 minutes per day but this can be increased with age. Never handle any snake for 1-2 days after feeding as it can upset their stomach and cause them to regurgitate their meal.
Spot cleaning by removing feces once a week will ensure a healthy, clean environment. Bedding should be thrown away and the entire cage and decorations wiped clean once every few months.
Always wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap after handling any animal.
Health
Respiratory distress can occur if the cage temperature changes radically, if temperatures are too low and/or if humidity is high and the cage is damp. Mouth rot (infectious stomatitis) can occur if a respiratory infection goes un-treated, the mouth lining is injured, if a struggling rodent being constricted bites the snake, or if the snake's teeth are broken.
