Carpet Python heating/perching setup

[Mikoh4792]

This question goes out to all owners of carpet pythons. Do the majority of your carpets choose to bask on the ground(belly heat) or perched(overhead heat)?

If the latter is the case, what do you use for perches? Do carpets perch comfortably on horizontal perches such as pvc pipes or straight branches? Would it be cumbersome for them to perch like that on narrow sticks such as GTP's do?

It's easy for me to make perches/elevated basking spots in small carpet enclosures such as these, however I don't know where I could find grapewood/driftwood for larger enclosures( 4xx3x3). There are no big branches around my area

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/mikoh4792/20130615_130846_zps867d0d42.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/mikoh4792/20130615_130717_zpse3b8aa6c.jpg

[red ink]

This question goes out to all owners of carpet pythons. Do the majority of your carpets choose to bask on the ground(belly heat) or perched(overhead heat)?

Mine perch from over head heat... they use the hides in the ground for most of the day and come out 2 hours before lights off to bask

If the latter is the case, what do you use for perches? Do carpets perch comfortably on horizontal perches such as pvc pipes or straight branches? Would it be cumbersome for them to perch like that on narrow sticks such as GTP's do?

I use branches for my perches... at least the width of the snake and some twice the width. They also have an elevated shelf close to the heat source. I used to have an arboreal hide on the shelf as well but both have out grown their arboreal hides. Now it's just a bare shelf but they don't seem to care. My female is actually on there for most of the day and only goes in the ground hide for a couple of days after feeding.

It's easy for me to make perches/elevated basking spots in small carpet enclosures such as these, however I don't know where I could find grapewood/driftwood for larger enclosures( 4xx3x3). There are no big branches around my area

Get large PVC pipes if your going to use them wrap them in yarn or twine for texture in places so the carpets can get a grip on them. I've used bamboo before as well if you can get your hands on them from a hardware shop or something..



Here's my enclosures....
the bottom enclosures house my stimpsons...

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/a6053fd1.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/a6053fd1.jpg.html)

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/b46802ba.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/b46802ba.jpg.html)

[smy_749]

I think carpets have a bit more variability as to what they prefer. It also depends on temps and whats available. Some carpets like to pretend they are viridis, others not so much. You can find some decent sized branches at any river / lake washed up on shore and they will do fine. You can also order some very nice pieces of wood on ebay for cheap. As for what they prefer with regards to pvc, one perch or 3 point perch or whatever, no clue.

[Terranaut]

I use perches and rhp's. They love it. Thrive and are quite active.

[Mikoh4792]

Here's my enclosures....


Nice setup. is the hide in the bottom warmed up with a heat source? How do your carpets digest the food if it stays in there instead of the basking spot after feeding?

[Mikoh4792]

I use perches and rhp's. They love it. Thrive and are quite active.

What do you use for perches?

[ra94131]

I think carpets have a bit more variability as to what they prefer. It also depends on temps and whats available. Some carpets like to pretend they are viridis, others not so much. You can find some decent sized branches at any river / lake washed up on shore and they will do fine. You can also order some very nice pieces of wood on ebay for cheap. As for what they prefer with regards to pvc, one perch or 3 point perch or whatever, no clue.

At a year old, I can say my Jungle Carpet definitely has a preference for perching. When he was very small he would almost perfectly imitate a Green Tree Python, but now he has taken to curling up in the intersections of the branches. He seems to get more and more comfortable with the ground as time goes on and he grows though, so I wouldn't be shocked if he started spending more time in his lower hides.

[red ink]

Nice setup. is the hide in the bottom warmed up with a heat source? How do your carpets digest the food if it stays in there instead of the basking spot after feeding?

Nah the bottom hides are not heated... it's 22C there according to the temp gun, could be lower overnight. Don't know how they can digest... I follow the "snake's know best" style of keeping. I just set up an environment within safe parameters and they work out the rest...

[Terranaut]

What do you use for perches?

Lol well. My enclosures are 4x2x4 so I use a bar stool and a high back chair. Both are wood. I also use abs tubing in another viv for a smaller snake.

[Donnie]

This question goes out to all owners of carpet pythons. Do the majority of your carpets choose to bask on the ground(belly heat) or perched(overhead heat)?

perched

If the latter is the case, what do you use for perches? Do carpets perch comfortably on horizontal perches such as pvc pipes or straight branches? Would it be cumbersome for them to perch like that on narrow sticks such as GTP's do?

branches of all shapes and sizes

It's easy for me to make perches/elevated basking spots in small carpet enclosures such as these, however I don't know where I could find grapewood/driftwood for larger enclosures( 4xx3x3). There are no big branches around my area

If you can't get them locally then as said just look online for them or keep an eye out for people in the neighbourhood cutting down trees and ask them for some of branches


answers in red

[shaunyboy]

i mostly use non light emmiting ceramic bulbs,with the diamonds i use 2.0 natural daylight light bulbs

i find most of my carpets will have a bask,then go hang off a branch some where

i use branches from my local forrest as perches,and cork bark as ground hides/perches (bought from local reptile shop)

cheers shaun