Chillin

[Ed_r]

My male Queensland Coastal Carpet "Shag"
http://redtailboa.net/gallery/data/735b90b4568125ed6c3f678819b6e058/501_p10415.jpg
He's looking for a girlfriend, but having quite the dificulty finding him one. Most out there seem to be integrades. Closest I've found for him was a female that at best was 6' long and was already over 5 yrd old, so she either has been grossly underfed, of not a true Queensland Carpet. Shag is a big boy a little over 3 yrs old and 8' and quite thick as you can see. Anyone have an appropriate sized female, or offspring from known True Queensland Coastals? A true Queensland adult female should be at a minimum of 9' usually well over 10' Any help out there?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Don't jump on me, but that looks like a Jungle my friend. An old Jungle.

I hope I'm wrong.

:)

[Ed_r]

Won't jump on you Jeff. I got him as an adoption from someone who kept good records. He's like 3.5 yrs old, and 8' long. Ive never seen a Jungle anywhere near that size. All the pics I see of mcdowelli seem to indicate thats what he is, plus by the pure size of him. Believe me if he was Jungle, he would probably be in the record books. Ive never seen even a female close to his size, and I've even had him probed (not fun mind you) He's all Male. I do know that the mcdowelli are the largest of the carpets. So it makes sense. Plus everyone thats ever seen him says he's coastal all the way. But I'm far from an expert on Carpets.

I was reading the Barkers book on Oz Pythons, to try and get a positive ID on him and potential mates, but their findings are too vague to make a strong determination.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Yeah, 3.5 years old is also PREMO time for Jungle colours, so that doesn't help my arguement for Jungle, ha ha!!

In the Barker book, check out the photos on page -99-. The bottom 2 pics, and the top right pic. You'll see what I'm getting at.

But looking at the head, it does look Coastal. You got a bigger shot of the head?

Danm fine snake either way. What's the temperment like?

[Smithy]

It's not unusual for McDowelli to max out at 6-7'
I have even seen some that never got over 5'6"
Average size for a captive coastal here in aus would be 7' I'd say, my 8' male is considered to be a big 'un.

[Ed_r]

Jeff, his temperment is so so if he comes out of his cage on his own he's real friendly, but if you take him out of his cage, he get's agressive. He doesn't want anyone messing with his cage at all. As soon as I have to change a buld he's stalking my hand instantly. lol He tagged me once in passing, didnt realize he even got me.
http://photo.redtailboa.net/albums/Shag/DSCF0001.sized.jpg
http://photo.redtailboa.net/albums/Shag/Shag6.sized.jpg

Smitty from how I understand it the Mcdowelli are mis identified with the Inland Coastal, I believe is metcaffi(sp) The true Queenslands are very large with 10-12' females not being uncommon. Here in the states there is allot of integrades, that are really unintentional.

Jeff I'll check out that page tonight. I think I recall the ones your talking about. i think the Jungles with the kind of zig zag pattern to them.

[daver676]

Beautiful snake, whatever it is. Great looking head.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Yeah, I agree with Dave, that is a beautiful snake nonetheless!! Great photos man! I know how hard it is to photograph carpets sometimes! And I hear ya on the changing bulb dilemma! Ha ha! Its no cake-walk over here either!

Cheers bro.

Jeff F.

[Ed_r]

He's actually quite easy to photograph, he's quite curious, and holds still trying to figure the camera out.

Thanks for the compliments guys. He's a pretty good boy. one of my favorites.

[Smithy]

Ed, I wish 10-12 footers were easy to come by. And no, I'm talking about Coastals (McDowelli) not Inlands (Metcalfi.) If they were common, I'd have one of the big ones in a second, I love big snakes.

[Dom]

Biggest coastal I have ever seen was a 17 year old 10 and a half female.. Very impressive snake.. Un fortunelty .. she past away last year..

Ed, Awesome looking snake. I'd try to get a really good head pic and consider trying to get a scale head count. To me .. I am not certain what he is .. but defenetly and amazing looking snake.

[Ed_r]

Dom, thats quite doable. What area is best to photgraph? Top of the head, under the chin, Profile? Like I said he likes the camera and it should be quite easy.
Where are you going for the scale count information? Like I said before I was quite disappointed with the Barker's book, thought it would be a little more exact in the descriptions.

The close up of the profile shot of him is a much larger pic. It literally will take up a whole screen. I'm on a 19" monitor and I had to shrink it to fit it.lol If I'm not mistaken the actual file size for the pic is 1.3 Meg and thats in a jpg. So it a HUGE pic.
Shag Pic (http://photo.redtailboa.net/Shag/DSCF0001)
Theres tha actual link for it. Double click on the pic for true size.

[Dom]

Ed// I don't do the scale counts.. hell I aint that smart or have that kind of time lol .. but there is one or two ppl here that have really good knowledge on the scale counts of the different morelias.. there names or slipping away form me .. Anyone can help?

Id take pics of the top of the head and maybe a nice side shot too .. That big pic might be usable.. but I could not say

Dom

[Ed_r]

hell I aint that smart or have that kind of time lol

lol Im With ya there. Well I may be smart enough as Im sure you are, just not experienced enough. Definately don't have the time either, or the resources.

If anyone thinks they can help. I'll take the pics.

I'm fairly sure of what Shag is. My big concern for the need for knowledge is i finding him a mate. He's my special guy, so I want him to have a special girl :D

[JDouglas]

Scale counting is easy if you count them on a shed skin. You can mark each scale as you go.

[JKUROSKI]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Don't jump on me, but that looks like a Jungle my friend. An old Jungle.

I hope I'm wrong.

:)


Jeff, even I know that's a coastal! LOL ;)

Let me edit this.....that's not an attack, just a laugh!

Carpets in the US and Canada are so far removed from their wild counterparts, that scale count's, color, and pattern are a far cry from being able to pin point sub species. They have been intermixed and bred back to their type so many time that most are just carpets. That snakes shows some signs of mcdowelli, but also has a very dark head pattern typical of cheynei. But it looks more on the coastal side.