For those of you who own a Carpet!

[Michaeladevine1]

Im looking into purchasing a jungle carpet python, how are there tempers? (from your experience) how are they compared to a ball?
-Thanks!

[exwizard]

They are much more active than a Ball, more inquisitive and always on the go. Ive heard the babies have the potential to be somewhat bitey but that has not been my experience. Every Carpet I have ever seen has been very tame and handleable, even the babies. I have yearlings now and they are even more tame than the Carpets Ive been around before. Hers few pics of Mick and Sheila. Not only are they fun but theyre pretty as well.

[youngster]

exwizard covered it pretty well. The hatchlings are known for being bitey but that's part of the fun for me. But basically every older carpet is dog tame from what I've seen.
They are certainly more active than a royal. But IMO waaaaayyy more fun (no offense to the avid ballers out there )

How could you not want that face? Even if it's trying to bite your face off

[Hillsberry]

Baby carpets are very nippy, but with time they do calm down. Carpets are always on the move looking to climb. Carpets are semi-arboreal snakes. Bottom line carpets make amazing pets. With some handling babies do calm down. Hopes this helps!

[UwabamiReptiles]

Jungles are known for being nippy as hatchlings. But I think that is for every hatchling snake. I know people who's meanest snake they have is a ball python. Carpets are my hands down favorite python for the following reasons: They are active and are curious about everything, holding them is never just sit there and hold a blob(ball python ). They get a good size to them, they are still very impressive without being a monster of a snake. They make great display animals, a carpet in a display viv on a perch is one of the best sights I personally can see. Most display snakes are "hands off", carpets are not. I have 5 of them and I haven't had any aggressive behavior from any of them at all.

Not to mention all the different kinds (ijs, jungles, and coastals) and morphs ( jags, albinos, tiger, zebras, caramels, etc). There is a carpet for everyone's taste now. My first snake was a adult IJ carpet and I will always have a carpet in my collection.

To answer your temperament question more thoroughly, they are different from a ball python. A bp will usually go into a ball when you approach them. A carpet will watch you the entire time you're approaching them. I have one that every time I touch her she will head butt me then I pick her up and she's a sweetheart. The only time they are iffy is feeding time. Carpets have a great feeding response(my bps drive me crazy with not eating!).

I think if you have the space, carpets are great animals. If you want a jungle, if I were you I would research breeders and get a top of the line animal. Jungles can be so variable, so spending the extra $ is definitely worth it.

[GarterPython]

I am jsut wondering, how big do they get? I am not going to get one since they are to big plus im not even sure if I can get a tiny Garter/Corn snake but I was just wondering how big they get because they don't look that big?

[youngster]

Originally Posted by GarterPython

I am jsut wondering, how big do they get? I am not going to get one since they are to big plus im not even sure if I can get a tiny Garter/Corn snake but I was just wondering how big they get because they don't look that big?

They differ, male IJs only get about 5-6 foot while female coastals tend to go big at like 9+ foot.

[GarterPython]

Okay thank you

[Michaeladevine1]

Thank you all! this really helped!

[Michaeladevine1]

Originally Posted by exwizard

They are much more active than a Ball, more inquisitive and always on the go. Ive heard the babies have the potential to be somewhat bitey but that has not been my experience. Every Carpet I have ever seen has been very tame and handleable, even the babies. I have yearlings now and they are even more tame than the Carpets Ive been around before. Hers few pics of Mick and Sheila. Not only are they fun but theyre pretty as well.

Gorgeous!!

[UwabamiReptiles]

I forgot pics . Here are some of my carpets.

My 75% ij jag.


My 7 year old IJ female, she's close to 10lbs. She's a big girl.



Here's my jungle female.

[Terranaut]

Yup. Everything is covered. Love my carpets. Just don't name them Mick or Shiela. Lol!
My Mick



My Shiela

[red ink]

Well since every one is showing off their carpets here's a couple more to help convince you that a JCP is the right choice...

A pair of JCPs at home
Male




Female




GO the carpet mate you won't be disappointed.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Michaeladevine1

Im looking into purchasing a jungle carpet python, how are there tempers? (from your experience) how are they compared to a ball?
-Thanks!

carpet python hatchlings can be bitey,its mostly defensive biting though

once they get a bit of size about them and realise your not a threat,they usually settle/calm down

of my own collection,its been the jungles that were the most defensive/bitey as hatchlings

i even had an adult that just did not calm down and remained bitey

carpets usually mistake fast hand movements as food or a threat,so they will strike you

once they realise your not food,they let go

i've found,they also go into feeding mode the minute they smell the prey defrosting (and i defrost in a seperate room).they usually stay in feeding mode a good 24 hours after feeding

i tend to leave mine alone for 3 days to digest their meal,so i have no trouble being mistaken for food

when they're in feeding mode,they tend to strike you with a feeding response,during a feeding response,they tend to constrict and try and eat the part of you they're latched onto

.imo,its because they can smell rats,and feel the heat in their mouth from you and they will also taste your blood.imo,this confuses them and they think your food

they are amazing snakes to keep,always up to something,or hanging off a branch,great feeding response,hard fast strikers,also very hardy and fascinating to keep

i don't know much about ball pythons,but the ones i've personally handled,have been very tollerant,timid,placid animals.a lot different to carpets pythons.move fast,or approach a carpet fast from above and a carpet will strike first ask questionsl later

you learn fairly quickly how to read them,and always make sure its awake/aware of you before you pick it up.i've found they get startled fairly easily

i'm sure you'll love keeping carpets,and you DO get a lot of placid hatchlings,also imo if you find a placid sub adult,or placid adult,then they tend to stay placid their whole lives

when talking to the seller,ask for as much lineage/bloodline informamation he can give you.imo,its always best to get as much history as possible,genetic wise with carpets

cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Yup. Everything is covered. Love my carpets. Just don't name them Mick or Shiela. Lol!
My Mick



My Shiela

sheila's a lovely looking big girl,she's pretty big for a jungle,she's a good ooking jungle mate

any breeding plans for her ?

cheers shaun