Coastal Carpet Python Care

[hughligen]

Hi there.

I have only recently decided to start keeping snakes and am buying a coastal carpet python as my first snake.
As this is my first snake I was wondering if anyone could help me on how to set-up my terrarium. I have not bought anything for it yet and was mainly wondering about lighting and heating for the snake.
If anyone has some info it would be much appreciated.

also if at all possible use metric units so I can visualize it better

thanks

 

[Timmy-Morelia]

everyones here to help ya

 

[kandi]

they like to climb so something to climb . hide to hide small if your python is small, substrate "newspaper" water dish someting that does not overflow if python decides to soak and heating, some i have 40watt bulbs in winter some have a heatmat and the other has a heat rock. fishtanks lose alot of heat . my heating depends on what type of enclosure i have and i have various.

 

[hughligen]

What kind of bulbs do you need, and how do you mount them? for example, do I need a daylight bulb, spot lamp, night lamp or all of the above? and do I need a heat pad? Also, I live in northern NSW. near byron bay and have seen carpet pythons in the wild quite often. in summer is can be quite hot, 28º-35ºc and in winter it can get as low as 15ºc although is usually about 18ºc in the morning and about 25º during the day.

one last question. If the cage is big (about 1.2 meters length, 50cm depth and 60cm hight) will a young snake (hatchling) freak out.

thanks for the help

 

[bundysnake]

The snake sure will freak out mate..........you only need a 7-10L plastic tub with air holes cut in it for the first 12months. Simply place a heat mat under 1/4 of the tub (connect to a probe thermostat, just place the probe on the hot ends floor) set the temp and away you go.

Throw some toilet paper rolls in there for hides and a small ceramic water dish.

 

[hughligen]

The snake sure will freak out mate..........you only need a 7-10L plastic tub with air holes cut in it for the first 12months. Simply place a heat mat under 1/4 of the tub (connect to a probe thermostat, just place the probe on the hot ends floor) set the temp and away you go.

Throw some toilet paper rolls in there for hides and a small ceramic water dish.

thanks. aren't heat mat's expensive? could I use something a bit cheaper or just buy a heat mat and keep it for when it gets older/other hatchies I get?

 

[jdonly1]

You can get heat mats for about $50 dollars,then your going to need a thermostat,about another $60 bucks

 

[serpenttongue]

I recommend you buy 'Keeping Carpets Pythons' by reptile keeper publications. They're about $15 and can be found in most decent petshops.

 

[hughligen]

You can get heat mats for about $50 dollars,then your going to need a thermostat,about another $60 bucks

I found one on ebay thats 5w and is 14cm by 15cm. would that be hot enough?

 

[jdonly1]

I found one on ebay thats 5w and is 14cm by 15cm. would that be hot enough?

Im not sure mate,Im still learning also

 

[hughligen]

if anyone has a picture of the set-up they are using for their hatchlings that would be awesome

thanks

 

[beefa270]

I have raised all my hatchies in large enclosures with absolutely no problems, In the wild they are in a pretty big enclosure ;-)

 

[redbellybite]

if your not prepared to cough up the funds to be able to keep a healthy python ,why did you buy one ?
You cant dip out on the needs of the snake because you wanna do it on the cheap
your initial first outlay will be expensive ,but once you have it all .you will only be maintaining so the cost will go down ...if your getting a hatchy ,then you need to put it in a click clack tub ,which are not expensive
and you will need a thermo and a heatmat ,just a small one will be fine as your tub wont be large ...
your snake will be in the tub for a while ,so you will have plenty of time to save up for a bigger enclosure.,..
in the tub put newspaper as a substrate ,toilet rolls as hides ,have one end of the tub the warm end ,keep the water at the cool end ...and make sure you defrost your pinkies properly ...enjoy your snake

 

[ShaunMorelia]

You can pick up heatmats with a built in thermo 7w for $50.
I think they are a reptile 1 product.

 

[shannii84]

This is my enclosure for a 2 yr old coastal 4 ft long..