New to the game - have a few questions - any answers appreciated!

[clare_ashley]

Hi everyone!

I have had my first pet python (coastal carpet) for around 4 months now.. he is around 2 years old.

1. I obviously asked the person I bought him off and have been trying to read up but I can't find much help on heating? I live on the gold coast and am wondering if I will need to put in extra heat source over winter - the enclosure is 90cm x60cm on the base and 120cm tall - how would be the best way to set the heating up? The person I bought him off did not use any heating or lighting and just let the snake hibernate away - but can you still handle them in the colder months?

2. How much should I be feeding him/how often? I have just moved him up to 1 medium rat every 2 weeks - but is this too much/ are the rats too fatty? I know a lot of people have different opinions on this too.

3. I would love to try breeding him in the future, but I get the impression that a lot of snakes used for breeding become less like pets and more like assets to their owners. Why is this? Do snakes become more difficult to handle when they are breeding? On this note also - can you breeding different types of pythons together (e.g. do I have to get another coastal carpet python to breed with this one?)

They sound like stupid questions but all help is welcome!

Thanks

 

[clare_ashley]

3. I would love to try breeding him in the future, but I get the impression that a lot of snakes used for breeding become less like pets and more like assets to their owners. Why is this? Do snakes become more difficult to handle when they are breeding? On this note also - can you breeding different types of pythons together (e.g. do I have to get another coastal carpet python to breed with this one?)

Also, in QLD do you need a special licence to breed reptiles?

 

[Shotta]

feeding seems fine you would need a hot spot of about 31-33, snakes brumate they just sorta shutdown if that makes sense lol you can still handle them also what sort of tank is it is it a wooden enclosure or all glass? if its all glass like those reptile one tanks you could use a heatmat or a heatlamp

 

[Shotta]

this thread should help

[h=1]Thread: Tips for Newbies thread![/h]

 

[Keysman]

How big is the snake ?
his/her enclosure should be about half there size
think your height would be fine but length ??????
I suggest a heat globe at 33ish on the warm side and also have a cool side
never cross breed it is illegal
And snakes will be destroyed
get another coastal

 

[clare_ashley]

The snake is about 130cm - 140cm we have never fully measured him. The enclosure is made of wood so you wouldn't recommend a heat mat?

 

[Keysman]

Hmmmm at some stage you would need a bigger enclosure coastal can get rather big
dosent matter if its made of wood I use a heat Mat in my spotted enclosure smaller snake tho
for all carpets they should have a basking source eg light

 

[montysrainbow]

View attachment 284914I am in Brissy and whilst in summer i dont use heat all the time the rest of the yr i do. I recently converted a display cabinet into an enclosure for my coastal....it was about $250 all up and should last him a while. I use a ceremic heat lamp mounted to the top and caged so that he cant burn himself along with a small fluro for daylight (doesnt pump out much heat) i have branches near and away from the heat and find that he spends most his time up on them....def go a lamp rather than heat mat i think coastals prefer them i do have a hide on bottom however he only uses it when in shed mode. Oh and i run the heat through a thermostat....cost me around $100 but good for the peace of mind 8) since this pic was taken ive hung another log beneath the top one so that he can choose what temp he wants. I will also be fitting a normal caged green party globe for my own pleasure to view him at night - only a buck each at bunnings!

I feed mine weekly (apart from shedding time he skips a week then) he is on 2x weaner rats a wk at the moment. Coastals are pretty much bomb proof lol as long as the enclosure grows with him and he has a warm area and a cool area fresh food and water he should be fine. As 4 the breeding im clueless lol will leave that for someone who knows what they r talking about. I had mine outdoors last summer however ive moved him inside again for the cooler months.

 

[clare_ashley]

Wow thanks for that! Does the thermostat quickly deteriorate the ceramic heat lamp though? I have heard if you switch them on and off a lot they go bust more quickly. The problem I have is that the enclosure I have at the moment has a normal household light fitting in it - the ones that you just push in. We have a UV bulb in there at the moment, that we leave on for a couple of hours each day, but I wanted to get one of those red tinted heating lamps which heats and gives colour. I can only find those with a screw fitting though. do the ceramic heating ones have the screw fitting too?

Nice enclosure by the way!

 

[harlemrain]

Wow thanks for that! Does the thermostat quickly deteriorate the ceramic heat lamp though? I have heard if you switch them on and off a lot they go bust more quickly. The problem I have is that the enclosure I have at the moment has a normal household light fitting in it - the ones that you just push in. We have a UV bulb in there at the moment, that we leave on for a couple of hours each day, but I wanted to get one of those red tinted heating lamps which heats and gives colour. I can only find those with a screw fitting though. do the ceramic heating ones have the screw fitting too?

Nice enclosure by the way!

I don't think I've seen a heat lamp that isn't a screw in. Yes the thermostat does cause the light to blow quicker as it's turning on and off unless you pay a fortune for those special heat lamps that "fade" in and out but overall I don't think it's makes too much difference, a small price to pay for peace of mind

Oh and regards to the choice between infared and ceramic heat lamps I personally prefer ceramic, I found my infared (red tinted light) would last two months max, probably due to turning on and off with thermostat and my ceramics have lasted 6+months but everyone prefers something different, you have to find what works for you.

 

[blackforest]

Ive been running my ceramic lamps for over a year now with no problems. I used to have Inrared globes but found they would last between a week and a couple of months. You can get banet fitting infrared but i have only ever see screw in Ceramics. I would also recomend cages for you heat lamps especially if your using ceramics. Not only for your snakes safety but for yours as well. I still have the scar on my arm from bumping a ceramic while it was on.

 

[Sirsy]

I use infrared light globes, the one in my stimmies tank has been running for 2 years, never blown (touch wood) but I use dimming thermostats they cost a little extra but I think they're worth it

 

[sharky]

View attachment 284914.

That is a NICE enclosure!

Ceramic globes are the way to go. They work for a good year (Sometimes more) whereas infareds blow after a month, even a few days at times :?
Also do not buy ceramics from petshops. Most charge $80-$100 for one when you can get them on ebay for about $20.

A heat pad is optional. I would say a heat globe with basking spot would be enough but you can add a heat mat if you want.

Some pythons do become agressive but most of the time they stay 'the same' with no real attitude change.

 

[Spiral-Python]

You can purchase bayonet (push in) to edison (screw) fittings that are specifically designed with heat resistance for ceramic heat "lamps", some of these also claim to increase the life of your heater by doing something to trickle heat in when current is switched through. Can't comment if these (very expensive) ones actually do increase the life span of the heater. You can buy these in specialist electronics shops and on eBay.

 

[clare_ashley]

Sorry I tried to have a look for one of those fittings and there were a lot of cheap ones that looked a bit tacky. Can you recommend a good quality one?

 

[fre0005]

those bayonett to edison adapters, i purchased two online for about $3 for both, been using them for a few months now with no problems at all, no burns, no sign of melting what so ever.. works just as normal

 

[BlueGecko]

I use infrared light globes, the one in my stimmies tank has been running for 2 years, never blown (touch wood) but I use dimming thermostats they cost a little extra but I think they're worth it

Where did you get a dimming thermostat from? I cant even find them on ebay!

 

[Stuart]

Herp Shop, one of our sponsors mate.

 

[dannydee]

Dimmer thermostats are the way to go. You can use them with ceramics or globes, without shortening their life expectancy. They don't turn the light off, they just reduce its output. Like already mentioned, they are more expensive but they make so much more sense.

 

[LaraJane]

I like the red Heat bulbs as it seems to not scare my little one and she comes out and plays more with that and not light bulb