Big Jungle Carpet Python

Jungle Carpet Python size

The jungle carpets are one of my favorites in the Morelia genus. They display a significant variation in both color and pattern. As hatchlings however, they are more dull in coloration. The color develops slowly and normally peaks at about 2 years of age. Some adults remain stunning animals far into their older years.
Due to the color change with age you cannot accutately determine what one of these snakes will look like as an adult. When looking for a quality jungle carpet, you need to look at the parents. Often great looking adults will pass this on to their offspring. It doesn't always work out like that, but you greatly increase your chances of ending up with a trophy jungle carpet if you buy from top notch stock to begin with, while if you buy offspring from drab low quality parents you are almost assured of having the same looking animals when they're grown.

I bought my first Jungle carpets from the Barkers in 1997 for the princely sum (for me at the time) of $700. They were the offspring of the amazing male on the cover of their book "Pythons of the World Vol. 1" and were the most expensive reptile purchase I had made until that time. It took me 6 years before I finally reproduced them. Not that they're difficult to breed, it just took me that long to figure it out. When you're in the colubrid mentality, I discovered it can be tough at first converting that thinking to working with pythons.

Caging

This species is what I consider semi-arboreal. The hatchlings are much more so than adults. It is recommended that branches be provided, and they will spend quite a bit of time using them.
Most adult jungles can be housed comfortably in a 3x2 enclosure. The really large ones though will benefit from a 4x2 cage. I like at least 18 inches of height in the cage to provide opportunities for climbing.
Temperature range should be 80-90F during the non breeding season with moderate humidity. Shedding problems are uncommon with this species, but humidity should be kept a little higher during the shed cycles.



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