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Deciding between JCP or BP

F

FuZZ84

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I am going to the White Plains Reptile Expo on 7/10/05, and I am still deciding if I should get a ball python or a jungle carpet python. Basically it all depends on how I'm going to have to set up his or her tank. I have a 10 gallon and plan to use a bedding that holds humidity but doesnt mold (people say aspen molds up, any other suggestions?). Also for heating I plan to use infrared heat lamps. Can anyone help me decide how a good setup for a baby JCP in a 10 gallon tank would be? Thanks
 
You should decide what you want to get based upon what you want to have not your initial set up. A BP will likely be 4-5 feet full grown whereas a JCP will be about a foot longer on average though some are even longer. One thing you can be sure of however is that any JCP that you could buy is captive bred. Exports from their native Australia has been prohibited for years. On the other hand there are still many imported or "farmed" BP's brought in every year from Africa. Dealing with a reputable breeder will help you avoid those animals as they are not always the best "pets" for a first time owner.

As for the set up, I have used aspen a lot. It does mold if you let it stay wet but it's often not a huge issue if you spot clean spills and excrement. If you are really worried about humidity then use cypress (NOT cedar) mulch. If you must use a glass aquarium, get a plastic top, or cover a good bit of the screen top with a moist towel. This will help to retain heat and humidity. Be careful that the towel does not come in contact with a heat lamp as they can catch fire.

Honestly, a 10 gallon fish tank is a bit large for a hatchling BP or JCP in my opinion. Either should be in something no larger than shoe box at first. They can get stressed in too large an enclosure and, especially in the case of a BP, not feed.

As for which snake I like better, I am very partial to carpets in general. They are much more interesting in my opinion, and stay semi-arboreal into adulthood. Also, they tend to be better feeders. One of the biggest frustrations of new BP owners is that they want to handle their snake, the snake gets stressed, the snake doesn't eat. Also, if you plan to keep the animal in a high traffic area of the house, a young BP is not always a great choice as it can and will get stressed just from all the activity around it. They are best kept in a quiet part of the house.

If you do get a JCP, a word to the wise is to get it on rats young. Many will imprint on mice and refuse to switch after they are older. Feeding 5-6 mice at a time to an adult snake can get old in a hurry, not to mention expensive.
 
Thanks Jim, size isn't really a big issue for me. What size rats would I have to feed a full grown JCP? 5-6 mice... wow. Another question, I just started looking around for frozen rats and they are expensive, any reason for that? (BTW I'm most likley going to get the JCP, they look so awsome perched up on a branch of some sort). Thanks again.
 
Nevermind about the rat prices, I just checked rodent pro and they have good prices on rats, any comments or complaints about them?
 
FuZZ84 said:
Nevermind about the rat prices, I just checked rodent pro and they have good prices on rats, any comments or complaints about them?
Click to expand...
That would be a BOI issue here. There are several threads about them. Here are a couple:

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59970&highlight=rodentpro

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58060&highlight=rodentpro

I hope they help.

As for the number of mice vs a rat issue, consider the sizes. An adult JCP eats a medium to large rat, say 180g. Even the jumbo mice are only about 40g, and the adults are 25g or so.
 
Thanks for the links Jim, as for feeders Im deffinetley going to switch him or her to rats. Last question, how often do I mist the tank? and also is a humid hide spot good for a tank if the tanks is also misted?
 
I only mist them during shedding. They tend to do well without any additional humidity in my experience.
 
Well guys, I purchased a male JCP from Robbie Hamper at the expo. And I got bit by my snake just minutes ago (1st snake bite). And like everyone says... it didn't hurt... scary though. Besides that, this snake is a cool little guy, loves to move for one thing.
 
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