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Morelia spilota harisson

Harrisonkl

Origin: It is the only carpet python living outside of Australia. Their habitat is the island of New Guinea, north of Australia. They usually live in dry savannas and eucalyptus forests.
Length: 1.50 to 1.80 meters one of the smallest carpet python species.
Age: up to 20 years
Their bodies have brown bands with beige to yellow areas in between, surrounded by black outlines.

Care
Experience: Average snake keeper
Food: Live or dead prey. Primary give prey animal are mice and rats.
Adult feeding: every 7 to 10 days. Young boas can be fed once a week.
Feeding young: Every 5 to 6 days
Water basin: Yes
Change water: 3 times a week
Food
There is a choice to offer the prey animals alive or dead. Although it is advisable to offer your carpet python dead prey animals. This is because it is more practical and prevents the food animal from injuring your snake. Thereby it is advised to offer the food animal with a pair of tongs and to feed your snake outside the residence. This ensures that your hand is not associated with food and prevents your snake from grasping your hand during feeding. If you go for live food, you must supervise it during feeding. This is because the prey can injure the snake. If you hold the carpet python together with other snakes, you will have to take them apart for feeding, this will prevent the snakes from injuring each other while feeding.

Water
The water basin is of course used for drinking, but carpet pythons also use it for bathing. For this reason, the water bowl must be large enough for the snake to be able to lie with its entire body. Because the snake is in the water basin, the water will be polluted a bit faster, for this reason the water must be changed regularly. We recommend changing the water if the pollution is high.

Cleaning
To prevent the development of health problems for your snake, the accommodation must be cleaned regularly. This prevents the accumulation of harmful substances and diseases. It is advisable to clean the accommodation once a week. In addition, to prevent the build-up of bacteria, the entire enclosure must be cleaned and disinfected a few times a year.

Handling
To perform handling with the snake, the snake must be handled. carpet pythons are usually calm snakes, but certain things must be taken into account during handling. If your snake is handling use a snake hook or lift it with both hands. Do not hang your snake around your neck, this is because if the snake falls it will clamp itself around your neck. There are some important things to look out for when handling a carpet python. First make sure that your snake understands that you are going to handle it and move gently when you handle it. Also make sure that your hands are washed and do not smell like food. Finally, do not handle your snake when it is peeling and do not handle it in the dark.

Housing
Minimum size of enclosure for 2 snakes: 150 x 60 x 80 cm
Lying surface: 1 m2 with at least one raised lounger per snake on which the entire snake can lie.
Day temperature: 23-27C
Night temperature: 19-21C
Hours of light: 12 hours
Humidity degree: 75% -80%
Ground cover: Newspapers, bark or peat litter
Device
The carpet python is a resident of the jungle and lives in the trees above. To recreate this in their enclosure, they need several raised plateaus to lie on. They also need climbing possibilities, which can be offered in the form of climbing branches. If you offer him enough climbing spots and elevation, they spend most of the time off the ground. This is important to take into account for the choices of the enclosure. Rather a higher enclosure than a larger surface. In addition to climbing, they really enjoy bathing, so they need a water basin large enough for the carpet python to lie in.

For the enclosure there are some extra things to pay attention to. The carpet python, for example, are quite good at escaping, it will have to be ensured that they cannot simply open their door. In addition, ventilation is needed to keep the air fresh and it is advisable to enclosure out of the bright sun and to place it as vibration-free as possible.

Behaviour
Hunting method: Constricting snake.
Lifestyle: Semi-arboreal & night active
Character: Calm animals that are usually in a good mood. This makes them easy to handle and great pets. Young specimens can be defensive.
Points of attention: The carpet python is a strangle snake and can eat prey larger than its head. Therefore, keep in mind that you will not leave it alone with small children or pets. This is because he can also see this as prey.

Costs and Purchase
Legislation: The jungle carpet python falls under CITES II, to own this snake you need CITES or transfer papers. You should get this when purchasing.
One-off costs: This includes the costs for accommodation, lighting, heating, water bowl and decoration. This can together cost a few hundred euros to a few thousand euros. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.
Fixed costs: Fixed costs include the costs for the feed, this is several tens of euros per year.
Unexpected costs: Costs have been incurred if your snake happens to fall ill or your equipment breaks down.