Newbie - how big do they get

[Whit68]

G'day all,

I am considering getting a South West Carpet Python but I want to be really sure what I am getting into first.

I want to know how big one will get when it "grows up" and how difficult/time consuming they are to look after.

Any info/advoce would be fantastic.

Anthony

[Earthling]

Someone else will have to help you out on size but I can help on time.

Usually a cage clean after each poo/fortnightly is recomended.
That will take.........depends on your cage size...say 10 minutes.
If feeding fortnightly that will take 10 minutes if you hang around and watch.
Clean water bowl and fresh water twice a week. 5 minutes each time

Money wise, which many people dont look at.
Costs: vet check and poo sample analised every 6-12 months (around $60 each visit)
Rats: Around $2-$10 each
If something goes wrong and a vet is needed expect to pay up to $200 for a biggish problem.

Difficulty is minimal, especially if you get a wee hatchy and look after it as it gets bigger. Your confidence will grow usually at a similiar rate as the snake grows....make sense?
Sometimes a snappy snake can be a bit intimidating..... however they usually calm down. Just handle it before you buy to make sure its not freaking out and snapping at everything.

Good question and good luck

[Kathryn_]

I think they average about 2m but I could be wrong.

Most pythons are pretty low maintenance, compared with cats and dogs etc. Feed twice a week when little (until about 6 months old), once every week or two after that (until maybe two years old) and once every two to three weeks when they're all grown up, give the enclosure a good clean every week and change the water every day. Make sure you have the number of a local reptile vet just in case, and you're good to go. There's plenty of caresheets around online for more detailed information.

[Crazy_Snake08]

I have five snakes at current in five seperate enclosures ranging in size from 4ftx2ftx2ft down to 2ftx1ftx1ft and the amount of time to clean up, change the newspaper and bedding, wash down water bowls and general cleaning will take roughly 1-2 hours a week. I pick up poo more-or-less when I see it when I'm checking up on them.

Vets can get expensive if the snake does get really sick. But out of five snakes I've had for 4 years now, only one has had a major issue and that was resolved within a week and $196.

Food can get expensive but it all depends on how often you feed them. Feed them regularly, you need to outlay more money, weekly or fortnightly and it's a little cheaper. What you feed them will also alter price.

Hope it helps...

_settle

[Crazy_Snake08]

I think a south-western carpert will get to around the 3m mark. Not 100% sure though. Just guessing since it's in the Morelia Spilota family.