I'v wanted to keep a snake for years but am vegetarian and never liked the idea of packin dead animals in my freezer!!! Eventually decided to go for it anyway!!!

I volunteer at a reptile rescue centre but this will be my first snake. i cant decide whether to go for a coastal or jaya carpet??? Would a male coastal be much bigger than a female jaya?

Everywhere seems to state different sizes for coastals, just after sum valid advise really!?

Cheers, John

coastals can get to 12ft where irian jayas get to only around 4ft, occasionally making 6ft,

so if you want to save space go for an irian jaya,

but if you had the space for either, go for the one you like more, i personally prefer the coastals over the irian jayas.

also this may get moved to the snake section, it will get more answers there,

__________________
New online rep shop opening within the next few months, (food, dry goods, and livestock).

couple of hundred various reptiles

From my experience Coastals are the better snake to keep. They have better tempreraments, tollerate handling better, feed better and i always feel they are slightly more intelligent than IJ's. Also i have an adult coastal at 5ft and have seen Irian Jaya's reach 8ft Depends greatly on what you feed and how often. If size is a problem, get yourself a nice male coastal, i assume it will be a rescue? If not, go for a Rockhampton Local as they are generally smaller example's of the species compared to the larger Brisbanes for example. There are always exeptions however so its wise to plan for a larger animal of course...

The best of luck.

__________________

Cheers for the advice, recon i will go for a coastal! Probly wont be a rescue as most of the snakes at the centre are residents. We havent got any carpets in either

Was also wondering if anyone new of any coastal breeders in Norfolk? Oh and also is it sufficient to simply run branches and stuff from outside under realy hot water for a while before putting them in a viv?

Coastals are the nicer looking snake but can get quite large. I think thay all have similar housing needs.

Branches from trees are OK so long as there are no pesticides. I cut the bark off and then leave them a couple of months to dry out. A long soak in very hot water would probably kill off any remaining wildlife.

__________________
Snickers
Snakes - Carpet Pythons1.1 Bredl's Python (Neville/Luna)1.1 Jungle X Carpet Python (Molly/Arthur)0.1 Diamond X Carpet Python (Aurora)
Inverts - Tarantulas0.0.1 B. bohemi - Mexican Fireleg (George)0.0.1 B. emilia - Mexican Red Leg (Ginny)0.0.1 B. smithi - Mexican Red Knee (Fred)0.0.1 B. vagans - Mexican Red Rump (Charlie)0.0.1 C. fimbriata - Indian Chevron (Snape)0.0.1 C. cyaneopubescens - GBB (Mosag)0.0.1 E. vulpinus0.0.1 E. sp. "blue femur"0.1.0 G. rosea - Chile Rose (Aragog)0.0.1 L. parahybana - Salmon Pink Birdeater (Hagrid)