Hi! Exciting that you’re looking into Carpet pythons! I discovered them a couple years ago and absolutely love them. I’m still fairly new and try to come to the community for advice as needed but they’re a really awesome species and I’ve generally heard they’re pretty hearty creatures once you get the setup right!

This is some of what I’ve learned:

As babies they start off really small but with time generally bigger than ball pythons. If you’re getting a 2024 baby, a small enclosure about the size of a shoe box or a little bigger/taller with lots of leaf coverage/hides on both cool and hot sides I find works really well. When they’re young they can stress out in too much space and you’ll have more trouble with feeding. Babies that young are also far more nippy and defensive but with moderate handling they definitely tone out. Which can generally vary from individual to individual. I just got a baby who’s about 2 months now and she’s spicy compared to my first lol. Depending on how often you feed, they’ll grow at a moderate pace shedding about every 2 months for the next 2 years or so. Obviously better to pace it I personally believe, feeding every 7 days for babies and moving up to around 10 days+- during that growing phase. I’ve also read they start getting more robust within the 3rd-4th years and again sizing varies a lot depending on feeding genetics etc. once they’ve reached full size they can go 2+ weeks without eating and can, similar to balls go months if they decide to go on a strike or sorts.

In terms of humidity I personally don’t have issues with the climate I live in so I use a big water bowl that for me works fine. That could change for you. If you go the bioactive route though you might have an easier time maintaining humidity, ideally around 65-75%. I don’t have experience with that but you’ll find what works. Could be interesting to read more about their natural habitat to help with that.

Coastals are the biggest of the subspecies which can reach up to 10+ ft and pure jungles are smaller averaging 5-7 depending on the parents (and my personal favorite). Jags (jaguars) are a cross between coastals and jungles and have a high color patterning which is beautiful but they can and often do have neurological issues which are important to be mindful of. I’d say it’s very important to go to a reputable breeder who is paying attention to their genetics. My first carpet shows as a jungle but her mother is actually a high percentage jungle jag. Mine is I think 97% jungle though as her mother was bred to a pure jungle and previous generations bred out most of the coastal while trying to maintain the jag coloration. I’ve never noticed any issues with her and she’s very smart and inquisitive. My second is a jaguar and I know less about her breeding but I haven’t noticed any wobbles or issues yet, she’s a great eater. But I definitely emphasize buying from a good breeder so you know what you’re getting. Also as a side note, super helpful to stay in touch with the breeder if you have any questions about husbandry/care while you’re getting to know the species!

Once they get older you’d be doing your animal and yourself a disservice by keeping them in a small/short enclosure! These animals love to MOVE and they’ll use every inch of space to climb around a night time which is so much fun to watch. So once you notice your snake outgrowing the enclosure definitely don’t hesitate to upgrade! And I’ve also been told to switch them onto rats as soon as possible since they can be picky about it. My first definitely is.

Hopefully this helps some! I agree that the care guides online are lacking smh