My snake has grown a lot after not eating for a month

[Mikoh4792]

I had my jungle carpet python for a month now. I give him the same type of enclosure as my Irian Jaya with the same devices/thermostat brand.
Here are both their enclosures. I give the same thermal gradient for both of them.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/mikoh4792/20130615_130717_zpse3b8aa6c.jpg
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/mikoh4792/20130615_130846_zps867d0d42.jpg

IJ eats like a champ, the JCP hasn't eaten since I got him(4 to 5 weeks). However, the one that doesn't eat has grown more! Hes becoming thicker and more muscular by the day.

Comparing him from when I first got him to today.

A month ago - big enough to eat fuzzy mice

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/mikoh4792/20130515_202430_zps195e2d81.jpg

Today - Big enough to eat hopper mice

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/mikoh4792/20130617_135357_zpsb1f1450f.jpg
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/mikoh4792/20130617_135419_zps570b4607.jpg

[smy_749]

Maybe he was given a big meal right before you purchased him? Thats the only thing I can think of, considering its impossible to obtain mass without having mass intake...

[Donnie]

He will be able to take bigger than a hopper mouse by the looks of him (unless your hands are really tiny :)) and as he hasn't eaten in so long I would offer rats rather than mice as he will be getting hungry soon and with mine they seemed to refuse rats until they were really hungry and had to eat what was offered rather than what they wanted.

[Lankyrob]

He probably wont take mice, most caroets eat rats straight from the egg, try him with something twice his girth and give the head of the rat a real good heating, reckon he will eat then :)

[Mikoh4792]

I've tried both rats and mice with no luck. I don't want him getting hooked on mice so I'll just attempt to feed him with rat fuzzies/weaned from now on.

[smy_749]

I've tried both rats and mice with no luck. I don't want him getting hooked on mice so I'll just attempt to feed him with rat fuzzies/weaned from now on.

I fed my jungle 5 mice per sitting when I got him, since the owner was feeding him mice for his whole life. After a few months, just gave him a rat and he was all good. Moral of my story, he probably won't get hooked on mice. I don't find jungles to be picky eaters.

[Lankyrob]

I've tried both rats and mice with no luck. I don't want him getting hooked on mice so I'll just attempt to feed him with rat fuzzies/weaned from now on.

If you have only had him a month yet tried both rats and mice how often are you trying?

Also where are you feeding him? My jungle when he was little would only feed hanging upside from a branch, if he was on the floor when ratty appeared he would shoot up a branch and then pounce from above.

[Mikoh4792]

If you have only had him a month yet tried both rats and mice how often are you trying?

Also where are you feeding him? My jungle when he was little would only feed hanging upside from a branch, if he was on the floor when ratty appeared he would shoot up a branch and then pounce from above.

I try feeding him every few days only for a minute. I tried leaving the rat overnight as some have suggested but most times I will dangle the prey item for a minute. If he shows no interest I give it to my rat disposal machine a.k.a. cali king snake.

Because I've tried feeding him numerous times I try feeding him when he is perched and sometimes when he is on the ground. Most of the times I've tried were at night when I caught him roaming around his enclosure.

My IJ will eat anytime, anything, anywhere. Has no preference towards mice or rats.

[Lankyrob]

I would give him more time between attempts, constantly hassling him with food is more likely to put him off

[Mikoh4792]

I would give him more time between attempts, constantly hassling him with food is more likely to put him off

How long should I give him?

[Lankyrob]

How long should I give him?

Seven days is the shortest time i have ever left between attempts.

[Mikoh4792]

Seven days is the shortest time i have ever left between attempts.

7 days it is then.

I know it depends on the individual more than the species, but I thought carpets naturally have strong feeding responses.

[RyanReptile]

Have you tried braining the rodent?

[Mikoh4792]

Have you tried braining the rodent?

I've tried a lot of things including braining. I left it in there overnight, I tried dangling it from below and above. I've tried feeding while he was roaming and stationary. I just don't know, I guess time will tell.

I did something that almost made me throw up today. I cut a rat in half symmetrically for one of my baby kingsnakes because the rat pup was too big for it. It's literally a hatchling and the pet stores were out of rat pinkies. Will never do that again. I saw things that didn't need to be seen.

[smy_749]

I've tried a lot of things including braining. I left it in there overnight, I tried dangling it from below and above. I've tried feeding while he was roaming and stationary. I just don't know, I guess time will tell.

I did something that almost made me throw up today. I cut a rat in half symmetrically for one of my baby kingsnakes because the rat pup was too big for it. It's literally a hatchling and the pet stores were out of rat pinkies. Will never do that again. I saw things that didn't need to be seen.


Try different scents. Rub a fish on one (no I'm not saying fish is a staple in the diet or that they prefer it, but it doesn't hurt...) or try a chick, or a rabbit. Maybe something will spark his interest a bit more.

Edit: I meant rabbit pinky, and Idk how large he is, if hes not big enough to down it, you can still scent with em though. It doesn't hurt to try.

[Mikoh4792]

Try different scents. Rub a fish on one (no I'm not saying fish is a staple in the diet or that they prefer it, but it doesn't hurt...) or try a chick, or a rabbit. Maybe something will spark his interest a bit more.

Edit: I meant rabbit pinky, and Idk how large he is, if hes not big enough to down it, you can still scent with em though. It doesn't hurt to try.

I've heard of the tuna scenting trick. I might try that since I have a few cans of abalone sitting around.

[Lankyrob]

For now i would offer a rat once a week in a consistent manner, unless the snake is looking skinny or losing condition i dont see the point in messing around

[Terranaut]

^^^^^^ This.
Just give it proper husbandry and offer food weekly. The snake will take care of itself otherwise. If it eats, great if not ,wait. No biggie.

[Ourobouros]

Have you tried live food?

[Ourobouros]

^^^^^^ This.
Just give it proper husbandry and offer food weekly. The snake will take care of itself otherwise. If it eats, great if not ,wait. No biggie.

I don't know much about this particular kind of snake but I've heard of some ball pythons starving themselves to death during the breeding season.... So... Yeah... >_> something I would keep in mind... Juuuuuuust in case

[Mikoh4792]

I don't know much about this particular kind of snake but I've heard of some ball pythons starving themselves to death during the breeding season.... So... Yeah... >_> something I would keep in mind... Juuuuuuust in case

If my snake starves itself to death that would be horrible.

[Ourobouros]

If my snake starves itself to death that would be horrible.

Which is why I'd try live food.

[Mikoh4792]

Which is why I'd try live food.

This has been on my mind for the last week but my store is always out of small live rodents. Their supply of frozen food is also bad which is why I just order from online. Is there a place I can order live rats?

[Donnie]

One of my jungles went about 14 weeks before she was hungry enough to eat the rat she was offered, don't panic yet and I don't think now is the time to be trying live yet. As mentioned just keep offering a rat every 7 days and he will eventually eat it.

[brylecc1989]

This has been on my mind for the last week but my store is always out of small live rodents. Their supply of frozen food is also bad which is why I just order from online. Is there a place I can order live rats?

It would take a long time for your snake to starve. Probably about a year. Like other people said, as long as it's not losing weight (which you stated it isn't) then there's really no reason to fret :) IMO it's more dangerous to feed live rats than is posed by a snake not eating for a month or 2, or even 3.

[Ourobouros]

It would take a long time for your snake to starve. Probably about a year. Like other people said, as long as it's not losing weight (which you stated it isn't) then there's really no reason to fret :) IMO it's more dangerous to feed live rats than is posed by a snake not eating for a month or 2, or even 3.

I was thinking of something smaller if live food...

[Lankyrob]

If my snake starves itself to death that would be horrible.

Shauny hatched a carpet and straight from the egg it went TEN MONTHS without eating anything at all, it is still alive and thriving today. Just stick to offering rats once a wweek until it eats, no tricks no fuss.

Unless the snake starts to look ill or lose weight there is no concerns at all.

[Mikoh4792]

Shauny hatched a carpet and straight from the egg it went TEN MONTHS without eating anything at all, it is still alive and thriving today. Just stick to offering rats once a wweek until it eats, no tricks no fuss.

Unless the snake starts to look ill or lose weight there is no concerns at all.

Today was feeding day for my kingsnakes and I just thought why not try again with my JCP. If it didn't work I was going to wait another week. I left a rat fuzzy and a mouse hopper in their next to eachother. He only ate the mouse. I'm just happy he ate something. I just need to figure out a way to switch him over now.

[Lankyrob]

Well its a start! At least now you will be a bit more relaxed

[Donnie]

Today was feeding day for my kingsnakes and I just thought why not try again with my JCP. If it didn't work I was going to wait another week. I left a rat fuzzy and a mouse hopper in their next to eachother. He only ate the mouse. I'm just happy he ate something. I just need to figure out a way to switch him over now.

I am glad he ate for you. The only way to switch him over will to be stop offering him mice. It will take time but you have just got to stick with it and never offer a mouse again unless his health starts to deteriorate then you may have to (I doubt it would come to this though)

[Mikoh4792]

I am glad he ate for you. The only way to switch him over will to be stop offering him mice. It will take time but you have just got to stick with it and never offer a mouse again unless his health starts to deteriorate then you may have to (I doubt it would come to this though)

Well its a start! At least now you will be a bit more relaxed

Thank you guys.

[Terranaut]

Best way to switch them over....start them on rats right out of the egg.