New Snake Owner

[LoveMyJeep84]

Hello,

I recently got a jungle carpet python 3 weeks ago, I'm a first time owner and not sure if he is acting normal or if I should be concerned. He hasn't ate at all since I got him. The guy I got him from fed him Saturday June 13th (live pinky though I was told he also eats them frozen/thawed) and I received him June 20th. I gave him a week to chill and get used to his new surroundings, I also haven't seen him drink any water (maybe he does during the night but I haven't seen him drink) and he is also rubbing his face in his bedding, on logs and the glass. Not constantly but multiple times daily. His last shed was a week before I received him and he also had treatment for mites during that time. His breathing seems fine, though while handling him I occasionally hear a very light clicking sound (only one or two light clicks and not very often, I can only hear it if he's moving right by my ear) I was told he's a yearling, he's between 2 - 2 1/2 ft long, his temp gradient is 88-90 warm and 78-82 cool (if the A/C is on sometimes it'll go down to 76) with the AC I use the heat lamp which makes the temps 78-88 with the AC and lamp both off its 86 both sides. I live in FL so I don't worry about the humidity.

My main worries are when do I need to worry about him not yet eating, how do I know if he's drinking, and why does he rub his face on things in the tank (when I let him roam around the room he doesn't do it, but as soon as he's back in his tank he does)

First time owner, any tips or advise are appreciated
Thank you,
Nikki

[Scubadiver59]

Welcome to sSNAKESs! :)

I also own a Carpet, but I've only had my adult a few months and he's never exhibited the behavior you're describing; however, there are others here with more experience than me, so I'm sure you'll find some answers!

[dannybgoode]

I think first you need to leave him right alone, no handling and certainly no letting hin roam loose in the house. This will be stressing him and will not help with eating.

I'd also be a little suspicious of claims of a snake that's feeding on live being equally as happy with F/t. It's certainly possible but carpets can be finicky eaters at first and transitioning to f/t can take work and once there I wouldn't then switch back to live otherwise they may start refusing f/t.

I'm not sure about the rubbing. I'd certainly be on the look out for mites as a precaution but I'd not be overly concerned at this stage.

I have 12 snakes of various species and I've only ever actually spotted 1 of them drink once.

[EL Ziggy]

Welcome aboard LMJ. Danny's right. Let your snake settle in for a while longer with no handling and only water changes. Keep offfering food every 10-14 days until he starts eating and he will eventually eat. I have a few carpets and all but one eat like clockwork. My newest carpet took about a month to take her first meal. On a side note, how are you thawing and presenting the prey item to your snake? Is it possible the snake is prepping to shed? Share pics of your critter and setup when you can.

[LoveMyJeep84]

It won't let me upload pictures, it keeps saying my file type is too big and I changed it to the smallest setting my phone has. No he just shed the week before I got him so its only been a month. I thaw the pinky in super hot water then use the feeder tongs, first time I put him in a separate feeder tank but he didn't seem to like it so I've since let him stay in his tank but he still hasn't ate. I read that soaking it in chicken broth might help but I don't have any bouillon. I was told he likes Smelt so I did try soaking one in some left over fish juice but he didn't want that either (to be honest I wasn't expecting that to work)

[toddnbecka]

Upload your pic/s to photobucket, then copy/paste the link into your forum post.

[LoveMyJeep84]

It keeps saying invalid file, no idea what I'm doing wrong.

[Scubadiver59]

Use Imgur..Photobucket sucks!

Upload your pic/s to photobucket, then copy/paste the link into your forum post.

[LoveMyJeep84]

It still says file is too large, apparently this site isn't able to upload decent pictures so all well, no pics of him

[Scubadiver59]

It still says file is too large, apparently this site isn't able to upload decent pictures so all well, no pics of him

You need to put the URL of your picture, in Imgur's case it's the "direct link", in between "img" tags


*url in here*
The website will format it to 640x480, but allow you see the full image size when you click on the top of the pic.

[Andy_G]

A link to a sticky on posting pictures.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-discussion/108527-how-post-photos.html

I would be watching for signs of mites as retreatment is practically always necessary and infected snakes will often be unsettled. Hopefully you are keeping your new addition on paper substrate which will make mites more visible.

It's also possible that your new addition simply hasn't settled yet or hasn't found a place inside the cage to feel safe. We'll await pictures to help you judge that.

[LoveMyJeep84]

https://imgur.com/gallery/ac1xl

I give up, you can view pics here.
Does it only work on a computer? Because I'm using a cell phone

[EL Ziggy]

LMJ- Are you offering mice or rat pinkys? Carpets can smash mice fuzzys, and some hoppers, straight from the egg. If he's a yearling you should be able to offer larger prey. Any idea how much he weighs? Scenting or braining the prey items are definitely things you can try. I've done it before but can't say definitively that it helped. Sometimes they ate and other times they didn't. I'm still a firm believer that the hunger ALWAYS wins in the end. Your temps are on point and it sounds like you're doing the right things. Now you just have to wait him out. With patience and persistence he'll come around. Finicky feeders can be frustrating but hang in there and keep us posted. My albino carpet ate for the first time in 5 weeks last night so I'm pretty stoked. :)

[LoveMyJeep84]

The guy I got him from just said pinkys and that's what I told the reptile shop, he also said the snake will eat rat pups but doesn't really want that size yet and to stay with the smaller ones for now. He's about 2 1/2 ft long, no idea on his weight...

[EL Ziggy]

Nice looking carpet there LMJ. There's a pretty big difference in size between pinkys and rat pups. Your snake looks like it should be way past pinkys of any type. Who produced your carpet BTW? Is it a jaguar?

[LoveMyJeep84]

Yes he's a Jag. I tried giving him a rat pup and he wanted nothing to do with it (of course he hasn't wanted the f/t pinky either, I'm gonna try a live pinky I guess, maybe he'll want that

[Andy_G]

Definitely a jag cross of some kind, Zig. I also have to agree with food sizes.

[Scubadiver59]

Very nice setup you have there--I like the use of the faux plants an grape wood!!! :)

https://imgur.com/gallery/ac1xl

I give up, you can view pics here.
Does it only work on a computer? Because I'm using a cell phone

[EL Ziggy]

If your snake has eaten f/t before I wouldn't offer a live feeder just yet. If he doesn't eat for a couple of months then I'd consider trying live prey.