Irian Jaya?

[ineedsoap16]

I recently bought a carpet and have some questions. I was looking for an Irian Jaya. It appears to be an Irian Jaya and was sold as such but I am having some trouble. It seems that some Jungles can look very similar as very young snakes. I might me wrong. Are there are "super" distiguishing characteristics or can there be some look alikes at a young age? When I first look I think it looks right but the more I look the more I confuse myself. I will try and post pics.


Thanks

[Will0W783]

post pictures. They can be very similar when hatchlings, but jungles tend to be more yellow/black while irian jayas have a reddish-brown hint to them. If you post some pictures of your snake, I and some of the others on here can try to help you out more. Can I ask why you suspect your snake is not what you were told it was?

[ineedsoap16]

The reason I ask is just uncertainty. I had one several years ago that died do to my ignorance of cage clips. My cat decided it would be a good toy. I did quite a bit if research more this time and have done nothing but research since i got it. Like I said, the more I look online the more misinformation I get. Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if what you saw and read online was always factual? I think it is I keep getting mixed signals from the the stuff I find online. I will try and post some pics.

On that note, I am new to the posting of pics on forums. Any hints or help on what is the best way to do it would be very helpful.

[Will0W783]

Just take the pictures with your camera and load them onto your computer. Then when you are writing a post, click on "Go advanced" under the typing screen and up on top of the advanced typing box, there are a number of buttons. There is one that looks like a paper clip-that's for attachments. Just click on it and it opens a little window that lets you browse for your photos and upload them.

[ineedsoap16]

Here are some pics. Also I have a question about sexing. I have not tried to pop it yet but I have read that Carpets are very difficult to pop as jv's. I have heard it is easiest at birth and after they grow some. Any validity to this?

8542

8543

8544

[Will0W783]

Hmm...it is tough to tell from the pics. The big thing with Jayas is to look for reddish tint to the patterning. http://www.stlucieherps.net/miscimgs/warrenpets/jaya1.jpg. There's a shot of an Irian Jaya baby. If it was sold as such, I'd relax until it gets bigger and it's easier to tell. Carpets' colors change dramatically in the first two years or so of life. So a very dull baby can turn into a stunning, prize-winning adult.

As for sexing, I'm not familiar with popping carpets but I wouldn't personally pop it after it's even a month old. Usually it is best to carefully pop them upon emergence from the egg or a few hours thereafter and then probe them after a month or a few months to confirm sex.

If you're not familiar with popping or probing a snake, I wouldn't do it. I would take it to your vet for him/her to show you how. Young snakes, and even older ones, are delicate creatures and it is very easy to break the spine in the tail area trying to pop a snake that has developed good muscle control. In probing, if you aren't familiar with how the two sexes differ, you can probe too hard and damage the delicate tissues.

Very nice-looking little one though! Congrats!

[ineedsoap16]

Thanks for everything. I do believe it's an IJ, but I have a question about feeding. For one she is a great eater. I have been feeding her mouse fuzzies about 4-5g each. She has taken 5 now without hesitation. She is 43g and swallows them faster than I can get the camera and focus. No one around sells rat pinks so I am ordering them but my question relates to frequency and size. I am going to be moving her over to rats but I am feeding her about 10% of her weight and within 5 mins after each meal she seems to be looking for something else to eat and againin like 2 days she seems hungry again. These mice are at least her widest girth. I have read that carpets can and like to take very large meals. Should I be feeding larger?

[Will0W783]

You can. My yearling Jungle/jag is about as thick as a quarter and roughly 3 feet long. He takes f/t rat weanlings, which leave a sizable bulge in him. With carpets, you have a bit more room for error than some other snakes. But yes, I would say you can move her to rat fuzzies just fine. Your goal should be to feed a prey item of a size such that a single item satisfies your snake. Snakes are opportunistic feeders, and some will beg no matter how full they are. My female GTP shamelessly begs for more even after 2 weanlings and a huge bulge in her tummy. But at the size she looks to be, I would say she can handle a rat fuzzy/pup.

[shaunyboy]

judging by the size of your iran jaya it should be on rat fuzzies one every 7 days.like willow says it should leave a bulge after eating.if its not leaving a bulge feed it rat fuzzies for 4 weeks then move it up to small weaners.what i do before moving mine up a feed size is give them 2 of what they used eating for 4 weeks before i move them up to the next sized food item.it gets their stomach used to the size of it.
cheers shaun