View Full Version : New Carpet Python owner needs advice
Hi, We have a 2 month old carpet python. We have had him for 3 weeks and prior to us having him he had been fed 5 times. However at this stage he won't eat. I have got his cage at 29 degrees now as instructed by pet store. I have tried feeding him once a week, split the head and also tried a little egg yolk. We handled him regularly in the first week and then told to leave him for a whole week which we did. He is growing but looking bony now. Any advice on handling and getting him to eat is appreciated.
Kudos ;)
red ink
04-12-12, 07:34 PM
No handling at all for two weeks with minimal contact.... Then try gain, night time feed.
What are you keeping it in?
millertime89
04-12-12, 07:39 PM
Don't fret yourself. Norm had a baby carpet not eat for something like 2 months when he first got him. He's likely just stressed. Where in the house is he at? I wouldn't handle him until he's eaten for you.
Becky Goings
04-12-12, 08:35 PM
It was almost 3 months before the little jerk would eat for us. Now he's a chow hound, and being moved up a food size next feed. He's calming down nicely, and getting better looking every shed. And it could be a seasonal thing, because our other picky eaters all struck and ate last week and this week. I think you must be going into breeding season, and we're coming out of it.
He is in a 60 x 45 cm glass cage. He has a heat pad and fluro light above and branches to climb. Rocks, bark and a hidey hole and water. It's hard not to touch him as I look and watch him not move for days and esp when he hides out and I can't see him not to mention the children that want to hold him, however, I realise it's what we must do. Should I try feeding (without touching) once a week until he takes? Yes we are just in Autumn here and I think breeding is close to winter.
It's good to know that they can still survive after 3 months no food...but hard to get my human mind around it! lol
millertime89
04-12-12, 08:59 PM
It was almost 3 months before the little jerk would eat for us. Now he's a chow hound, and being moved up a food size next feed. He's calming down nicely, and getting better looking every shed. And it could be a seasonal thing, because our other picky eaters all struck and ate last week and this week. I think you must be going into breeding season, and we're coming out of it.
Snakes of this age shouldn't be in breed mode. BPs are just notoriously picky and every snake has its own personality, and is on its own feeding schedule.
youngster
04-12-12, 09:32 PM
Snakes of this age shouldn't be in breed mode. BPs are just notoriously picky and every snake has its own personality, and is on its own feeding schedule.
Carpet pythons :)
millertime89
04-12-12, 10:39 PM
Carpet pythons :)
directed at Becky.
:P
red ink
04-12-12, 11:40 PM
He is in a 60 x 45 cm glass cage. He has a heat pad and fluro light above and branches to climb. Rocks, bark and a hidey hole and water. It's hard not to touch him as I look and watch him not move for days and esp when he hides out and I can't see him not to mention the children that want to hold him, however, I realise it's what we must do. Should I try feeding (without touching) once a week until he takes? Yes we are just in Autumn here and I think breeding is close to winter.
It's good to know that they can still survive after 3 months no food...but hard to get my human mind around it! lol
Cover the glass walls so it's more secure for it and it does'nt feel as exposed. If you got it from a breeder most likely it would have spent it's entire life in a click-clack (opaque walls) until it got to you.
This will help reduce it's stress levels from the relocation.... Yes don't touch him for a week after you have covered the walls (i know it's hard but it's actually for it's own good). After a week you can then try and offer it food but it's best to do it just after dusk when they are just naturally starting to stir to see if it takes it. If it doesn't then try again the week after, stilll no interaction in between. Keep it like this until you get it started feeding again and after a few feeds you can start interacting with it again (slowly build that up or it may stop feeding again).
Thanks Red Ink, I'll give that a try
Lankyrob
04-13-12, 07:46 AM
When you try the nighttime feed if the snake wont take it then leave the prey on a saucer in the tank overnight, having complete darkness and no disturbances for a few hours may give it the opportunity to eat in peace :)
MoreliAddict
04-13-12, 07:52 AM
My carpet python went off feed for about 2 months when I brought him home. I'm thinking the breeder kept him in a rack which provides them with alot of security, and when I brought him home and put him in his 2'X2'X2' it stressed him and he needed time to adjust.
The breeder said he was always a perfect eater, and now that he's eating for me he hasn't missed a meal, not even during sheds.
It could just take time, double check your temps, make sure there's alot of cover in the enclosure, and be patient.
Also, are you feeding f/t (frozen-thawed)? If so, drop the rat directly in HOT water, and offer it on tongs nice and HOT, right out of the water.
Yes thawed fuzzies. I can't attempt to try him again til next Thursday but will try the hot water thing. As well as being covered up for the week.
@ Lankyrob, I have left the feed over night but not on a saucer. At one point after I was wriggling it around I left it by him and when I came back he had his head resting on it! lol
Lankyrob
04-13-12, 04:09 PM
The saucer just stops any substrate being ingested along with the prey :)
Becky Goings
04-13-12, 06:26 PM
Kyle, I know they shouldn't, but timing wise, it fits. They all started eating again the same feed. It was weird. And, to the OP, as long as it's not losing a visible amount of weight, don't worry too much. :)
So we tried feeding him again tonight. He's been covered up all week with only the fluro light at the top of the cage on and heat pad going. He runs away from the fuzzy when we dangle it near his face. Isn't interested in it at all. I have left it on a saucer over night but at this stage he has retreated to the far corner by his water tray. This is stressful for me, probably more than him though. I just wish he would eat something soon :(
Lankyrob, he isn't in complete darkness. We have a fluro light in order to keep his cage around 29 degrees. This is the temperature the pet store says he needs to be at. I'm thinking I might turn off the light tonight and see how he goes. Worth a shot!
Lankyrob
04-18-12, 04:40 AM
Has he got branches or perches to climb on? Our guy will only eat when he is on the perch and prey is presented under neath him
He has branches yes but mostly only gets up there after we put him back into his cage. We haven't touched him all week so he has remained on the ground only moving a few times.
red ink
04-18-12, 04:46 AM
Lankyrob, he isn't in complete darkness. We have a fluro light in order to keep his cage around 29 degrees. This is the temperature the pet store says he needs to be at. I'm thinking I might turn off the light tonight and see how he goes. Worth a shot!
Does this mean you had light on it 24/7?
yes, it has been on all night and day. Should I be turning it off over night?
Lankyrob
04-18-12, 04:49 AM
Snakes need a day/night cycle otherwise they get very stressed. Give him this cycle for another 7 days before trying to feed again.
Ok will keep it off overnight and then on during the day. Can I do it the other way around> Have it on during the night and off during the day? We are going into winter and the temps are around 18 degrees celcius over night and will get cooler down to maybe 10-12 degrees.
Lankyrob
04-18-12, 04:57 AM
YOu can get non light emitting ceramic bulbs that just give off heat, i use them for all my snakes and they stay on 24/7 so give constant temps.
shaunyboy
04-18-12, 05:54 AM
He is in a 60 x 45 cm glass cage. He has a heat pad and fluro light above and branches to climb. Rocks, bark and a hidey hole and water. It's hard not to touch him as I look and watch him not move for days and esp when he hides out and I can't see him not to mention the children that want to hold him, however, I realise it's what we must do. Should I try feeding (without touching) once a week until he takes? Yes we are just in Autumn here and I think breeding is close to winter.
It's good to know that they can still survive after 3 months no food...but hard to get my human mind around it! lol
i've had a slow starting carpet hatchling NOT eat until it was 10 months old
it had no health issues and has never missed a feed since
the main thing is to leave it in peace and quiet,only going near it to change the water roughly every 5 days
imo,29C is a little on the cool side mate
i would up his hot end to 31C TO 32C .
i run my basking spots at 86F TO 88F
if his hot ends too cold he won't be able to digest his prey,so imo won't eat
re light
its important that your snake gets a proper light cycle
i use non light emitting ceramic bulbs,with my carpets getting natural light from the window in the room
let us know how it goes mate
cheers shaun
As Becky said, our jcp didn't eat for a few months when we first got him. Originally he was in an aquarium with a perch and he never ate, even when we tried live. I put him in the rack and he still didn't eat for a while but eventually he did. I really don't think it was anything other than he decided it was time to eat. He's in the same conditions he was in before when he wasn't eating but now he's one of our best eaters.
Wow, he's starting to explore the cage and moving around. Thanks, will keep you posted :)
Thanks, I'll look into the non light emitting ceramic bulbs tomorrow ;)
It's hard being a mother...to a snake :P
It's almost been another week and we will try him again tomorrow. My partner has been told that he should feed him a live mouse :/ I'm not keen on doing this, for one I don't want to have to feed him live all the time and also it is harder to purchase live mice for feeding in this country I believe. Pet shops won't sell you mice if they know you are feeding them to snakes live.
Any thoughts on this please?
Terranaut
04-24-12, 01:49 AM
No need for live. Wait him out and just keep following the advice like you are and all will be well soon. My input has already been covered. Cover the viv and keep lots of hide spots for him. Day/night cycle is a must. Feed in the evening. Have it ready to eat and wait until he starts his evening cage lurk. If he isn't exploring in the night he is afraid and needs more cover or less light. Anyway when he moves around in his own present the prey. Be sure when you open his viv you do not bump or make any vibration that could make him nervous. When I had my gopher in an exoterra tank with the click lock she avoided a few meals from the sound it made in the viv. If you see pics of my carpets feeding its always in the evening just before their viv light goes out for the night. Good luck and try not to stress. It will happen. Hell you'll be thinking " oh man this thing is a pig!" in no time ;) have a look at that pinky and just think he will be eating jumbo rats in just a few years. Or rabbits :)
red ink
04-24-12, 02:57 AM
It's almost been another week and we will try him again tomorrow. My partner has been told that he should feed him a live mouse :/ I'm not keen on doing this, for one I don't want to have to feed him live all the time and also it is harder to purchase live mice for feeding in this country I believe. Pet shops won't sell you mice if they know you are feeding them to snakes live.
Any thoughts on this please?
It is illegal to feed live food where we are mate...
shaunyboy
04-24-12, 04:31 AM
It is illegal to feed live food where we are mate...
^^^^^
never new that mate
you would think if they let you keep predators,then you would be allowed to use live as a LAST resort,with problem feeders
to the op
have you stopped giving it light 24/7 mate ?
cheers shaun
Yeah Shaun I have. He has a night and day and explores the cage when I turn the light off. He is in my opinion starting to feel at home and I think he will eat soon...well I hope tomorrow will be the night :)
@ Red ink, No I didn't know that but thanks for the info. I'm not keen on him eating live anyway as I said so happy that it really isn't a choice.
Will let you know how we go tomorrow :)
shaunyboy
04-24-12, 08:02 AM
fingers crossed he eats for your own peace of mind mate
all the best shaun
red ink
04-25-12, 02:47 AM
^^^^^
never new that mate
you would think if they let you keep predators,then you would be allowed to use live as a LAST resort,with problem feeders
cheers shaun
Grey area mate... as it stands it is "plausible" as a last result, but proving that it is a last result is well iffy...
It's got to do with our animal cruelty laws mate.... much easier to make it a general ban to weed out the nefarious characters
So we've fed him tonight after dusk and once he had come out and onto a branch. Waved the fuzzy around and he didn't run (slid lol) this time. Stood from a distance and watched him...he has approached it a couple of times but pulled back. I've since covered him and hope that he eats by tomorrow morning :)
No...hasn't eaten but had knocked the fuzzy off the branch and was down by it this morning. I've put it on a saucer and will leave it there the day, discarding it in the afternoon if he hasn't touched it by then.
Trying again next week.
jaleely
04-25-12, 04:46 PM
you're doing well! sometimes they just take a while. My carpet python is VERY picky...i have a hognose snake that will not eat if the prey item smells like other items (like if i've used the same tongs to feed a rat to some other snake) the item must be punctured (i just stick the end of one of the tongs into the back of the head) and he will investigate this hole...then decide if he wants to eat the item. It has to be warm, and then finally he will open his mouth and eat *lol*
Just keep trying, you'll find out what he prefers. I'm a snake mama 14 times over, now, and each one eats differently! keep us updated! : )
shaunyboy
04-26-12, 09:28 AM
i would stop using the flurescent light,they can be pretty intense in a small tank
what rating is the light,2.0,5.0,10.0 ?
imo the strongest uvb tube i'd use for carpets is a 2.0
the heat mat on a thermostat,will keep his hot end temperatures correct
give the prey a good heat with a hair dryer,until it feels the same temperature of a live rat,then give its head a little extra heat and offer on tongs
you could aso pierce the skull 2,3 times,with the point of a pair of scissors,then heat the head again after doing this
hope he eats for you soon
cheers shaun
millertime89
04-29-12, 12:24 PM
Grey area mate... as it stands it is "plausible" as a last result, but proving that it is a last result is well iffy...
It's got to do with our animal cruelty laws mate.... much easier to make it a general ban to weed out the nefarious characters
what about fresh killed?
red ink
04-29-12, 04:23 PM
what about fresh killed?
Fresh killed is fine... as long as the prey isn't alive. Time of death is not a factor in the laws.
millertime89
04-29-12, 10:52 PM
Fresh killed is fine... as long as the prey isn't alive. Time of death is not a factor in the laws.
That seems to be a viable solution then.
Except I'm not going to kill one for him!!! Don't think I have it in me...
Yesterday we were told to put him back in his click clack and in his cage. He stayed there and after dusk I opened the lid and turned off the UV light (oh it is a UV not a fluro, I had the pet shop look at it) He didn't move from the click clack for over an hour. He would normally be on the branch within half an hour. This time he just stayed on the ground. Hope we aren't confusing him more but I am not as anxious about him not eating now. He is growing still and I know it's only a matter of time :)
shaunyboy
05-01-12, 09:38 AM
Except I'm not going to kill one for him!!! Don't think I have it in me...
Yesterday we were told to put him back in his click clack and in his cage. He stayed there and after dusk I opened the lid and turned off the UV light (oh it is a UV not a fluro, I had the pet shop look at it) He didn't move from the click clack for over an hour. He would normally be on the branch within half an hour. This time he just stayed on the ground. Hope we aren't confusing him more but I am not as anxious about him not eating now. He is growing still and I know it's only a matter of time :)
what uvb rating is the light...
2.0 5.0 or 10.0 ?
putting him back in his click clack ( i assume its a small tub ? ) is smaller space,this should make him feel more secure
i'd leave him in it full time until he ate,not open the lid and leave it open,the purpose of down sizing his living space is to make him feel secure,so he will eat
could you post pictures of his set up,it will give us a better idea of how to help mate
cheers shaun
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