interesting carpet behavior

[franks]

I have a 5 month old Irian Jaya Jag and have observed her doing something I find interesting and want to know what you guys think, or have observed with your snakes. The first time I offered her a rat, she "pushed" it hard with her head, mouth closed. She did this a few times before hesitantly taking it. I have seen her do this to my hand a few times when I first go to handle her and I am inclined to think that this is her way of testing something or checking it out. What do you guys think? I wish i had a vidio of it.

[CDN_Blood]

This is not uncommon behaviour at all. Carpets are relatively intelligent snakes and it's rare that they'd just grab on to f/t food without giving it a good once-over first.

[shaunyboy]

i've seen carpets do the nudging thing mate...

imo it was mostly nervous feeders that acted this way,it was like they were wary of what the prey was

all mine just strike,fast and hard,the second they know foods entered their tank

for roughly 24 hours after feeding,they will hit anything with a heat signature,that enters their tank

cheers shaun

[Lankyrob]

i've seen carpets do the nudging thing mate...

imo it was mostly nervous feeders that acted this way,it was like they were wary of what the prey was

all mine just strike,fast and hard,the second they know foods entered their tank

for roughly 24 hours after feeding,they will hit anything with a heat signature,that enters their tank

cheers shaun

Last night i left the living room (where the snakes are) to go get the rats out of the freezer to defrost. On leaving the living room both my JCP and SD retic were tucked up in their hides.

I got the rats out and left them in the kitchen cupboard, walked back into the living room and both snakes were out with their noses against the glass in full feeding mode ;) - apart from feeding them their vivs will remain closed and locked for the next three days or we WILL be bitten :)

[shaunyboy]

Last night i left the living room (where the snakes are) to go get the rats out of the freezer to defrost. On leaving the living room both my JCP and SD retic were tucked up in their hides.

I got the rats out and left them in the kitchen cupboard, walked back into the living room and both snakes were out with their noses against the glass in full feeding mode ;) - apart from feeding them their vivs will remain closed and locked for the next three days or we WILL be bitten :)


its amazing how quick they detect food is in the area Rob

especially since its frozen at the time of detection

like you,i stay out my carpet tanks for 3 dyas after feeding

cheers shaun

[jaleely]

I've seen my carpet do this! totally got the impression she was testing it out

[red ink]

This is all new to me... I open the doors quickly put the tongs in close my eyes and prey they don't miss is the standard routine at my place.

Maybe it's still a skittish feeder due to it's age... It'll hopefully out grow it as it settles and turns into a regular easy feeder. Try increasing the feed schedule interval hopefully if she's a bit on the hungry side she will tag prey a bit more till she gets used to it.

[lpbldg18]

My Carpet has never done this, he strikes it real fast right when i stick the rat in the tank, but my Milksnake nudges it before she eats her mouse.

[shaunyboy]

This is all new to me... I open the doors quickly put the tongs in close my eyes and prey they don't miss is the standard routine at my place.

Maybe it's still a skittish feeder due to it's age... It'll hopefully out grow it as it settles and turns into a regular easy feeder. Try increasing the feed schedule interval hopefully if she's a bit on the hungry side she will tag prey a bit more till she gets used to it.

its only been my nervous or problem/.weird feeders that do this Red,or i've had a few do it when they're deep in shed

all my normal acting carpets HAMMER food the second it enters the viv

like you,i've found myself close my eyes as they hit the prey,i think its a reflex action on my part ( sh** i hope its the prey and not my hand they've homed in on :D) don't know what good shutting my eyes will do,if its my hand they've homed in on :laugh:

i use 12 inch tongs,i really should get a longer set ;)

cheers shaun

[Lankyrob]

its only been my nervous or problem/.weird feeders that do this Red,or i've had a few do it when they're deep in shed

all my normal acting carpets HAMMER food the second it enters the viv

like you,i've found myself close my eyes as they hit the prey,i think its a reflex action on my part ( sh** i hope its the prey and not my hand they've homed in on :D) don't know what good shutting my eyes will do,if its my hand they've homed in on :laugh:

i use 12 inch tongs,i really should get a longer set ;)

cheers shaun


We got a set of BBQ tongs for feeding our SD mate, 22inches long and more than enough to keep hands out of the way of heat seeking teeth monsters :)

[shaunyboy]

We got a set of BBQ tongs for feeding our SD mate, 22inches long and more than enough to keep hands out of the way of heat seeking teeth monsters :)

^^^^^
i'm off to B & Q to grab a set of those,Rob thanks for the info

i've got a few carpets,that get so excited.....

when they sense prey coming in the room,they start hitting anything,bulb heat guard,me,the glass as the rat passes by,etc,etc:D

cheers shaun

[red ink]

One of these days I'll get off my lazy arse and actually take a vid of my boy hitting a rat from his perch.... he sometimes shakes his enclosure, the bloody thing is on wheels but must weigh close to 80kg.

He once hit a rat so hard he split the bloody thing.... yeah not a nice clean up with rat guts all over the front glass. Hate to think what he would do to my hand if he misses. I may have to invest in longer tongs as well as I only have foot long ones as well.

[shaunyboy]

One of these days I'll get off my lazy arse and actually take a vid of my boy hitting a rat from his perch.... he sometimes shakes his enclosure, the bloody thing is on wheels but must weigh close to 80kg.

He once hit a rat so hard he split the bloody thing.... yeah not a nice clean up with rat guts all over the front glass. Hate to think what he would do to my hand if he misses. I may have to invest in longer tongs as well as I only have foot long ones as well.

^^^^^
:laugh::laugh: nothing worse than burst rat to clean up Red :laugh::laugh:

:D just gotta love carpets :D

cheers shaun

[lpbldg18]

^^^^^


:D just gotta love carpets :D



Agree 100%!! :D
Mine hits hard, make me jump sometimes! i have BBQ tongs as well :D nice and far away from those teeth!

[shaunyboy]

Agree 100%!! :D
Mine hits hard, make me jump sometimes! i have BBQ tongs as well :D nice and far away from those teeth!

^^^^^
me to

no matter how many years i've kept carpets,i sometimes still jump,when they hit prey :D

cheers shaun

[Rogue628]

I haven't experienced a burst rat with my carpet yet, however, there's times when she hits and pulls back so hard and quick she's left a rat tail in my tongs (she eats jumbos) :shocked:

My bigger burm, however, has burst her rat before. At least with her I can clean up her enclosure a couple of hours afterward. Her feed mode is strong but short lived.

[Terranaut]

I have had the joy of this happenin to me. Its disgusting. I scooped out the mess and replaced the substrate while he was eating the rat. Can't tag me with a mouth full :)

[franks]

I've seen my carpet do this! totally got the impression she was testing it out

That is exactly what it seems like! She is a nervous eater I think, she will not eat if I watch. She positions herself by the food and just sits there untill I leave. If I come back, she drops it again.

[jaleely]

yup sounds like it. mine was very skittish when i got her. She still is sometimes. It'll ease with time. although we've had ours for a year...or more? i'd have to look it up...and she's still kind of a brat *lol*
she takes forever too...has to find the head, etc. she'll glare at me if she doesn't like me watching her lol

btw you guys are hilarious. last thing i'm going to do is close my eyes!!! we have some long tongs that we use for just about everyone but the smallies, and i keep my hand at the far end, and pinch the rat behind the neck...then drag it towards the snake. you can do it so your hand is stiff, and the rat wiggles a little, and they go right for it every time! I'm very good at the zombie dance : )

[franks]

This is all new to me... I open the doors quickly put the tongs in close my eyes and prey they don't miss is the standard routine at my place.

Maybe it's still a skittish feeder due to it's age... It'll hopefully out grow it as it settles and turns into a regular easy feeder. Try increasing the feed schedule interval hopefully if she's a bit on the hungry side she will tag prey a bit more till she gets used to it.

Hey red, thanks for the suggestion. She is only five months old, would it be ok for me to move feedings from every 7 days to every 10? I think you are right, because she ate her first mean alot quicker than the second. To be fair tho, her first rats were with me, maybe she is not used to them yet?

[red ink]

Yeah franks... 10 days won't hurt her mate give her a few feeds at that schedule with the rats and see how her prey response is.

[MoreliAddict]

^^^^^
i'm off to B & Q to grab a set of those,Rob thanks for the info

i've got a few carpets,that get so excited.....

when they sense prey coming in the room,they start hitting anything,bulb heat guard,me,the glass as the rat passes by,etc,etc:D

cheers shaun
Trick is to keep the rat between you and the carpet.

I watch too much Viperkeeper TV - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/viperkeeper/videos).

[Lankyrob]

Trick is to keep the rat between you and the carpet.

I watch too much Viperkeeper TV - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/viperkeeper/videos).


DOesnt always work :) our carpet has regularly struck over the top of the rat and up the tongs towards us :)

[Terranaut]

I can't help but wonder why you need to change anything. I would much rather have a carpet punch me than bite me during feeding. Personaly I think this is a lucky behavior and not a negative at all.

[franks]

I can't help but wonder why you need to change anything. I would much rather have a carpet punch me than bite me during feeding. Personaly I think this is a lucky behavior and not a negative at all.

Me too, it is awesome. She is so laid back and not aggressive at all. I was/am under the impression that a snake's feeding response is a major indicator of how secure/stressed, happy/healthy a snake was. I would much rather her be chill and eat at her own pace. If I want to watch a rat get hammered, I have a royal that knocks the feeding tongs out of my hands consistently, and a super aggressive rosy boa during feeding time.

[shaunyboy]

Trick is to keep the rat between you and the carpet.

I watch too much Viperkeeper TV - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/viperkeeper/videos).

i have had a jag that just shot past the rat on the feeding tongs,and grabbed my wrist instead,it took a fair bit to get him to release me,as he thought i was leggitimate prey :laugh:

cheers shaun

[marvelfreak]

Tongs? You all use Tongs? I just hold it by the tail crank the door a couple inches really fast and let go. My last feed all 13 snakes caught the rats in mid air. I have had a couple Carpet shoot out so fast they grab it out of my hand before i could let go of it. But i have never gotten bit.

Op i am guessing you snake as always been fed F/T so it just taking it time and making sure it food before it bites. It's basically just being lazy. I bet if you put a fresh killed one in there in would nail it like a Mack truck.

[lpbldg18]

i have had a jag that just shot past the rat on the feeding tongs,and grabbed my wrist instead,it took a fair bit to get him to release me,as he thought i was leggitimate prey :laugh:

cheers shaun

yup yup i've had mine do that too! got bit right on the hand! i dropped the rat in the tank, i went to wash my hand, came back to try feeding him again, Adrien already had the rat half way down, he went and got it his self!
Ever since, i use tongs ;)

[shaunyboy]

Tongs? You all use Tongs? I just hold it by the tail crank the door a couple inches really fast and let go. My last feed all 13 snakes caught the rats in mid air. I have had a couple Carpet shoot out so fast they grab it out of my hand before i could let go of it. But i have never gotten bit.
.

your nuts Chuck.....

your feeding carpets and more so,blood pythons with your bare hands:Wow::wacky::)

you have huge testicular fortitude my friend :D:cool:

cheers shaun

[marvelfreak]

your nuts Chuck.....

your feeding carpets and more so,blood pythons with your bare hands:Wow::wacky::)

you have huge testicular fortitude my friend :D:cool:

cheers shaun
Thanks and don't forget i feed my Yellow Anaconda this way. He my hardest hitting snake when it comes to feeding. The power in his hits is insane. With the Yellow a couple times he wrapped you could hear bones break.

The reason i don't use tongs is the only time i tried feeding using them i had a Burm hit the tong and dislocate his jaw. I rather chance take a bite than have one of my snake get hurt on the tongs. Plus it makes feed time a little more interesting.

[shaunyboy]

Thanks and don't forget i feed my Yellow Anaconda this way. He my hardest hitting snake when it comes to feeding. The power in his hits is insane. With the Yellow a couple times he wrapped you could hear bones break.

The reason i don't use tongs is the only time i tried feeding using them i had a Burm hit the tong and dislocate his jaw. I rather chance take a bite than have one of my snake get hurt on the tongs. Plus it makes feed time a little more interesting.

^^^^^
your the man Chuck :cool::cool::cool:

cheers shaun:)

[jaleely]

I know there can be a risk of hitting the tongs, if you use tongs...Luckily for me i have fairly small or at least not too big snakes, so i can get the food prepared, and i only present the food to them in a specific way, head on, so the tons are at the furthest angle away. I've tried to do it without the tongs and have gotten bitten lol

I never do it by the tail... i always grab the scruff of the rodents neck, and present the full body to the snake, rat body first. This has never failed. I'm actually really confident in the way i feed them that the risk of biting the tongs is very minimal.

The only critter i have trouble feeding with tons is my pyxie frog...he flails, and tries to swallow the tongs as well! He is hard to gauge/read. He spins and flops, throws himself at the tongs...lol

If i had a snake like that i'd be afraid to use tongs but my other guys have pretty low instincts. It's quite funny. 90% of my snakes just open their mouths and i shove the food in there, head first. talk about learned behavior!

[Lankyrob]

When i tong feed i hold the prey around the ribcage and present headfirst, never had a snake hit the tongs yet, tho my carpet did come over the top of the tongs at my face once when i leant too far forwards :)

[lpbldg18]

When i tong feed i hold the prey around the ribcage and present headfirst, never had a snake hit the tongs yet, tho my carpet did come over the top of the tongs at my face once when i leant too far forwards :)

Yes i definitely make sure the tongs dont get in the way of his strike and haven't had any problems yet!

Did you learn your lesson about leaning in to far? :robo: :D

[Lankyrob]

Yes i definitely make sure the tongs dont get in the way of his strike and haven't had any problems yet!

Did you learn your lesson about leaning in to far? :robo: :D

I did :) and thankfully without being bitten in the face :)