I'm new here with questions...

snakemamma · 12-10-09, 06:36 PM

I'm new here. My name is Jess. I was looking for a place where I could ask questions about my new Jungle Carpet Python. I hope I can get some help here....

First, I got him about a week or so ago. I got him from a friend who had him for a year or so, he is about 3 years old or so. She had to get rid of him, because her mom wanted him gone. She has had no problems feeding him the entire time. She fed him large frozen and thawed rats. He ate with no problem. Well he hasn't eaten in about a month and a half, she was feeding him once a month. He was due to eat like right before we got him. We would have waited until she fed him but her mom was really on her case. We tried to feed him last week, and he didn't eat. We thought maybe he was stressed give him a few days. Well he is active in his cage. It is about 75 to 85 degrees at all times and it is humid enough. Today I thawed out a medium frozen rat (they were out of larges) and it was warm and fuzzy and tried to feed him in his box she gave us for him that she always fed him in. We used tongs for it, and wiggled it around and he wouldn't eat it. Didnt even strike at it. Not sure what is going on with him. Could he still be getting used to his environment? I know they can go a little while without eating but I dont want him to get sick or anything. Any help would be appreciated....

~*Jess

Will0W783 · 12-11-09, 06:38 AM

I wouldn't worry about it just yet. Snakes often take a week to several weeks to settle into a new environment before they will eat again. I would leave him completely alone for a week- no handling, no feeding attempts, just let him explore and get comfortable. Then try to feed him again. Another thing to consider is that some snakes upon reaching sexual maturity or near maturity will go off feed in the winter months in preparation for breeding. They get sex on the brain and that's all they care about..lol. Also any kind of stress can cause them to go off feed. I have an adult coastal carpet who did not eat for 3 months after a mite infestation. I took him to the vet finally and it turned out he had a respiratory infection, probably from the stress. He was treated and started eating again just fine. My snake room gets a little cooler at night in the winter, and he just went off feed again two weeks ago. I'm keeping an eye on his mouth but other than that I'm assuming he is off feed for winter.
If you are concerned, by all means take him to a good herp vet. But I would give him another week undisturbed and then go from there. Of course, if you notice any wheezy breathing, sneezing, open-mouthed breathing, or labored breathing, get him to a vet right away as he might be developing a respiratory infection.

marvelfreak · 12-11-09, 01:03 PM

I have a nine year old female jungle that stops eating around the end of nov. to the end of feb. every year. She started doing this around the age of three. I think it's something to do with mating season. I would wait about two to three weeks then try again. But i wouldn't worry to much yet.

snakemamma · 12-11-09, 01:09 PM

Thank you bunches. I was just worried ya know. I will give it a couple weeks and give it another go. I'll let him get more used to the surroundings, and see if he gets better.

Will0W783 · 12-11-09, 02:44 PM

Best of luck, and congrats on the new carpet. I love carpets; they are one of my favorite pythons. And jungles have that great yellow and black. Don't forget to post some pics of your new boy if you can! We love pictures here!