Need tips for getting my Jungle Carpet python to eat

Mikoh4792 · 05-19-13, 01:16 AM

I've had him for about a week now. I tried feeding him yesterday and tonight with no success. Both were at night when my snake was active and roaming about. The mouse was warm from being thawed out in warm water.

Since day 1, the perches(basking area) in the upper half of the enclosure are at the 90F mark. On the floor of the enclosure on the hotside, the ambient air temperature goes back and forth between 81-83 F. On the cool side of the enclosure it goes back and forth between 76-80F depending on time of day. At night, I turn off the heat, and turn on a 25 watt night bulb just to keep the enclosure at appropriate temperatures.( I live in new york so with all heating sources turned off it can get to the low 70's). Humidity is usually around 50%. I mist every couple of days and the bedding is a mixture of cypress mulch and eco earth so it holds humidity. pretty well for a while after the misting. My JCP is about 2 feet long and is in an 18x18x18 exo-terra.

Donnie · 05-19-13, 03:32 AM

Don't offer food so frequently just try once a week and make sure the preys head is nice and hot. You have only had him for a week so don't worry if he doesn't feed for you straight away some take a bit of time to settle.

Lankyrob · 05-19-13, 03:37 AM

As above, leave for at least a week before trying again, i personally would try rats rather than mice as well

Starbuck · 05-19-13, 06:30 AM

like lanky rob and Donnie said, at this point i would wait it out. Do you know what the breeder was feeding it (F/T, live, mice, rats?)?
My newest snake wouldnt eat until i'd had it for two weeks, they just need some time to settle in. Try again in a week.
Good luck!

Derek Roddy · 05-19-13, 07:06 AM

Does he have a hide box?

D

Mikoh4792 · 05-19-13, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

Does he have a hide box?

D

He has three official hide boxes. One on lower hotter side, one on the lower cooler side, and one in the middle. The rest of his enclosure(ornaments, logs, vines, perches) all give him plenty of hiding places although I think it is unnecessary it's nice to have.

franks · 05-19-13, 08:42 AM

I want to emphasize what lankyrob said. It would be much easier for you in the long run if you got your little guy eating rats. Mine is a little over 3' and is easily taking rats much bigger than any mouse size available. When your snake gets to 6 or 7 feet, you are going to have a hard time keeping him full with mice. At that size one appropriate size rat is much easier then 4 or 5 mice. It is not always easier switching them over to rats, which is why rob recommended getting him on rats now while he is still young.

Terranaut · 05-19-13, 09:04 AM

Mine get rats right out of the egg for the exact ,above reason. Skip the mice. Try once a week and no more. Leave it overnight in the viv if you have to. Young carpets usually eat well so be sure your rat is 90ºish and not 125º or 75º or anything to far off a normal body temp.

Mikoh4792 · 05-19-13, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Mine get rats right out of the egg for the exact ,above reason. Skip the mice. Try once a week and no more. Leave it overnight in the viv if you have to. Young carpets usually eat well so be sure your rat is 90ºish and not 125º or 75º or anything to far off a normal body temp.

Not doubting your advice but wouldn't leaving it overnight cause some bacterial/mold/fungal growth inside the enclosure?

RyanReptile · 05-19-13, 03:11 PM

If you put the rodent in before you go to bed and throw it out when you get up there should be no problems.

Terranaut · 05-19-13, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanReptile

If you put the rodent in before you go to bed and throw it out when you get up there should be no problems.

Exactly

you will smell the rat going bad before it becomes an issue for bacteria.

Mikoh4792 · 05-19-13, 03:01 PM

Okay I will give it a week guys. The reason I tried mice was I talked to the previous owner and this is what he said:

(His email response) We were feeding it f/t fuzzy mice in a brown paper bag. If it won't take it that way, try jump starting it with a live fuzzy again and then go back to frozen.

My frozen rats come in on tuesday( I already intended on getting it on rats asap). I will dip them in broth or rub it on mice and try it that way.

So what is the consensus on feeding in/out of the enclosure these days?

Lankyrob · 05-19-13, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Okay I will give it a week guys. The reason I tried mice was I talked to the previous owner and this is what he said:

(His email response) We were feeding it f/t fuzzy mice in a brown paper bag. If it won't take it that way, try jump starting it with a live fuzzy again and then go back to frozen.

My frozen rats come in on tuesday( I already intended on getting it on rats asap). I will dip them in broth or rub it on mice and try it that way.

So what is the consensus on feeding in/out of the enclosure these days?

I wouldnt worry about the broth/rubbing it on a mouse for the first attempt, it may just smell rat and go for it.

I feed my seven in their enclosure on the substrate, not had. Problem in over a year of doing it this way.

Mikoh4792 · 05-22-13, 06:21 PM

Got my rat pinkies in today. Tried to feed him but no success. Same as last time. He just strikes at it in a defensive manner. Doesn't seem to be interested in eating. Honestly, his requirements(heat,humidity,hides..etc) are up to standards.

Humidity right now is at 59%. Usually my air conditioner is on so the temp gradient is usually 78-90F top to bottom. Today is unusually hot so I dimmed all heat sources. Coolside is 81 basking spot is at 89. He is active at night usually moving around the perches. In the day time he either sleeps perched or goes into his hide. I just don't have any reason why he wouldn't eat.

I'm just gonna leave a rat in there overnight as you guys have advised and see what happens.

Donnie · 05-23-13, 11:50 AM

Leave it a WEEK before trying again. It has been at most 5 days since you last tried and offering to often may be stressing him out. He will be fine not eating for a long time so don't think you are going to be starving him by not feeding him after a few days. When I switched one of my jungles over to rats she didn't eat for 14 weeks and showed no signs of deteriorating health. It may take a bit of time but don't panic just keep offering weekly or even sometimes every 2 weeks. Keep us posted in a week if it goes well or not