Need tips for getting my Jungle Carpet python to eat - Page 2

Terranaut · 05-23-13, 12:15 PM

Yup wait the week. Also, after reading another members post about keeping higher temps I made the switch to my basking area being 95ish. The difference it made was awesome. My carpets will bask a bit then move elsewhere. I think getting the heat boost helps them quite a bit when they need a little digestion help or an imune boost. I suggest you up the hotside temps 5º today and wait the week.

Mikoh4792 · 05-26-13, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Yup wait the week. Also, after reading another members post about keeping higher temps I made the switch to my basking area being 95ish. The difference it made was awesome. My carpets will bask a bit then move elsewhere. I think getting the heat boost helps them quite a bit when they need a little digestion help or an imune boost. I suggest you up the hotside temps 5º today and wait the week.

If I make the basking area 95F(which is 6 inches under the heat source on a perch of a 18 inch high enclosure), the coolside will probably be near 83-85 degrees. Is this still okay?

Mikoh4792 · 05-26-13, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie

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

Man, 14 weeks just sounds crazy. I'm assuming your carpet was an older specimen? Can't younger ones like mine(6 months old) die from not eating for a few weeks? <- If that's a stupid question I apologize but I was always under the impression that young snakes are supposed to be chowing down meals every 5-7 days because of their faster metabolism.

Donnie · 05-26-13, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Man, 14 weeks just sounds crazy. I'm assuming your carpet was an older specimen? Can't younger ones like mine(6 months old) die from not eating for a few weeks? <- If that's a stupid question I apologize but I was always under the impression that young snakes are supposed to be chowing down meals every 5-7 days because of their faster metabolism.

She was just over a year old when I switched her over. A member on here Shaun had one of his hatchlings go about 10 months without eating from when it was born and it was fine, they are a lot tougher than we think a lot of the time. As long as they are not dramatically loosing weight/condition then they should be fine. With mine she was stubborn and didn't want to eat a rat as she loved mice so much but in the end I guess she got hungry enough.

Terranaut · 05-26-13, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

If I make the basking area 95F(which is 6 inches under the heat source on a perch of a 18 inch high enclosure), the coolside will probably be near 83-85 degrees. Is this still okay?

Try it and see. Low 80's is fine.

My male carpet adult will go from November until April without eating and not lose weight. They are built for this so a little hiccup in eating is no big deal.

waf · 05-26-13, 08:17 AM

Hello... In my experience, what you have to do, when you get a python is, No. 1 double check the parameters, and seems that you had them ok, No.2 leave it, for at least 2 weeks in the enclosure, not taking it off, neigther feeding, during that period, you python will get confidence on its enviroment, and will eat normally.... but please, do not feed it with live preys, you will have a bad experience one day... Promissed.

Regards!

Mikoh4792 · 05-26-13, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie

She was just over a year old when I switched her over. A member on here Shaun had one of his hatchlings go about 10 months without eating from when it was born and it was fine, they are a lot tougher than we think a lot of the time. As long as they are not dramatically loosing weight/condition then they should be fine. With mine she was stubborn and didn't want to eat a rat as she loved mice so much but in the end I guess she got hungry enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Try it and see. Low 80's is fine.

My male carpet adult will go from November until April without eating and not lose weight. They are built for this so a little hiccup in eating is no big deal.

Yeah he's not skinny(for a carpet python that is). No protruding ribs, good muscle tone, controlled movements. Which you could see from some of the pictures I have posted on the other sections. Just a few more days to go, I haven't done anything except change his water bowl and mist his enclosure. Although today, I turned on the house heater and took a nap for two hours. When I woke up his basking spot was 99F and cool side was 86. I woke up just in time or else he might have died from over heating.

Quote:

Originally Posted by waf

Hello... In my experience, what you have to do, when you get a python is, No. 1 double check the parameters, and seems that you had them ok, No.2 leave it, for at least 2 weeks in the enclosure, not taking it off, neigther feeding, during that period, you python will get confidence on its enviroment, and will eat normally.... but please, do not feed it with live preys, you will have a bad experience one day... Promissed.

Regards!

Is feeding live to kind of "jump start" the feeding trigger response okay?(this is what the previous owner suggested) If I fed live it would be with a fuzzy mouse or rat pinky which wouldn't do any harm.

Terranaut · 05-27-13, 04:07 AM

99 and 86 will not kill your carpet. No worries.Would you die in 99º heat? I said 5º not 10. You can try the live thing although I prefer to stick to frozen you can try it if your getting worried.

**lady_bug87** · 05-27-13, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Yeah he's not skinny(for a carpet python that is). No protruding ribs, good muscle tone, controlled movements. Which you could see from some of the pictures I have posted on the other sections. Just a few more days to go, I haven't done anything except change his water bowl and mist his enclosure. Although today, I turned on the house heater and took a nap for two hours. When I woke up his basking spot was 99F and cool side was 86. I woke up just in time or else he might have died from over heating.

Is feeding live to kind of "jump start" the feeding trigger response okay?(this is what the previous owner suggested) If I fed live it would be with a fuzzy mouse or rat pinky which wouldn't do any harm.

Yes. Feeding a live fuzzy or pinky *could* jump start it and yes they are typically too little to do much damage. If you choose to try it live just be vigilant. You shouldn't leave the snake and rat unattended.

So far though I would wait it out

Lankyrob · 05-27-13, 05:47 AM

Are your viv heaters not on a thermostat?

Mikoh4792 · 05-27-13, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Are your viv heaters not on a thermostat?

My jungle carpet python is in a viv with a heat lamp which is on a dimmer. This is it's temporary enclosure. I am waiting for my helix thermostat and "repti-rack" arboreal enclosure to come in the mail. For this I will hook up a radiant heat panel to a thermostat.