When will she shed?!?!

Kera · 09-12-13, 03:23 PM

So I've had my carpet for over 2 months now, and I was told she was SUPPOSED to shed in August, but now it's mid September and she still hasn't shed. I'm just curious your input. As I've said in previous posts, she's about 3 1/2-4 years old. I'm not sure the last time she shed, and I'm not too worried about her not shedding but I'm just anxious for her to shed!

Thanks in advance <3

Donnie · 09-12-13, 03:28 PM

She will shed when she is ready. Has she been feeding well since you got her?

Kera · 09-12-13, 03:34 PM

That could be the case, she hasn't eaten much. For almost all of August she refused food. She just started eating once we got her mouth healed, so we started out with 2 small rats at a time and are working out way up to her jumbos, then either 2 jumbos or 2 larges at a time as the vet says she needs more food. Feeding her 2 more rats again tonight.

Donnie · 09-12-13, 03:36 PM

Be careful not to overfeed her. Have you got any recent pictures of her?

Kera · 09-12-13, 03:50 PM

I'm trying not to over feed her, which is why I'm just kind of going up by steps. Offer her two, if she eats one and not the other, that's okay

and not too recently for pictures, but I can get some up in a bit.

HoldenC · 09-12-13, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kera

That could be the case, she hasn't eaten much. For almost all of August she refused food. She just started eating once we got her mouth healed, so we started out with 2 small rats at a time and are working out way up to her jumbos, then either 2 jumbos or 2 larges at a time as the vet says she needs more food. Feeding her 2 more rats again tonight.

Two jumbo rats for an Irian Jaya seems like a big meal, no? I've read care sheets that say a single prey item of appropriate size per feeding was ideal. Not sure if that's true or not..

franks · 09-13-13, 07:24 AM

2 Jumbo rats seem enormous for an IJ. Basic rule of thumb is that you should offer prey that is sized approximately 1.5 times the thickest part of your snake.

Terranaut · 09-13-13, 08:51 AM

An adult IJ should get roughly 1 large rat every 3 weeks give or take based on size. 2 is overfeeding. My adult carpets shed 3-4 times a year tops. So 3-4 months between sheds is normal unless they are still growing.

Kera · 09-15-13, 12:55 PM

might I add she's quite large for an IJ. She's about 7' now, give or take a few inches. Vet said she needs more food, as she has a low muscle mass. but I won't give her 2 jumbos, that might be a bit much.

Mikoh4792 · 09-15-13, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kera

might I add she's quite large for an IJ. She's about 7' now, give or take a few inches. Vet said she needs more food, as she has a low muscle mass. but I won't give her 2 jumbos, that might be a bit much.

I think a breeder of IJ's here told me that 7feet is quite normal for an IJ. It's just that a lot of people stunt their Ijs with early breeding never letting them grow.

Terranaut · 09-15-13, 06:03 PM

Kera can you post a pic for us with a pop can next to it for scale?
At 7' she is almost as big as my female jungle and she can eat a 3lb rabbit. The 1.5 rule does not apply to carpets and many other pythons. Your carpet can do up to 4x its girth but this doesn't mean you should. I do a huge meal occasionaly but then waot longer to feed again.

Kera · 09-15-13, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Kera can you post a pic for us with a pop can next to it for scale?
At 7' she is almost as big as my female jungle and she can eat a 3lb rabbit. The 1.5 rule does not apply to carpets and many other pythons. Your carpet can do up to 4x its girth but this doesn't mean you should. I do a huge meal occasionaly but then waot longer to feed again.

That's what a thought but with a bunch of people saying that's not the case I figured I'd just agree. I'll try to snap a picture real quick.

Kera · 09-15-13, 09:03 PM

it isn't letting me upload the picture. Oh predicaments.-.

Mikoh4792 · 09-15-13, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kera

it isn't letting me upload the picture. Oh predicaments.-.

you can upload your picture on photobucket or tinypic and put the url between this code without spaces

[ i m g ] url goes here [ / i m g ]

Terranaut · 09-16-13, 04:34 AM

Yup get a photobucket acount. You can upload directly from your cell phone to photobucket and all you have to donia copy/paste the provided img code. Super easy.