Advice needed on Jungle Python

[Aussielostegypt]

I am wondering if someone could explain the behaviour of my jungle. He doesn't come out from under his rock in between feeds. I feed him on a Saturday and I get him out from under his rock to feed him a fortnight later. Then I'm lucky if he sticks his head out once over the next 2 weeks. I've even got up in the middle of the night to see if he's out, but alas it's rare.

He doesn't look ill and is growing and shedding. He tries really hard to escape when I hook him out to feed him, so he does have energy. His enclosure remains at 30 and has water to keep it humid. His hidey hole is under the heat lamp.

I guess he's been like this pretty much since I bought him as a little'un, in Decembed 2009.

Every now and then I give his body a little tickle to enure he's not dead. Had to laugh today when I returned to find his head out and the minute he saw me he pulled his head right back in. He's acts more like a tortoise than a snake.

Any suggestions on how I can get him motivated?

 

[Khagan]

It's a snake, hiding is what snakes do.

 

[junglepython2]

Is the enclosure overly large?

 

[Aussielostegypt]

No the enclosure isn't large. There was a time when he would be out stretched along his branch. Yes, I understand snakes like to hide, but I don't think it is all day every day. My carpet python is very much in my face.

 

[Defective]

watch at night with a torch....

 

[Aussielostegypt]

I've checked on him at night. Maybe I'll have to do and 'all nighter' to catch him out. I use newspaper pellet kitty litter in the enclosure and I don't see any trail marks in it. It tends to leave gaps when they glide through it.

Could I be over feeding him? 1 small rat each 2 weeks. He'd be just over a metre long. I bought him as a juvenile in November 2009.

 

[mysnakesau]

My jungles are exactly the same. I have on rare occasions seen them out but they spend most of their time hiding. Lazy buggers do nothing but eat...lol....They stick their head out, that's it. But if she catches you looking at her, then she comes flying at the glass to attack. They won't let me watch them eat. Last fortnight he only had the tail to go when I sneak peeked, and he spat the whole rat out just so he could have a go at me. Se is exactly the same. They will eat it again but I just can't look at them. I didn't think I was that scarey or ugly, but I guess animals are considered good judges of character.

So don't think anything is wrong, or you are doing anything wrong. It sounds like its just a jungle thing. I believe my enclosures probably are a bit large for them, but his is over-done with furniture to cramp things up. She only has a stack of slate, and that is where she stays. I am still working on her tank to secure it up more, but while they are eating, shedding and growing, I don't bother them too much. That's what's important.

 

[Aussielostegypt]

Thanks for that. Pity really as I bought him for his handsome looks.

I don't like to bother him either, he was such a stressed little critter when a baby.

I do get to watch him eat and he's never tried to bit me, thankfully. Hopefully, when he gets too big for his hidey hole, he''ll come out to play.

I've had an idea. I have swapped all the bits inside the cage, end to end. So, the hidey hole is no longer under the heat lamp. Now he has his large, flat rock under the lamp. I have just fed him and he is happily curled on top of the rock. He did a major investigate before settling. It was great watching him. I can't believe how much he's grown. With the sun shining on him he's a lovely, blue black and yellow.

If he was a juvenile when I bought him, how old would he have been?

Good news! Over 24 hours and Rev is still on his rock with no signs that he has visited his hidey hole.

 

[EmmaMary]

Lol I was going to suggest that. I 'procured' two Jungles that were kept in pillowcases in a cupboard for 18 months, after some time laid out and exploring the new tubs they just settled where it was warmest. The male's still shy and hides a lot so I gave him another box, but the female is very interested in whats going on and is happy to show off.

 

[JungleManSam]

maybe your snake just enjoys the warmer end of the tank, what I am going to do( when i built my enclosure) is have a hide built in agains the acrylic with a door in the wood si I can see him from the side and access him easily

 

[keeper10]

put his hide in the mod of the tank or the cool end then he will come out to bask for the heat

 

[Maximum]

Strange, my jungle is super happy wherever, he will often go and relax in his hide but often he can be seen sitting on top of the hide, curled around his hanging stick or just happy wherever else in his enclosure. Then again, he isn't a stranger to me or remotely afraid as I handle him alot and can have him out and chilling with me for as long as I want before I put him back in. Several times he'll get a bit restless and want to get away so I take this as him getting over me for the time being and put him back in his home. He'll even let me watch him eat, took a picture once accidently with the flash on and even that didn't faze him, just kept right on chomping it down. Bizarre!