Jungle Carpet Python and feeding.

[sagara_cp_2006]

I have recently taken temporary care of a jungle carpet python. Exteremely underweight and small for its age. It has eaten intermittenly for the owner, however it has not eaten for a few months now. It is approximately 8 months old around 30cm long, no thicker than the size of a pen.

What I would like to know is if anyone has any tips on getting in it to eat, I can see it was eating before she purchased it. I am going to try and help it, howerver should I feel I cannot do it I will ask a local reptile keeper/breeder for help should I require it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Kiara

 

[Lucas89]

You could try fresh kill. Or move to some thing really small. Some people would just go the assisted feed route but I don't know exactly how to do it myself.
First though a few more details. What are you trying to feed it? What was it eating before? And what type of enclosure are you keeping it in? At what temps?

 

[disintegratus]

Something I've found helps with one of mine is putting the rodent in the tank then covering the tank with a towel/sheet. He doesn't seem to like eating while he's "vulnerable", so doing this has made a huge difference.

 

[sagara_cp_2006]

I have only taken him into my care this morning. The owner has just purchased him a heat rock/hide and he is being kept in a small 20cm (w) x 27cm (l) X 10 cm(h). I am yet to find out the temperture in the hide, however I do have a thermostat device at home that I will be using to ascertain the temprature gradients. He was eating pinkie mice, apparently devouring 2/3 at a time according to the owner.


When I feed him, I intend on moving him into a smaller click-clack, as well I will also try putting a towel over the top of him so he doesn't feel so vulnerable. I will also try to move him into a room that he will not be disturbed by noise or vibrations as well, so he has nothing but the food to concentrate on.

 

[Lucas89]

Been in a new enclosure I would say it will need a week to adjust. It sounds like you have a fair idea of what to do. So I would say it will just come down to persistence.

 

[sagara_cp_2006]

I have four snakes of my own already, and have never had any problems getting them eating. It is just a scary concept to think about having to try and force feed a snake if it came down to that. Thank you for your help with your suggestions, I am jut trying gather as much information to be able to make informed and sensibel decisions.

 

[CheekySod]

same thing with my new jungle 8 months old too. but hes only been off food for a month my hot sides about 32, cold sides as low as 15 somtimes due to the winter and he seems to spend the hole day on the cold side only coming out of a night. i have tryed the towel trick but he dosent seem to be to keen.

good luck with yours

 

[leamos]

Some jungles can be tricky to feed, I found the towel trick very useful with hatchling jungle. I've also found some hatchling jungles don't seem to like prey tangling over head for some reason, I've found presenting the prey to the snake, letting it have a smell/taste and then lowering it down and away from the animal normal gets them to strike. Does the hatchling have a perch or something to climb on and hunt from? This seems to really help getting them to feed, jungles prefer to strike down on a prey them up in many cases. Also try offering after a period of dark, either cover the cage for a few hours or turn out the room light and then offers it food.

 

[Tobe404]

Also as others have said. Check your temps. You want the hot end about 33-34.
It would also be a good idea to fine out what it has previously fed on.
Usually they wont take rats if they've been on mice and vice versa.

 

[Hazordous-Herps]

The problem might be that it has moved into a new tank and needs to get settled, this is probably the case if it was feeding fine with the previous owner. What I suggest is to leave him for a while, in his new surroundings. Make sure he has thing to hide and climb on as jungles love climbing. And what I do is wait until on the night of feeding he is on his perch hanging over in strike position and only then do I feed him. He has never refused a feed this way. If this doesn't work you may have to pre-kill or scent the food item. Hope this or someone else's advice works for you