Empyrean
10-06-14, 08:30 PM
Hi friends, I'm back again with a question about Salazar, my carpet python. I've had him for about 3 weeks now (my first snake!) and in his new cage for 2 of them. He's about 4 years old and a little over 5 feet long (coastal x jungle).
When I brought him home I waited five days and fed him a large f/t rat. He didn't take it out of my tongs but eventually swallowed it without striking/constricting, maybe 10 minutes after I left it out on a plate. I fed him a large rat again two weeks later, again without issue. The previous owner said he always just threw in a warmed up rat and Sal took it. I'm fine with doing that, but I guess I was hoping to see him take it from my tongs and constrict it :). Do you have any tips on getting him to strike? I guess there are worse things than having a snake that's too friendly...
My second question is about settling in time. So far he has spent 99% of his time in his warm hide. It's possible that he comes out at night, but I don't think he does based on the patterns in his bedding staying consistent day to day. Do you think he just needs more time to settle in? I've handled him maybe three times since bringing him home (never around feeding) but mostly have just tried to give him space so he can be comfortable. There were no issues while handling him, he never acted ready to strike or anything like that. I heard a few puffs come from him when I pulled him out and that was the worst of it.
I know it could be that he's going into shed, but would he really stay in his hide for 3 weeks beforehand? I have no information about his last shed, but his eyes don't look cloudy. I don't know if his colors are dull because he's new to me. How often do your adult carpets typically shed?
Most of the information I'm able to find online is about settling juvenile carpets. What's a good procedure for adults?
In terms of husbandry, he's in an Animal Plastics T10 (48" x 24" x 15") with an 80w RHP. I keep a basking spot above his hide and lower perch set to 88 degrees. The cool side stays around 80. He also has a higher up perch (behind the RHP so he can't burn himself) and some grape vine and bark to climb on and such. The only time I've seen him use these were after a handling. He stretched out for maybe 15 minutes and then went back to his warm hide. Humidity is measured by one analog hygrometer at each end of the cage. One says 50% and the other 60%. I found urates (I think?) about 4-5 days after his first feeding. It was completely white, so no BM I guess?
Sorry for the wall of text :). Thanks so much for the feedback!
When I brought him home I waited five days and fed him a large f/t rat. He didn't take it out of my tongs but eventually swallowed it without striking/constricting, maybe 10 minutes after I left it out on a plate. I fed him a large rat again two weeks later, again without issue. The previous owner said he always just threw in a warmed up rat and Sal took it. I'm fine with doing that, but I guess I was hoping to see him take it from my tongs and constrict it :). Do you have any tips on getting him to strike? I guess there are worse things than having a snake that's too friendly...
My second question is about settling in time. So far he has spent 99% of his time in his warm hide. It's possible that he comes out at night, but I don't think he does based on the patterns in his bedding staying consistent day to day. Do you think he just needs more time to settle in? I've handled him maybe three times since bringing him home (never around feeding) but mostly have just tried to give him space so he can be comfortable. There were no issues while handling him, he never acted ready to strike or anything like that. I heard a few puffs come from him when I pulled him out and that was the worst of it.
I know it could be that he's going into shed, but would he really stay in his hide for 3 weeks beforehand? I have no information about his last shed, but his eyes don't look cloudy. I don't know if his colors are dull because he's new to me. How often do your adult carpets typically shed?
Most of the information I'm able to find online is about settling juvenile carpets. What's a good procedure for adults?
In terms of husbandry, he's in an Animal Plastics T10 (48" x 24" x 15") with an 80w RHP. I keep a basking spot above his hide and lower perch set to 88 degrees. The cool side stays around 80. He also has a higher up perch (behind the RHP so he can't burn himself) and some grape vine and bark to climb on and such. The only time I've seen him use these were after a handling. He stretched out for maybe 15 minutes and then went back to his warm hide. Humidity is measured by one analog hygrometer at each end of the cage. One says 50% and the other 60%. I found urates (I think?) about 4-5 days after his first feeding. It was completely white, so no BM I guess?
Sorry for the wall of text :). Thanks so much for the feedback!