new to carpets

pythonkidd · 08-03-10, 03:53 PM

Hi everybody. I recently bought a 1 month old jungle carpet python from a reptile expo and I have a couple questions. First, I have him in a 20 gallon long for now; is that too big? Also I tried feeding him today, but he showed no intrest. This was the first time I've tried feeding him in the two weeks that I've had him. I'm not to worried about that right now, but any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Will0W783 · 08-03-10, 07:54 PM

First of all, congratulations on your new addition. Carpet pythons are wonderful snakes and you will enjoy him. At one month old, he should eat once a week. However, sometimes it takes a while for a new snake to settle in and start taking food. Make sure your temperatures are correct- he should have a cool end around 80 and hot end around 85-88F. At night let the whole cage get down around 78-80. Also young carpets, jungles especially, are nervous and insecure so make sure you have adequate hides for your little one. You should have a hide box in both the cool end and the warm end so he can feel secure at whatever temp he wants to be at.
Did you find out what he was being fed before you got him and how many meals he has taken? At one month old, he might not have had more than a few meals and may be tough to feed at first. Who did you get him from if you can remember? I'd shoot the seller an email to double-check what food and feeding method he/she was using.

percey39 · 08-03-10, 07:59 PM

Do as kim has said. I have had babies that didnt take a meal till their third week of life and had to be assist fed to get going. I would find out exactly what the seller was feeding and how.

marvelfreak · 08-03-10, 11:58 PM

Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of carpet pythons. They are a addictive bunch. What size mouse did you try feeding and was it live or frozen thawed?

percey39 · 08-04-10, 12:09 AM

A good way to get get most carpets going is to buy a day old chick and scent prey items with this. I have found this to work 99.9% of the time.

Junglecarpetguy · 08-04-10, 08:24 AM

I start my baby JCP's on frozen/thawed pinkie rats and every now and then I get one that will not eat willingly. I will make a small slit in the pinkies head and squeeze out a little brain matter - that smell seems to get them to overcome their reluctance to eat and once you get them started they can be voracious!

shaunyboy · 08-05-10, 12:25 PM

hello and welcome

willows pretty much covered it

did you give the food item a good heat before you offered it.ive found my carpets like a nice hot target to strike and eat.

cheers shaun

pythonkidd · 08-05-10, 07:24 PM

Thanks for the advise. I'll wait a couple more days to try feeding him again and hopefully he'll eat without me having squeeze brain juice out of a mouse. (but i will if i have to) ; ) One more question, a little off topic though; I'm planning on getting another snake at the upcoming reptile show in manasas and I'm trying to decide between a red tail boa or a woma python; which do ya'll think a should get. Again thanks for all the advise.

percey39 · 08-05-10, 07:41 PM

I cant help you with the boa, but woma's are great little snakes. They are a smaller snake but have great little personalities, have a strong feeding response, very reluctant to bite, easy maintenance and require no humidity plus they are a great looking snake. If you wanted something similar to a woma temperement wis but a little bigger then black headed python's are good. They head butt more and put on a great show a feeding time. They get up to 3m which is a lot bigger than a woma but require the same habitats.

Lankyrob · 08-06-10, 04:07 AM

Personally i would go for the Boa but i am biased as have recently fallen in love with one!

Will0W783 · 08-06-10, 07:43 PM

Either snake is a good choice. Boas are nice and hardy and generally extremely docile, but they can get quite large. Womas require a little more heat but are known for being almost bulletproof with their hardiness. They only get about 6 feet and are most times fine if handled from being young, but can occasionally be aggressive. I have 2 womas and I must say they are some of my favorites. They are beautiful, great eaters, friendly and curious, and spunky. They are fascinating snakes. I also have several boas, and I adore my salmon hypo red-tails. Both are big, calm, friendly beautiful snakes and also eat like champs. It really comes down to a personal choice. Womas have come down in price so much the last 6 months that I wouldn't consider price that much of an issue in the decision. You would be hard pressed to find a lot of the boa morphs cheaper than womas these days. Best of luck in whatever decision you decide on.

marvelfreak · 08-07-10, 12:04 AM

Woma! Woma! Woma! They are so cool looking. I hope to have one someday.