Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a carpet python that a member from my Herpetological Society had picked up in March at a show. It is around 4'. It was supposed to of came from a dentist office originally. I just got the animal on Sunday and I noticed a constriction about 3/4 -4/5 of the way down the animal(it appears that way) then about 3" past that there is what appears to be some damage to spine and ribs. I have been soaking it. I plan to try to feed it pinkie rats, then baby hamsters, then whatever small birds I can get a hold of in hopes I can get it to eat. He had said even though he hadn't gotten it to eat, it has defecated a couple of times. I have gotten proublem feeders from him before, but this is more than I am used to seeing. I plan on doing everything I can to help this animal. I was hoping I could find some help here before I turn to a vet. I guess I always place my hope with the animal? Thanx for reading, sorry about the long-windedness of this.

Best,
Steve

I strongly discourage feeding hamsters. They LOVE them and it'll be a pain to get them switched afterwards. Pink rats sound way to small for this animal. Small to med rats sould be fine to get it started. Make sure the animal has a hide, some perches, and lots of privacy! You may consider chicks as a last resort, but keep in mind...tha last snake I did that with has been a NIGHTMARE to get off of them! If it looks like it's been bitten, consider the possibility of her being scared of her food. Give plenty of time between meals, and leave a f/t prey item near her hide or perch and cross your fingers. Hope this helps.
Mike
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

From what I know and have discovered with this snake, I am just triing to get it to eat anything at this point. The couple of people who have tried before me have been unsuccessful. I know it hasn't eaten in 7 month and it shows. It does drink water, I have seen this for myself. I will place a hide and more wood and vines in it's cage along with the pinkie rat. Thanx for your imput, this is my first experience with carpet pythons.

Best,
Steve

Wow...7 months, huh? I didn't realize it had been quite that long. What I would do if I received a snake in that condition is as follows.

Keep it in a very simple enclosure with a hide it can just fit into and one or 2 sturdy branches. Make sure these branches are secured in a way that they will not move when the snake climbs on them. Make sure it has an adequate temperature gradient from approx 88/90F on the warm side to approx 78F on the cool side. Lastly, make sure the enclosure is in a quiet room where the snake will receive 0% stress.

I would give it a full week before attempting to feed it again, and I would probably go with chicks or quail initially, just to get something in its system. Once it's feeding solidly, then worry about switching over. When I gave my advice on prey items earlier, I didn't realize how long it had been. Anything will do at this point.

Make sure you space out your feeding attempts at least 5 - 7 days apart, but if you can't get a meal in it within the next few weeks, I'd bring it to a qualified reptile vet for an evaluation, and to dicuss tube feeding. Good luck!
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

I have that set-up, the temp are closer together because of enclosure size. He is also in quarentine. It is closer to 80-87, He dose have a hide that takes up the whole back of the enclosure. I placed a large water bowel along front, so animal can soak. I think it may bring comfort to injury I noticed. Also braches secured for climbing are available. He is in my bedroom, that is the most quiet room I could find.
I have a appointment for him next week and the vet will look at him along with another homeless herp I have that needs seeing. The Carpet wasn't homeless, but the owner wouldn't tak him to the vet and was stump as what to do, I have helped thisperson out before with other proublem animals. I think the animals health should come before the owners short-comings.
Thanks so much for all of you help, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Best,
Steve