Reptile & Amphibian Forums

(reposted from subforum, this seems to have more traffic)

Hey there, I could use some advice...

I've been put in contact with a woman who needs to unload a carpet (she's pregnant and moving), he's 9 years old, and around 6'4". I'm told he's thin, as she feeds him 1 adult mouse once a week.

I'd like to fatten him up, but how exactly should I go about it? Should I immediately switch him to bigger food? How big of food should I be feeding a 6' python?

Also she used to have the snake very tame, and he enjoyed coming out of his enclosure and being held, but she hasn't had time to handle him in the last year. So my other question is, am I going to have much trouble retaming him? How long should I wait once I move him to my place before I disturb him?

I'm not entirely sure what kind of enclosure she has him in either, so I'll probably be back with more questions once I pick him up...

im no pro but heres what i feel first get him to your house and set up and let him be for a week then offer somethign slightly larger then what he is use to and slowly move up bumping up food size to fast isnt good. If he was tame before he shouldnt be to bad yeah its been a year but my big male carpet isnt held nearly as much as he used to be but is still a kitten keeping them tame is alot easier then the initial taming process but ALWAYS use caution and be careful once he is in your care and feeding good for you just slowly work with im and things should be ok
also on the temper i hope she has atleast takin him out for cage cleaning etc if he has been left alone for a year no handling at all not even for just quick cage cleaning you could be in trouble a snake of any sort left alone in a cage filled with crap and piss and only opened for food to be tossed in could = big trouble sorry i cant be of more help hopefully some1 else will chime in.

I'm told that he's cleaned up as soon as he defecates, and has a full cage clean once a season. So he must've been taken out for those at least...

if he is takin out for cleaning and was laready once tame he shouldnt be horrid may be jumpy or try to get away but go slow short holding periods and work up you should be good to go post pics once you get him in