Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I recently purchased a trio of jungle carpet pythons. I've only had them for about a week. The last time they ate was 8/31. I tried to feed them this past weekend and weren't interested. They are constantly in the hide box, only coming out a night.

I have other pythons and they have never ever been so shy. The funny thing is that all three of them are shy! Do they need more time to settle in? When would you start to worry about them not eating?

Their enclosure includes branches, hide box, hot spot, and a humidity around 60-70%. I know the husbandry is correct, I've owend other pythons.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks Susan P.

You've only had them a week. I'd give them more time to settle down.

Jake

The moment I brought my baby carpet home, she was incredibly outgoing! She seemed very interested in biting me, and letting me know that sticking my hand in her cage is a big mistake. I still do it, and she doesnt bite anymore-but she was always an "in your face" kind of python. Thats why I like her so much. Sucks that your snakes are shy. Ive had boring snakes, and they are no fun.
john
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"People change and your changing"
Seals and Crofts 1976

you didnt mention what you were keeping them in, if you kept them singly or in a group, or what you were offering them.

since youve kept pythons you should know that if you put a baby python in a big cage it gets stressed and scared from being so exposed. but, carpet pythons do like to find a nice dark area and curl up in it for the day, pythons are after all nocturnal.most keepers have a very high rate of success in keeping carpet pythons in rubbermaid, or similar, plastic shoe boxes, not large boxes, litterally, the regular shoebox sized plastic storage boxes. i personally use them and they work very well, a nice secure cage with multiple hide spots, keeps a baby python happy.

now, if youre housing them in a group that is another source of stress, most pythons, not all (think white lipped pythons) sit in the same spot for one reason...it is the best place to be in the cage at the time. i mention white lips because compatible sexual pairs will sit together, and incompatible sexual pairs will usually try to stay far away from each other. otherwise ive never heard of pythons clumping together aside from its the best place to be.

and with feeding, baby carpets dont like small prey. simply put, baby carpets can take large fuzzies or even hoppers with no problems. some can even take small mice. im not kidding, most carpet pythons will not touch something without fur, its been proven time and time again.

hopefully these tips help

Jay
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Jaymz
"got a bowlin ball in my stomache, got a desert in my mouth. figures that my courage would choose to sell out now..."

Well, first off, It's not a good idea to house snakes together. They probably just need a little time to settle in. also think about things this way: In the wild, baby carpets would get picked off by all sorts of predators, so they can't afford to stay in the open, and move around alot in the wild. I got a JCP this summer, and he was very shy for the first couple of weeks, but now he stays where ever he wants. Just give them time to realise that you're not a predator, and that their environment is safe, and they'll be fine. I hope that they become pretty, outgoing adults!! Good luck!!
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Collin