My jungle carpet is just old enough to start a new phase. It is changing from its high contrast yellow and black of its neonatal stage and young juvenile stage. I have always kept it in an open air stage with lots of heat, hung from the ceiling in my room. It has always had plenty of access to water. Suddenly it is soaking more and the water dries faster because he spills most of it when he crawls in the bowl. When i find the bowl empty, his skin gets really dry, like he's about to shed but he doesnt. When i fill up the bowl he always soaks and hardly spends any arboreal time anymore. I always thought that carpets were arid and semi desert species. he's acting more like a... blood python now. Eating well. Why??? Is this due to the phase change? What is the typical environment for a captive jungle carpet?
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Passion, Enthusiasm, Conservation
ReptileGuy99
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Jungle Carpet
Replies (3)
JCP's require moderate humidity, but can tolerate drier conditions as long as they're not prolonged. I would increase the overall ambient humidity to 50-60% with temps in the 70's on the cool side, with about 86/88F on the hot side.
In addition, you may want to check between the folds under the snakes lower jaw as well as around the eyes. If the increased soaking and dried out appearance aren't due to improper temps and humidity, you may be experiencing mites. If you've never seen them before, they look like poppy seeds that move. Keep us posted, and if that's the case, there's a few easy remedies.
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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
He had mites earlier back this year, could this be some residual effects of that? Ive delt with mites before managing reptile stores but ive never had a snake dry out this much before, or just not for this long afterwards.
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Passion, Enthusiasm, Conservation
ReptileGuy99
What are the temps and humidity at? What kind of substrate? How did you treat for the mites? Have you checked him lately?
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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
