Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Carpet Python "Bear" has refused food 4 weeks in a row. I'm wondering if he is wanting to brumate? He is approx 5 years old. This is my first winter with him. I believe his past owner did brumate him in past years since he was breeding him. He is still coming out of his hide during the day to lay over the UTH or bask on his hanging logs under the heat lamps. He's in good weight now. Should I keep trying to feed him every week, or should I turn down the heat and let him snooze away the winter?

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www.LynsLair.com
4.8 Leopard Geckos
(Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Buttercup, Nala, Mystique, Jewel, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Princess)
1.0 Carpet Python
(Bear)
5.1 Ferrets
(Wolf, Shadow, Roland, Verdell, Boo, Sullivan)
0.1 Cat
(Mia)
1.0 Beta Fish
(Nemo)
0.0.1 Dojo Loach
(Whiskers)

Lyn,

In my own personal experience, it is not necessary to brumate carpets (with the possible exception of the diamond python) even when breeding. Mine often become a bit sluggish feeders in the winter but will occasionally take a meal. My advice would be to continue offering food every 2 weeks. Also, it would be wise to put him on a scale to get a measurement. Keep track of his weight and as long as he is not losing weight, I wouldn't worry about it.

Jeff

I had him to the vets in October for a skin problem and he weighed 9 pounds. He's 7 feet long. The vet was unable to determine what was causing the problem, he did scrapings and it was not fungal or bacterial. He was developing blisters and his scales were falling off in small patches. He just shed last week and his scales and skin show wonderful improvement. He still has patches w/out scales but they are fewer, smaller, and the skin looks good where the scales are missing. I thought that he was refusing his meals due to being ready to shed, but then he refused a meal after shedding. I will take your advise and continue offering food every other week until he starts to eat again, then he can go back to his weekly feedings. I'll keep weighing him in the mean time. Thanks!

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www.LynsLair.com
4.8 Leopard Geckos
(Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Buttercup, Nala, Mystique, Jewel, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Princess)
1.0 Carpet Python
(Bear)
5.1 Ferrets
(Wolf, Shadow, Roland, Verdell, Boo, Sullivan)
0.1 Cat
(Mia)
1.0 Beta Fish
(Nemo)
0.0.1 Dojo Loach
(Whiskers)

How Humid is his cage? Do you have a gauge? I've heard of scale blistering occur because of too much humidity. May be something to look into if you haven't already...Also what substrate do you use?

Darci
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Takes all kinds to make a World...

He had a cat litter box for water when I first set up his enclosure, and he loved to soak in it. He soaked every day for the first week I had him. He is on Aspen bedding. After he got the blisters I took out the cat litter pan and put in a ceramic bowl for drinking only, he can't fit in it to soak. Another possibility was his logs. I didn't know what kind of wood they were, and there was a possibility they were pine. I've covered them in fabric (wrapped many times around) so he can no longer touch the wood itself. A third possibility was his lighting. He had a hallogen (sp) light. I replaced it with a normal household bulb (100 watt) that is on during the day, and a ceramic heater on all the time, plus he has the UTH. The fourth and least likely possibility was poison oak which I had at the time I got him. Since I've addressed all 4 issues, I'm not sure which one was truly the original culprit, or if it was something else all together that just corrected itself. He's such a sweet snake, I'm so happy whatever it is seems to be getting better.

Here was his cat litter pan that he soaked in. He sure loved to soak and I felt bad taking it out.

Here was one of his logs before it was wrapped...

Here is that same log wrapped. There is a log in front and one in back, both wrapped, with the fabric going between to form a hammock.

Here is the back log and other half of the hammock.

I don't have a humidity gage, if I get one what should the humidity be? I'm not sure exactly what kind of Carpet Python Bear is. I was first told he was a Jungle, then that he might be a Jungle/Coastal cross.
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www.LynsLair.com
4.8 Leopard Geckos
(Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Buttercup, Nala, Mystique, Jewel, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Princess)
1.0 Carpet Python
(Bear)
5.1 Ferrets
(Wolf, Shadow, Roland, Verdell, Boo, Sullivan)
0.1 Cat
(Mia)
1.0 Beta Fish
(Nemo)
0.0.1 Dojo Loach
(Whiskers)

I'm hazarding a guess but I don't think it was humidity if he was soaking of his own volition. I also don't think it was the bowl of water or his wooden purch (unless it was exposed to some irratant like poison oak). Carpets don't usually soak unless they 1. Need to because of dryness, or 2. Because something is irratating their skin like mites...or, perhaps poison oak. I'd say poison oak is a definate possibility! I have never seen a snake exposed to it so I can't tell you for sure.

>>I don't have a humidity gage, if I get one what should the humidity be? I'm not sure exactly what kind of Carpet Python Bear is. I was first told he was a Jungle, then that he might be a Jungle/Coastal cross.

Most everything is crossed these days or comes from unknown origins. But he really is a handsome wild-type carpet if nothing else! A humidity gauge might be helpful. You usually want the humidity to be around 50-60%,with extra mistings during sheds.

Well, I'm glad he's on the mend if nothing else. Best of luck

Darci
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Takes all kinds to make a World...