Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 3 1/2 foot JCP. I house her in a 40 gallon breeder size tank. She has been very tame since I've had her. I bought her about 6 weeks ago from a reptile/fish store. I usually take her out and handle her then put her in a smaller tank to feed her. She eats 2 adult mice every 7 days. She was real hungry the last time I fed her so this time I fed her after only 5 days. She ate the 2 adult mice so I went in to pick her up to put her back in her bigger tank and she went for my hand. She got my finger a little. What should I have done different to have not gotten bitten? Is she going to bit now everytime I pick her up after I feed her? I always use tongs to feed her. Not by hand. How long do JCP need to be to try to switch to rats? Will rats be better as far as her not being hungry after a couple days? Any one have answers to my ???'s...Thanks :0)

Here is my advice if you must feed in a seperate tank..
Make sure you wash all rodent smell off of you before handling the carpet. Maybe she was still in feed mode. I would give her more time to calm down and for the rodent scent to dye down.

I feed all my snakes in their cages. Its just easier for me and I don't like handling my animals right after they eat. Some say feeding in their cage causes them to have a feed reaction when you go to take them out. I disagree, you are more likely to get bit by handling a snake right after feeding it as you just found out. If you use a hook to get her out of her cage then you will have no worries and can feed her right in her cage. She will know that when her cage opens and a hook comes in she will be handled and when tongs come in with a rat she will feed. You can switch her to rats at any time but sometimes they will refuse rats. How much you feed depends on how large the JCP is and what temps you have her at. If she has a noticable lump after 3 mice that is probably a nice sized meal. If not, feed her another one. One small rat would be better if she will take it.

Good Luck
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Jaremy Douglas

I agree. I also feed my snake in their cages. I also disagree with the idea that you should not feed snakes in their cages. I have never had a problem with it.

-RE

3.5' sounds like it can take rats no problem.
how bag around is he?

she can take rats (as long as she's willing)

Probably should not handle a jungle so soon after feeding to avoid bytes

-RE

"What should I have done different to have not gotten bitten?"

Get a hook to transfer her back to her tank.

"Is she going to bit now everytime I pick her up after I feed her?"

A snake does not know the difference of a hand vs a rat when in feeding mode.

"How long do JCP need to be to try to switch to rats?"

I would get it on rats asap.

"Will rats be better as far as her not being hungry after a couple days?"

Yes, it a large meal,which will curb her hunger, but caution must always be maintained regardless of how tame you think it is.
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Jim Kuroski

Thanks everyone for the advise. I've always read that you shouldn't feed snakes in their tanks because they can injest the substrate and tent to bite. I use reptile bark for all my snakes. I have 2 corns, a milk and JCP. My JCP is about a inch and half around. I think I'll invest in a hook. And see if I can find some small rats. Why is it some won't eat rats? I would think since it's a rodent they would eat either.

>>Why is it some won't eat rats? I would think since it's a rodent they would eat either.

Rodents all have unique smells. Snakes can tell the diffrence between them easily...its just that most snakes really don't care

Jungles sometimes can be picky eaters. They get use to one type of prey and stick to it. Thats why its best to start Jungles out on rats. If they eat rats from the get-go then they'll more than likely eat rats throughout their lives without issue.

Darci
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Takes all kinds to make a World...

they bite.

also, there is no real danger from carpet pythons, it is just fine to feed them in their enclosures.

third, i have not found a snake yet that "likes" to be handled, or any other reptile. it is the humans that like it.

andrew
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VARANUS CREATIONS

Breeders and Hobbyists of Pilbara Rock Monitors, Kimberly Rock Monitors, Red Ackies, Argus, Argus x Flavi crosses, Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Argus x Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Bredl's Pythons, Dunn's Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, South American Boas, Atheris Squamiger, Leopard Geckos and rare Spiders.

Get her on rats asap. I feed mine rats from the first meal on. Second, feed in the cage and you won't have that problem.

Tim

i find that interesting tim. i don't doubt it. but many have found it difficult to switch to rats, or even start for that matter. they just seem to have a certain disdain (jcp's that is). my bredli on the other hand love rats.

andrew
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VARANUS CREATIONS

Breeders and Hobbyists of Pilbara Rock Monitors, Kimberly Rock Monitors, Red Ackies, Argus, Argus x Flavi crosses, Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Argus x Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Bredl's Pythons, Dunn's Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, South American Boas, Atheris Squamiger, Leopard Geckos and rare Spiders.

All 55 of my jungles are enthusiastic rat feeders. Quite a few came to me as mice eaters, but they all switched within a couple feedings. It has always been easy for me. The 25 from my last two clutches all took rats on their first try.

Tim

Great. I am going to try to switch her over to rats. As hungry as she is when she takes mice I'm hoping I'll have no problems switching her over. Do you handle yours often? Are they tame? I took her out last night just to see if she would go for me again and she didn't. I think it was because she was in feeding mode.

Most of mine are tame. There are three or four yearlings that will nail me pretty reliably, but I haven't really spent much of any time taming them lately. One clutch I produced is psychotic, but similarly I haven't attempted to tame them yet. I'm waiting to see which ones I'm going to keep. The other clutch I produced last year is tame as can be, all ten combined have only bitten me once. My adults are almost all tame. I've got one male who has recently come to like the taste of blood The other one will bite, but only when really provoked. The females are all fine, and routinely get shoulder time when I'm online.

If your jungle doesn't take the rat in the first couple feedings, wash the rat, and then rub it on a mouse. It has worked on a couple of mine.

Tim