Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone

Last year my dad bred his Jungle Carpets for the first time. Getting them to feed proved very difficult - it took months to get them feeding. He tried all the usual tricks in the books but to no avail. Eventually most of them did feed on their own but only after months of manual feeding.

It looks as though we're having the same problem this year. This years clutch hatched and sloughed with no problems. Now two weeks further on they are all refusing to feed (mouse fuzzies). I should say last year I tried both rat and mouse fuzzies with the same result - nil.

Help - any new ideas anyone please?! All the hatchlings are housed separately - each box has a hide and a water bowl.

Kind regards
Jackie
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Keeping and breeding:
4:5 Eublepharis macularis
1:1 Gekko gecko
1:1:3 R. auriculatus
1:2 R. ciliatus
0:0:1 R. leachianus henkeli
1:0 Tarentola chazaliae
1:2 Teratolepis fasciata
and lots of other reptilian creatures..

I have never owned/bred Carpet Pythons before, but I know a little. The only thing I can think of is temps. What are the temps in the baby cages on the warm side and the cool side? From what I've been told it should be around 80 on the cool side and about 90 on the warm side.
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~Future breeder of~
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Coastal Carpet Pythons
Irian Jaya Carpet Pythons
Jaguar Carpet Pythons
Diamond Pythons

I don't know if you tryed these, but you probably did since you said you did all the "usual tricks in the book"...

1. Scent with a lizard, cat
2. Open up the skull so that the brain is visible.
3. Put the snake into a dark container and leave the food item in over night with it (may not want to do with live prey).
4. If it eats something other than mice/rats (lizard for example), feed it that and then scent a mouse.

Hope this helps.

I had the same problem with a jungle I got from a breeder. Ihad it for 2 months before I got it to eat. I was told to get a cup of hot tap water and dip the mouse in it (after the mouse has been thawed) and tap the mouse on the snakes head. It took a few taps but he finally took it and he started feeding great after that. Hope it helps, Matt

I've never had a problem getting my hatchlings to feed using either f/t or in rare instances live pinky rats. The more I think about it, the more I believe that environment has more of a factor in getting jungle hatchlings to eat than food choice. Make sure you reduce their stress as much as possible, hides, perches, and a lack of distractions outside of their cage. I'm not sure how much this helps, as its all pretty basic, but its worked flawlessly for me.

Tim

I have bred Jungles and have had no issues with feeding. I agree that I would look to the environment. Carpet Pythons are generally verocius eaters. Another thing to remember is that they have the nutrients from the yoke sack and will feed when that is depleted. Did all the hatchlings survive from the first clutch? If so its just a matter of time til' they feed. Good luck!

Thank you all for the replies.

Most of last years clutch survived (we lost 6 out of 25).

This years clutch do seem like they are wanting to feed. They strike at the fuzzy as soon as it's offered and hold it in their mouths for a few seconds or so, then they drop it. They do this for five or so strikes. Then refuse. When they strike we have kept hold of the snake and also put them slowly back in their box, both end up with the same result - they drop the fuzzy.

One has fed.

Thanks again for all the help.
-----
Keeping and breeding:
4:5 Eublepharis macularis
1:1 Gekko gecko
1:1:3 R. auriculatus
1:2 R. ciliatus
0:0:1 R. leachianus henkeli
1:0 Tarentola chazaliae
1:2 Teratolepis fasciata
and lots of other reptilian creatures..