Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I just got a baby JCP on Tuesday. He must be about a month old, very tiny. I have him in a 10 gallon tank, he has all his necessary hide spots but he likes to climb on the drift wood alot. My temps are 75-80 during the day and 70-75 at night. I placed two pinkies in the tank, at first I dangled one in his face so he can get a scent, he looked totally uninterested. I put him and the pinky on the ground level of the tank and he just slithered over it. I noticed that he would stop for like a couple of seconds and stare at it, but that's about it. Whenever I take him out of the tank he seems to get very excited, I tried to feed him on some newspaper outside the tank but he refused to leave my hand and kinda clutched on to me for dear life lol. He's not nippy at all, he may be a tad nervous because he's been in that tank for only two days, but overall he seems healthy and strong and likes to be held. Does anyone have any feeding suggestions for me? Should I wait another week to feed him? Any kind of help would be much appreciated, thank you for your time!

Use fuzzies, also you'll find he will spend much of his time in the "tree tops".

So your saying that I can't just drop the fuzzy in his tank? I have to put it up in the tree? lol

Hi I just got a baby JCP myself about 2 weeks ago. I had similar trouble in the first feeding. She ignored the pinky for many hours. Remember, these are nocturnal hunters. I put mine in a tupperware 'feeding tub' with tiny holes for air and a damp paper towel at the bottom. Then I put the snake and pinky in the tub and put them in a closet where my water heater is, giving plenty of humidity and darkness. She ate the pinky within 10 minutes.

Somebody told me the same exact thing, I will try that. How many times will I have to do that? Will he be able to feed on his own after I do that?

To be honest I'm not sure. She is so inactive during the daylight hours that I wouldn't be surprised if it remains this way for a little while. Good luck- let me know if it works for you.

Generally speaking, the prey item has to have at least a little fur on it in order for a baby Carpet to take it. I have gotten them to eat pinkies, but it's not very consistent.

Tease feeding is a good method to entice baby Carpets to eat. This means dangling the prey item overhead on forceps (large tweezers) and touching the snake's tail to get it riled up.

If you're feeding pre-killed or thawed prey, make sure that you get it very warm by soaking it in warm/hot water and then dry it off prior to feeding.

Another method that seems to work well is putting the prey item and the snake in a brown paper sack (inside the cage) overnight.

For more info on feeding, check out my care sheet (link below).
Click HERE for my Carpet Python care sheet

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Anthony Caponetto
www.ACreptiles.com

Ok, but can't I just throw fuzzys in his tank and let him hunt for his own food? I'm sure he'll look for food when he's hungry enough.

that's really a bad habit to get into. when it starts taking anything larger than fuzzies, they're going to be able to crawl around the cage. at this point, the snake may not be interested, and you may have a hungry/angry rodent alive in the cage with the snake. Rodents have very sharp teeth, and very strong jaws, and can do a lot of damage to a snake.

Well unless a fuzzy can climb a tree then I highly doubt I have anything to worry about lol When that snake is hungry, he'll come down from the tree to feed.

Since you apparently have all the answers why are you asking us questions?

Just looking for a second opinion

>>Just looking for a second opinion

Here's a second opinion...

Rather than second guessing the advice we give you, you should try reading a caresheet on your own.

I gave you my advice. If tease feeding or getting a brown paper sack is too much work for you, perhaps it's time to look for a different type of pet.
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Anthony Caponetto
www.ACreptiles.com

I never said it was too much work for me, in fact I have alot of patience. My whole point is that I tried everything. The only time he shows interest in his food is when it's walking around his tank. He likes to follow it, and sniff it. He looks like he's about to attack, he gets into pose, and then just doesn't. So when he finally eats his food on his own in the comfort of his own tank, then you can add that to your caresheet

Snakes die of starvation when food is available, so it's not quite that easy. If the snake doesn't recognize it as food, it's not going to eat.

-Anthony

>>Ok, but can't I just throw fuzzys in his tank and let him hunt for his own food? I'm sure he'll look for food when he's hungry enough.
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Anthony Caponetto
www.ACreptiles.com

Ok, so what if my snake does not recognize it as food? He just seems like he doesn't want to be bothered with it at all. Do you suggest a force feed so he gets a taste of what it is? I have had the snake for two weeks now. When is a force feed absolutely necessary? Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.