Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There seems to be a discrepancy in my household regarding two things and I was hoping for a definitive answer to both.

1.) Do Carpet Pythons have a foul stench, odor? If so, what is this caused by? How frequently does this stench occur?

2.) Will Carpet Pythons (that have eaten non-living prey since birth) suddenly reject the non-living food and only require living prey?

We are not sure and would like to know the answers to these questions.

(Thank you.)
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Thanks,
Dan from Long Island

Is the cage temp still the same?
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 MacLotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
0.1 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)

i don't know what kind of stench you are refering to but the only time my snakes smell is after they eliminate. other wise if you keep them clean they don't seem to have a body odor so to speak.

as far as the f/t food...all my snakes are still eating f/t. however my jungle carpet python has decided to stop eating. i sure hope he takes to f/t when he decides to eat again. i would hate to feed live. esp a rat.

just my 2 cents...

Carpets do not smell at all usually, they may smell like thier enclosures though. One thing that you might consider is gut rot. I've never had a snake, or even seen a snake, with it but from what I understand it can smell. If your temps are too low, especially at night, the food in their stomach begins to rot, and gives off a horrible smell. Also, I've heard of some snakes, not just Carpets, refusing entire batches of f/t mice or rats before. For some reason they won't touch a single rodent from the batch so maybe try a f/t from another supplier, or try fresh killed. If the snake has stomach rot you can bet it won't be in the mood to eat. Good luck, keep those temps high and clean the cage regularly.

Dan,
Congratulations, I suppose you are married by now, and are still debating with you new wife on getting a JCP.
No, they do not have a stench. I have two a male and a female. Neither have any oder. The breeder that sold them to me, told me that the males do have a musk gland and can musk on you, but I have NEVER experienced it.
While I enjoy feeding my large female live rats, most of the time now I stun them first, she also takes frozen thawed just as well when I can't get live. My smaller male prefers frozen thawed, but will take live, just not as readily. But I'd say that it is entirely possible for any snake to stop taking frozen and only accept live or visa versa. They are animals and are unpredictable. What's more common with JCP's is that they prefer mice and won't accept rats, which becomes a nuisance and a expense when you have to buy/provide several mice per meal instead of one rat.
Keep the cage meticulously clean and there will be no unpleasant oder. Actually it seems my pythons waste doesn't smell bad come to think of it, but my Bullsnake, that's a different story!

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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hondo)
0.1 Spouse (WC)
0.0.8 hatchling ball pythons

Thank you for your insight. It seems to be the trend...
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Thanks,
Dan from Long Island