Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a male jungle carpet, that has given me some difficulty with feeding rats. I've had him nearly a year now, he is about 3-4 feet and could be eating weaned rats. I've had difficulty getting him to be consistent with eating those. He'd go months in between meals. So I decided to switch to mice, as some carpets seem to prefer mice, as I was more concerned about him being consistent with his meals, then I'd try converting him later.

My female jungle carpet is several years older, and I've raised her from a hatchling, and once she was large enough to start taking down pink or fuzzy rats (don't remember which), I switched over, as I figured it was best to switch them over while they're still young. After a couple tries, she switched and is now one of my best feeders. Even my two GTPs switched over to pink rats very quickly just three weeks ago.

If only it were that easy to do the same with him. He has become more consistent on the mice, eating every week or two, but I'd like to try and switch him over before he gets much bigger. Those of you who have a lot more experience with carpets, I'd like to know some of your tricks for switching snakes over to rats. Do any of you have any carpets that simply refuse to switch over, no matter what?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

OK,
Here's what I've done and seen work before. The major one is scenting rats with mice by rubbing the adult (dead or alive) on the rat pink (small amount of urine on the rat can help alot). I think another thing you might try is using something a bit smaller than a weaned. And usually after doing the scenting for 2-3 weeks the carpet should accept rats. If your worried about the time inbetween feedings you might try, but probably already attempted, is upping heat (85-90 degrees) and humidity (75%).
Scenting is the most recommended but there are other not as recommended ways. If your carpet is still somewhat aggressive you can "tease" it by having a rat pup or whatever (as long as it is not able to bite), hold it by tongs or tail and make it look to the carpet like it's attacking (coming into the personal space with faster than normal movements), then hopefully the carpet will accept that as a meal when it strikes the rat. Warning-this can and probably will stress out the python so if it doesn't work soon, then stop.
I'm know there are plenty of other ways, some frankenstein stuff too, that may work but yes think of the snakes health when learning these techniques. Hope you well.
sincerely,
Mark

Currently- 2 Jungle Carpets, 1 coastal carpet, 1 children's, 1 Macklot's, 1 yellow anaconda, 1 emerald tree boa, 1 albino whitewater rosy boa, 2 colombian rainbows, 6 rubber boas (Charina Bottae), 3 alligator lizards, 1 Red Ackie, and 1 Burton's legless lizard.

Thank you for your help. That brings me to my next question, how do I get urine from a dead mouse? They're not very good about peeing on command.

I have a pair of IJ carpets that refuse to eat rats..or anything scented with rats. As the female was getting over 4', and eating 5-6 mice a week, I dropped a small rabbit in the cage (I have a source), and she nailed it and ate it. Strictly rabbits now, and her growth has gone up dramatically. I'll try the smaller male in the spring on a rabbit, but he's already bred her and that's all he really needs to do, lol. Same with a smaller MacLotts of mine.
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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 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I had the same problem. I have a year and half old jungle who i've had for about 3 months. The breeder had sworn to me she was on rat pubs and that they had been pre-killed. However she had only eaten once. I tried every method possible and was starting to get worried. Then I gave in and bought her two live adult mice..without any regrets she ate them both. And it seems she just prefers to eat a few mice rather than one big meal. Its weird because my friend never had this problem he feeds his whatever he has and his snake never has a problem with if its a rat of mouse. We're just the lucky ones!
-Megan

Yeah and when I tried to convert her she would strike but she wouldn't eat it!