Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I haven't posted on here befor but I am always reading everyone's posts. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Now onto the problem.
I purchased a baby JCP at a expo back in October. When I bought him he appeared healthy and alert. Since then the snake has only accepted one meal, a small pinky. I have tried several different approches to this, but I am to the end of the rope. I would hate to lose the little guy. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated and needed. Thank you.

Greg

It would be hard to give advice without knowing enclosure size, temp. gradient, perches, etc. See if you can give as many details as possible.

Sorry about that, here is some more information that might be helpful. It is a male roughly four months old. He is being housed in a 12"X12"X18" enclosure. There is both a hide and a large grape vine branch for climbing on, he seems to use the branch almost all of the time. The heating is accomplished by a ceramic heat emiter, keeping the enclosure at 78-85 with a drop down to 74-80 at night. Due to the overhead heating it is a bit warmer towards the top of the enclosure. Newspaper is being used for a substrate for now. The snake appears to still be alert and has not lost much if any weight but this can't last long if he continues to refuse food. I hope that this is some of the information that you were asking for. Thank you for your time and concideration, hope to hear from you soon.

Greg

P.S. Sorry for any spelling errors, I am typing this in a bit of a hury.

That sounds pretty much like what I've used for my babies, but a little smaller. I started one of mine on rat pinks/fuzzies, and the other on baby gerbils (all he would take). Try something bigger, feed at night shortly after the lights go out (timers and a blacklight help), and try offering prey just within reach (mine like to strike down from their perches). Hope this helps.
mike

I'd allow one basking area of up to 92 degrees. Also, in the wild, most carpets start on lizards. If nothing else, try that and switch him over.
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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 would like to thank both of you for all of the advise. I'll have one spot of the enclosure a little warmer for a basking area and I think I will give an anole scented pinky or just an anole period a try. I have heard from several other sources, as well as your posts that this may help. Thank you for both of your time.

Greg

If the snake ate a pinky mouse for you before, why suddenly move to trying lizards? I have hatched hundreds of baby Carpets and NOT A ONE has ever needed lizards or even lizard scenting. I am more inclined to think the snake is housed in too large of an enclosure for it's age. In my book, when a snake has feeding problems, the first thing I will often ponder is whether or not to move it to a smaller more cramped enclosure away from as much outside stimulation as possible. In the meantime, is the person you bought the snake from helping you with suggestions or anything?

-Yasser

SPITFIRE REPTILES

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