JCP Feeding Question

[Johnny Utah]

As some of you may know, I have had one heck of time trying to get my male Jungle Carpet Python to eat rats. He supposedly was eating rats before I bought him. I've tried everything. I even made a "mouse broth" and dipped a rat into the stew. Still nothing.

I decided to just go ahead and start feeding him f/t mice until he gets bigger and then try again to switch him to f/t rats.

If anybody would like to share their experience with converting sub-adult/adult JCP from mice to rats, I am all ears.

Thanks!

	Jungle Carpet Python

[david_loftin]

Certain snakes are just a pain when it comes to this kind of thing. It is lame when it happens. But it is good that he is at least eating something.

How big is he?

I had a few JCP's at EBV that only ate Adult Mice and they were 7 - 8 ft. What I used to do is feed an adult mouse and then as the snake was getting the mouse down put an appropriately sized Rat behind it. It worked very well. Eventually they started taking down Rats.

I also know some people that use tooth floss or something similar and tie a mouse and rat together. Having the mouse near the front and the rat near the back.. Good times.

I remember Tamara asking me about this before. Is your snake a shy feeder, or does he just eat his food out in the open? It may be hard to do the first thing if he is a shy feeder. Let us know if it works or not.

	Jungle Carpet Python

	East Bay Vivarium

[danktat]

I am not a JCP expert by any stretch of the imagination but MY move would be to put as much weight back on the animal as is possible before trying to switch up again. At least then if it is an epoch battle then it will have the stregnth to go thru that ordeal again..JMO...like I said I am not a JCP expert.

	Jungle Carpet Python

[Johnny Utah]

I have successfully fed him mice twice. Both times were in the day so he was in his hide (he hangs on his perches at night). The first mouse was fresh killed and he hit it no problem. Today I fed him a f/t mouse but he didn't come out of his hide at first. I removed his hide and dangled the mouse and he struck and constricted it. So I guess he's not too much of a shy eater. I think I will feed him two more mice in the next two weeks. Then try a scented rat one more time. If that doesn't work, I'll try your first method when he gets bigger.

Thanks David.

[trendkill]

I knew he'd eat mice.

My experience with switching to rats, if not done within the first few months of the python's life, is 9 out 0f 10 times it just doesn't work. It's probably something you'll just have to live with, unfortunately.

Now here's something new. Rabbits. I've been getting newborn bunnies (premies or babies that don't survive their first time mother). They are about the size of a small rat. My female carpet that would only eat mice eats them without hesitation. My big male diamond/jungle has always liked them (though he'll eat anything).

I understand that newborn rabbits are hard to find.. but small rabbits may be an option once he's big enough to eat large rats. Places sell them as XS (.5 lbs), which is about the same size as a large rat (275 grams = .6 lbs). Just something you might want to try in the future.

[Johnny Utah]

Good to hear! I think Bleeding Sarcasm said she might be breeding rabbits. At lease I have some possible options.

[david_loftin]

We definitely have some Pink Rabbits.. How big is the snake and How big of a food item do you think it should be eating?

[Johnny Utah]

Pink rabbits or rats? The snake handled a small adult mouse fine.

[bleeding_sarcasm]

Pink rabbits, I just had a litter born yesterday and put them in the freezer same day. If you want to pick up a couple to try when we have the BBQ, by all means. They are about the size of a large adult mouse. I had a dumerils female that was going off feed for a few days. refused ft rabbit, ft mouse, ft rat, and then i put a f/k rabbit pinky in and she took it down no problem. silly snakey.

[Johnny Utah]

Sounds good. Are you going to keep breeding the rabbits?