Advice on Feeding

So I am currently in the process of trying to switch my Jungle Carpet Python from Live Hamsters to F/T Rats.

Last time she ate was about 1 month and a week ago, but in between that month, she switched homes (4 hour drive) and then was in shed.

2 Nights ago I tried feeding her a thawed Rat but was not successful, she went near it, smelled it but then slithered away. I'm not concerned with how I prepped the rat or presented it as I have experience with that.
I ended up leaving the rat in the cage and in the morning it was just moved over. So it went to waste.
The plan was to wait 2-3 weeks before trying again, get her a bit more hungry.

But today, I noticed during the day, she was doing the whole neck stretched to the top lid, and she was doing it tonight as well. A sign I usually get with my other snakes that they are looking for food.

So what would you guys do, try again with a rat today or wait another week or two? Obviously, her eating is my number one priority but at the same time I don't want to keep throwing out rats, about $10 each.
If you think waiting longer would be better, would it still be safe to hold her, as she might be hungry?

Thank you!

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/wbigZTv.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/BTIegtD.jpg

I've read that some get hamster bedding from a pet store and leave the rat to thaw in the bedding , maybe place over a warm place to speed up the thaw ...

If it's used to live hamsters it's quite a jump to thawed rats I'd guess .

Maybe a rat smelling of hamster will work . Make sure you feed in the evenings, dim lighting , warm up with a hairdryer and offer INSTANTLY whilst still warm , keep repeating until it's grabbed .. quite often they get more and more interested with each warm
up .... if it grabs and coils but just lies there you can gently pull the rats tail with tongs and that can trigger them into eating as they think it's escaping ..


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Have you tried scenting a live rat ? I’m having trouble swapping one of my bps over from ft over to ft rat pups . One of my IJ carpets back in the day would only eat mice as well couldn’t switch her over no matter what I did. I think a lot has to do with how early you change hem over



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Definitely wait before offering again. Behavior is the least reliable indicator that it is time to feed. She is probably just exploring. I think handling is fine. If she was so hungry that you’re worried she’ll bite you, she would have eaten yesterday.

All great advice guys! Thanks a lot.

Guess we'll try again soon lol

Why so much for the rats ??

$10?? That seems like a grip!

have you tried to look for cheaper bulk sources. ?

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Why so much for the rats ??

$10?? That seems like a grip!

have you tried to look for cheaper bulk sources. ?

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$10 Canadian for a colossal rat, that's what they go for here. The snake community isn't as big as other places are in the States.

So this snake better start eating lol or I'm turning it vegetarian!

How big is your carpet? My Bredli is 2200-2300 grams and gets a medium or sometimes small rat, and my JCP is 1500 grams and gets small or medium rats, both are fed every two weeks, with occasional rabbit kits instead of rats.


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A colossal sounds awful big for any Carpet.

My 2, eight foot Coastals with large girth only get XL rats. My slim 7 footer gets a large. My 6 foot Jungles eat mediums and larges.

Unless the previous owner of your Carpet fed colossals, I can see why he is refusing them. You might try starting with a medium and work up to Large if necessary.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...326e4040d9.jpg

Lizzy, Coastal Carpet (All In!).

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Originally Posted by Hamsnacks

$10 Canadian for a colossal rat, that's what they go for here. The snake community isn't as big as other places are in the States.

So this snake better start eating lol or I'm turning it vegetarian!

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I don't know how big hamsters are up there but around here they're about the size of a large pup or small weaned rat. I think you'll have better luck sticking to similar sized prey when making the switch. It'll be a lot easier on the wallet too.

Maybe I made a mistake then on size. She's a little over 6 and a half feet. When I measured the thickest part of her body it was about 4 inches wide so I assumed she would require a very large rat and then probably eat every 3 weeks. But it seems like I over calculated. I assumed way too large.

In regards to the medium rats, do you feed her only 1 or 2 then? Maybe I'll start with that and then go up to a large rat in the future.

Thanks again everyone for the help, very much appreciated!

Was able to weigh her tonight, she's ~5kgs, and ~6.7' in length. If that helps at all.

Definitely go to the pet store and ask for hamster bedding, and scent the thawed and heated rat with it before offering. I used to just roll the rat around in the bedding when I was switching.

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Originally Posted by Hamsnacks

In regards to the medium rats, do you feed her only 1 or 2 then? Maybe I'll start with that and then go up to a large rat in the future.

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Medium rats are 2-3 times larger than hamsters. I'd start smaller - somewhere between a pup and weaned. Don't worry, by the looks of her, she's got plenty of reserves. Usually when people switch up prey items on an imprinted animal, they try with similar sized or smaller options. Going the opposite way could just intimidate your snake out of any feeding interest.

I like the suggestions you are getting here.

I think during the switch, like sized prey that is scented is a good idea.

Once you get things moving, there is nothing wrong with variety. Quail, rabbits, rats, are all good.

As far as size goes, I tend to mix that up as well.

Carpet pythons, especially coastal and Bredli and even some larger jungles can and do eat huge prey items.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/sc...49bd825de46bc8

One thing I love about the species is they are rather active in the boa/python group and you can see them doing something day or night on most days.

They are one of the most adaptive snakes out there. Coastals live in heavily populated areas, and many homes in the range of coastals, have them in the attics.

Watch your dogs, watch your cats.

https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au...a2fa0f4c984dfa

Apologies for the on and off topic garble here.

My coastal is a pain and always has been. She prefers live, eats monthly, will eat F/T but she has to be extremely hungry and I end up playing around trying to coax a feeding for usually 20 minutes.

Good luck.

My Bredli and JCP get a single small or medium rat per feeding (every 2 weeks). If the kits are small on rabbit weeks they get two, or a rabbit kit and a mouse. They’re also my garbage disposals if one of the other snakes obviously isn’t going to eat (usually a medium mouse when it happens).


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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Definitely go to the pet store and ask for hamster bedding, and scent the thawed and heated rat with it before offering. I used to just roll the rat around in the bedding when I was switching.

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Originally Posted by John1982

Medium rats are 2-3 times larger than hamsters. I'd start smaller - somewhere between a pup and weaned. Don't worry, by the looks of her, she's got plenty of reserves. Usually when people switch up prey items on an imprinted animal, they try with similar sized or smaller options. Going the opposite way could just intimidate your snake out of any feeding interest.

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Once again, thanks for the help, I will be going today to pick up either some pups or weaned rats, I'll check out the size in person and slowly start moving up. I still have some old hamster bedding that should do the trick. Hoping for the day when she's fully switched and can start feeding her different variety of foods.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gio

I like the suggestions you are getting here.

I think during the switch, like sized prey that is scented is a good idea.

Once you get things moving, there is nothing wrong with variety. Quail, rabbits, rats, are all good.

As far as size goes, I tend to mix that up as well.

Carpet pythons, especially coastal and Bredli and even some larger jungles can and do eat huge prey items.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/sc...49bd825de46bc8

One thing I love about the species is they are rather active in the boa/python group and you can see them doing something day or night on most days.

They are one of the most adaptive snakes out there. Coastals live in heavily populated areas, and many homes in the range of coastals, have them in the attics.

Watch your dogs, watch your cats.

https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au...a2fa0f4c984dfa

Apologies for the on and off topic garble here.

My coastal is a pain and always has been. She prefers live, eats monthly, will eat F/T but she has to be extremely hungry and I end up playing around trying to coax a feeding for usually 20 minutes.

Good luck.

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They are absolutely amazing, I love the fact that you can see them during the day, she's not in her hide all day. Plus she doesn't get started easily so the kids can approach the tank and view her or she'll come out and see what's going on. Every snake enthusiasts should have a carpet lol I bought mine because of the people on this forum and the look of the snake itself I think is gorgeous.

Those links you sent we're crazy, cause they have big bodies but their heads are a lot smaller, I can't imagine how it ate that possum or hare.

Thanks again!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Why so much for the rats ??

$10?? That seems like a grip!

have you tried to look for cheaper bulk sources. ?

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Part of the problem is that Alberta is supposedly "rat free" ( there's even a volunteer "rat patrol" along the Saskatchewan border). As such, private ownership of rats is illegal here, and (to my understanding) only allowed for zoos, universities and other such research establishments.