Just picked up a Jungle Carpet Python - major rescue case

Well I was picking up a carpet python today that the owner needed a new home for. Got him for free. She didn't know what subspecies or anything.

Only thing she told me is that he is 5 years old and 4ft long.

I thought he was healthy by everything she said (never got pictures.. but hey its free right!)

Well he apparently got loose today and they had to cut him out of drywall... (arghhhhhh secure snake enclosures are a MUST!!!!) So that delayed pickup time by 6 hrs......

I got there and was expecting a 4 ft healthy carpet python of some sort...

I saw a very small, undernourished GORGEOUS jungle carpet python... They wouldn't pick him up out of the cage because he was agitated from the days events... no biggie I rubbed him let him know I was there and picked him up. No striking, a total sweetheart. Definitely wants to roam tho! Fast little feller. I could feel all his bones.. I mean there is no fat on him at all.. :( And he had no heating lamp/pad/heat of any sort. Put him in a pillowcase. And off we went.

Went to my favorite local reptile store where they sexed him for me to make sure he really was a HE... and the guys there even were like OMG that poor snake needs to EAT! It's a good thing you took him.

So got him home... bleached & cleaned the HECK out of the enclosure he came with before I even brought it in the house... including all the stuff that was in it.

Got it all setup (with a UTH & therm). Gave him warm water because I am hoping he will soak (he's super dry). Covered his cage w/ a damp towel and left a rat pup in there (pre-killed).

I know you're supposed to wait a week before trying to feed, but this is no normal circumstance.... He was only getting small mice every 2-3 weeks (if lucky.... they weren't sure when the last time they fed him was...)

He ate it no problem.

So he is 100% segregated from all animals in my house and under observation. (Thank goodness for a 4bedroom house, because I got another freebie today that needs segregation as well! - post coming soon for that...)

So enjoy. I have named him Lucky.

Oh ya... he weighs 459 grams.

http://www.flashforwardphotography.c...e/lucky/01.jpg

http://www.flashforwardphotography.c...e/lucky/02.jpg

http://www.flashforwardphotography.c...e/lucky/03.jpg

http://www.flashforwardphotography.c...e/lucky/04.jpg

http://www.flashforwardphotography.c...e/lucky/05.jpg

http://www.flashforwardphotography.c...e/lucky/06.jpg

Handsome snake, glad you took him in.

JCPs can eat much larger prey than you'd think. A snake that size could easily be taking weaned rats, or even small rats.

Good luck.

Thanks! Since I had no idea what he has or has not eaten, or when it was.. I wanted to start off slow..

Next week is game on though ;)

Oh...SO unfair! :) He's a pretty baby. Kudos for taking him in!

(Unfair because my dear BF will NOT let me have any other snakes :))

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Oh...SO unfair! :) He's a pretty baby. Kudos for taking him in!

(Unfair because my dear BF will NOT let me have any other snakes :))

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HEHE ya Darryl is pretty stoked. Thanks!
Now you really gotta come over and see them all LOL.

Congrats on saving the little one. I would stay slow for a while (my personal opinion) if you induce regurge by feeding too large it would be way worse on an unhealthy snake. These guys can go a long time without food so keeping something on his stomach is going to be good for him anyways. I'd probably do a weaned rat next week and stick to those for about a month them bump up. He's still got a lot of life left so he'll be big before you know it.

Thanks!

Is a weaned rat larger than a rat pup? (you can see it in the pictures at the bottom of first post) It looked alot bigger before they killed it and put it in a bag LOL.

Yes, Weaned is the next step up in size. :) Then small, medium, large, and jumbo adults.

Just take it slow with that beauty and he should stay just as sweet and healthy!

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OFRD_GRL

Thanks! Since I had no idea what he has or has not eaten, or when it was.. I wanted to start off slow..

Next week is game on though ;)

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Starting slow is a good thing to do. You don't want to rush a malnourished snake into eatting to much or too big. It could make them sick. Slowly ween him up on food.

5 years..wow.

He's a good looking snake though.

Great job on getting and taking care of him! I'm still jealous tho... :P

Thanks :D

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Originally Posted by MiniJ83

Handsome snake, glad you took him in.

JCPs can eat much larger prey than you'd think. A snake that size could easily be taking weaned rats, or even small rats.

Good luck.

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A carpet python that size would have NO problem taking small rats, and that's probably what I'd be feeding. I'm 99% confident it would have no problem with eating medium rats (I'm just talking about ease of the eating process of course). Carpet pythons can eat HUGE prey relative to their girth. Again this is just what they are capable of and not what is recommended for average weekly feeding for food intake.

Medium rats for that little itty bitty thing? Maybe we are talking about two different sized rats here, but mediums are fairly large, 130-200 grams. That little guy shouldnt start out with that size in my opinion.

He looks thin OP, but keep in mind most snakes dont keep a firm layer of fat between the muscle and skin like humans. It's generally deposited in the body cavity next to organs. Feed him appropriate sized meals, make sure he doesnt have any internal parasites, and don't let him get fat. :gj:

Ya I know he's not supposed to be BP sized, or hwat have you, but I have never felt the sides of a snake like his.. (well he's not quite so bad now with 2 good meals in him).
He had not much muscle mass at all. The first time I held him there was no muscle for movement. Now he has more grab to him, and feels like hes got a little muscle.

We are up to small rats (comparable to large adult mouse) for the next feeding and are going to stick there for QUITE awhile!

beautiful JCP, glad to hear he's a sweetheart. great job on the rescue. I got mine cause the guy said he was too nippy for him. turns out the guy was just too scared to handle him and give him the time and patience needed to calm down and become docile. but great find

Congrats. I am in the process of adopting my 1st Jungle myself and am both anxious and nervous about doing so. These are a totally different breed than the Balls I am accustomed to, that's for sure. I'm also very concerned for this snake's health as I have very high doubts he was taken care of properly by the current owner who inherited it after a breakup with her boyfriend.
Anyways, it's great to see another python rescued and being nursed back to health. Looking forward to more updates!!!