Hi carpet fans,

Wanted to solicit some advice. I've had an adult variegata I acquired a couple months ago now, and what was supposed to be his third meal before finally handling him ended up being a no-go. He doesn't appear to be going into shed and seemed somewhat interested in food yesterday, but didn't take it. He's only fed twice and both times I've laid the large f/t rat out on a small piece of cork bark and a couple hours later he just decides to eat it. He doesn't strike food when dangled in his face, but rather seems bothered by the fact that something is annoying him. i don't hit him with it or anything, but want to give him the chance to do something natural, but he clearly chooses the passive route and just eats on his own when he feels like it.

That said, several people on this forum when I first got on here recommended feeding three times before handling him, which as hard as it has been, has been 100% the case. He is just an inhabitant at this point without interaction and I am wondering if I should just take him out and where the "magic 3 times" comes from. Am I supposed to wait until after the next time he does eat (3rd) to handle him? He clearly knows his enclosure well and I just don't know what one more feeding is going to change. It's getting cooler in SoCal, so maybe he is realizing that and not eating so much? Who knows, just looking for some advice. My job requires me to sometimes leave for extended periods of time and my wife has not yet been introduced to handling snakes, which I need to get her comfortable with if and when I do leave. A 6-foot carpet should be a good first test . Last night he had his second bowel movement, which was far jucier and more "spicy meatball" (anyone?) than the first. He seems rather docile, though he did hiss when I first got him and attempted to move him a couple times in the very first day or so. I hear that is common for carpets....?

Thanks!!