Just picked up a Jungle Carpet Python - major rescue case

[OFRD_GRL]

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.

[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.

[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

[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 )

[OFRD_GRL]

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 )

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

[DavidG]

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.

[OFRD_GRL]

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.

[Argentra]

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!

[OFRD_GRL]

Thanks!

[vangarret2000]

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

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.