JCP keeps saying no . . . to food

[reptileexperts]

Hi all,

Long time keeper / breeder, first time Morelia owner. I purchased 4 Carpet Pythons in the last 3 weeks, and one of them is starting to show possible signs of a very bad feeding issue. The first meal was taken right away 2 days after the shipment arrived. It was a Frozen Thawed Rat pup. Since then feeding time has past twice without any desire to take the food. The first time she was fed in cage, worked fantastic no issues. Second time tried the same, no luck, left the food in there for an hour, no long. This was at 8 PM, their lights are off at 7 PM and on at 8 AM right now. Fed the next morning (offered food) again, no luck. This was the same prey size / type that was offered on the first feeding.

Four days later, I went ahead and tried again, rejected in cage. Moved to a feeding tank, again refused and just looked at me like I'm the dumb one. Tried an old faithful turn to trick with colubrids and placed her in a paper bag with the frozen/thawed/warmed prey. Again, nothing she just constantly tried to escape. Waited till the next feeding day 3 days later offered in cage. Nothing. Her sister eats like a champ and feeds right in the cage. Their future Sire also eats like a champ and is already on his second shed since I first got him. I usually don't worry too much with this stuff till I know there's a problem, but right now I'm just missing the tricks and was hoping someone had a trick I haven't tried yet.

The cage is spot cleaned every 2 days right now. All snakes have been routinely deficating, including the one who is refusing food. No mites have been found, they have a daylight bulb that provides air heat, and they have a heating pad regulated with an on/off thermostat. The ground temperature hovers around 87.5 and the air temperature around 85 at mid and 90 at the highest basking point. The cool side of the tank is 77 and during the night the cool side drops down to 75 but the UTH stays constant at 87.5 to provide heat during the night.

I have a new shipment of frozen thawed on the way from Rodent Pro, went ahead and ordered a bag of hoppers just incase she will take to a mouse (hoping its not an imprint problem - but have to wait for that shipment).

Here are the snakes for those who are curious, I'll add photos of the fourth one who arrives tomorrow morning (Pure Coastal Jag, Kerry King Dam VPI Sire offspring by Caponetto).



Male, Simba



First Female, Nala



Second Female, Canon - This is the girl with the eating issue.

Cheers