Baby IJ won't eat...

[illbeyoursoldier]

Does anybody know any hints or tricks to get a baby carpet python to eat?? I was given a baby Iran Jaya from a friend, fresh out of the egg. I really didn't want the little guy, but I figured what the hell. It has never eaten in its life, and I can't seem to trick it into taking food. It's extremely hyper and seems to be doing fine... Bright, active, alert. It has no problem striking at me over and over and over again. It has a black cloth over the front of its bin to prevent it from striking at the front of the box when people come in. And it's not looking skinny yet, I guess that yolk goes a long way. Its shed perfectly for me twice, and its temps seem to be perfectly fine.
 
I've tried the leaving-in-a-dark-small-container-over-night thing. And I've even tried scenting with frogs. 
I know theres the "braining" and "cutting in half trick," but I haven't tried feeding it F/T. I've only tried live pinkies/fuzzies.

Anyone experienced with these guys, or any ideas at all appreciated. Thanks, in advance!!
 






These are some pics from when I first got it, right after its first shed.
Sorry about how washed out they are with the flash.

P.S... I'm calling the IJ an "it" cuz I have no idea if its a boy or girl.
It's so tiny, I don't want to probe or pop it, I'm afriad I'll break it, LoL!

[Donnie_K]

how old is it?

[illbeyoursoldier]

Probably almost a month now.

I just read Abi's Carpet Care Sheet.
I'm going to try the soaking-in-chicken-broth thing.

[LadyBloodRose]

do you have the tote set up  semi arboreal? that can make a diffrence to, also how bigs the tote?

[juddb]

Chick down works everytime!

[eunectes904]

I used to drop my pinks or fuzzies in egg yolk or chicken broth to feed to my baby gtps.  It worked every time. He's a cute little guy. Hope he eats soon.

[cast_iron_mike]

most carpets do fine with or without any type of arboreal set up. I know many breeders who do not ever give any type of branch or anything for any of their carpets and never have any problems. but also if given the chance most will take advantage of them as well. every so often you do get the weird individual who much prefers to have the perch and may be stubborn until it has one. you may want to try that if you do not already have one available to the snake. Also try and stay away from pinks. Carpets in general do not like eating bare rodents and highly prefer atleast a little hair and can be easily started on no smaller than a fuzzy. How do you have the IJ set up? pics of the enclosure would be best as well as temps and humidity.

[illbeyoursoldier]

Thanks for all you guys help!! I didn't realize till just now all your responses.

do you have the tote set up  semi arboreal? that can make a diffrence to, also how bigs the tote?

Honestly, no. The cage is shorter than it is wide. The tubs are 14 qts, but the rack is very much for terrestrial snakes. However, my arboreal rack is 30qts, and I feel like that would be way too big for it. So I took your advice and compromised. I just put a hide, a big stick, and some leaf things to give it all whole bunch of stuff to perch on/climb around/hide in. Maybe that will help??

I used to drop my pinks or fuzzies in egg yolk or chicken broth to feed to my baby gtps.  It worked every time. He's a cute little guy. Hope he eats soon.

Thanks Jay, I'm going to try those two methods next!! I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow morning.

Chick down works everytime!

I've heard this before. I honestly have no idea on where to begin on buying some, LoL. Any ideas?
I was told like a feed store, so like Tractor Supply or something??

most carpets do fine with or without any type of arboreal set up. I know many breeders who do not ever give any type of branch or anything for any of their carpets and never have any problems. but also if given the chance most will take advantage of them as well. every so often you do get the weird individual who much prefers to have the perch and may be stubborn until it has one. you may want to try that if you do not already have one available to the snake. Also try and stay away from pinks. Carpets in general do not like eating bare rodents and highly prefer atleast a little hair and can be easily started on no smaller than a fuzzy. How do you have the IJ set up? pics of the enclosure would be best as well as temps and humidity.

Thanks for the lengthy responce, Mike. It was really helpful!! I feel like a fuzzies would be too big for that tiny little thing but I'll deff try it, for sure
And if this helps, the set up is spuratic: 14qt tub with driftwood, fake greens, a hide box, water bowl, and aspen bedding.
Humidity varies, but its maintained upwards pretty well.
Ambient Temps are around 79-80 on the cool side, and around 90-92 on the hot side. Ambient temps are around 85-88.

[cast_iron_mike]

you might wanna try bringing your temps on the hot side side down a few degrees. i keep my hottest spot at around 88 or so and my overall average ambients like 80-83 and my cool side around house temps which is 77 or so. also you might wanna be careful using aspen in tubs. from my experience anyways it seems like it gets moldy pretty quick. i like using cypress if i keep things in tubs. it seems to have a higher resistance to mold. keep us updated on the little one!

[illbeyoursoldier]

you might wanna try bringing your temps on the hot side side down a few degrees. i keep my hottest spot at around 88 or so and my overall average ambients like 80-83 and my cool side around house temps which is 77 or so. also you might wanna be careful using aspen in tubs. from my experience anyways it seems like it gets moldy pretty quick. i like using cypress if i keep things in tubs. it seems to have a higher resistance to mold. keep us updated on the little one!

Thanks!! I'll try dropping them a bit, see if that helps.  And yes, Aspen does mold pretty quickly. I like it though, its cheap and very easy to spot clean, and gives them something to push around. It just makes me keep a little extra attentive, cleaning up poop ASAP, and paying more attention during shed time!