Jungle Carpet Questions

[edf]

Ok, Iam assuming since the carpet care sheet is in this section, this is where I'd post my questions.  They are simple, basically, just asking you guys to double check me.

ABout 3 weeks I purchased a carpet from someone who no longer wanted the snake.  The first week, he ate, f/t. Second week, refused, but Inoticed he was in shed. I went to feed him last nite, and he refused.

He was cage wondering at night, so I thought he was hungry, so I was surprised he didnt eat.

Now, Ia m not too worried, but I just want to make sure his husbandry is rigtht, here are the stats:

first, I say He, but I dont know the gender. I dont know his age, but he is  about 6 1/2 feet long. I will get his weight soon. So he is an adult.

Cage- I am using a huge xmas tree tub,  its like 4 ft 2 inches long, 18 wide, and about 20 high. I am confident in the length side, but the others were aprox guesses. He was housed in a tank before that was slightly smaller, and much MUCH narrower!  Eventually, if I decide Iam going to keep him, I do want to get a bit of a better cage, but this one is working well for now ( at least I think so- I dont see cage wondering during the day or anything that would lead me to believe he is stressed)
temps: hot- 87-89, cool, 79-80. I do need to use a heat lamp, but it is on the lowest rheostat setting ( warm side is controled by a t-stat) I am aiming for a 10 degree difference for the warm and cool side.  I read tons of info b4 I bought him and all.

His shed was perfect, in one piece, but Idid mist the cage a lot for that.

The prev owner says he'll eat f/t or p/k, not sure aboutlive, but that would be my LAST attempt, but he ate a f/t rat b4.  The only difference was the rat last night was a little bigger- but I do not believe it was too big- not bigger then his thckest body section, but perhaps it was a bit bigger than he wanted?

Also, i didnt read much about thebreeding info of the carpets since I dont have any plans on breeding, but I know its breeding season for other snakes, so, I am assuming its carpet breeding season too, so maybe that is playing a part in it.

His cage set-up- I have 2 hides for him made out of kitty litter pans, and he uses them. I have some fake vines to give him some privacy on the front. I have a large water dish- I think he can fit into it if he really wanted, but if i need a bigger one, i can pick one up at the show.

So, how does everything sound? I think it sounds good from all the research I have ben reading, but I just want to double check to make sure! I am actually going to tend to him soon, so I can get pics of his set up if you want.

thanx for any help in advance!!

JAnet

[Donnie_K]

sounds' pretty close, I'd try to bump up that hot side just a bit to like 90-92, but other than that, it sounds spot on. So he did finish his shed alright?

[edf]

thanx Donnie. I'll bump the warm side up a smidge. The acurite does say 91-92, but temp gun gets reading slightly lower, so I just have to subtract 3-4 degrees, but I checked this several times and it says consistant.

Oh his shed was PERFECT! it is so awesome looking too, since the snake has a lot of black, the shed was really dark! So completly different then what I am used to with bp sheds! It's longer than I am tall ( i know shed strectches) but its just neat- and since he decided to crap in the waterdish, the shed was turd free, so I can keep it!

I only was able to handle him for a little bit- slowly working with holding him, but not really fast. He is a bit more active thenthe bps- will take some getting used to since he is much longer and can get into things a bit quciker, but he is just a joy to watch! So pretty!

I am going to pick up a hook this weekend at the show.  I don;t think it is completly neccisary, but I think it would be good if I ever feel the need to have to use a hook to help with handling the bigger snake ( yes, you can laugh at me saying a carpet is a big snake...lol)  But I use a hook with my feisty rat snakes, it jut makes me feel a little more comforatable when handling snakes that like to strike using a hook for thier front parts, and I hold the other half with my hands.  This way, if I ever feel that he is getting feisty and I do have to tend to his cage, I can use the aid of a hook to help.  Not that I am seeing much signs of aggression- he does hiss a bit at me, but not when i am agettin ghim out, I just dont think he is used to being handled much since the prev owners havent handled him much ( they were trying to sell him for over a year)  I am working on that tho, he doesn't scare me, but I would like toget him used to being handled and used to me, and slowley work up the handling part.

I am rambling now...LOL!  I did have a boa in the past, so I do have some experience with bigger snakes than bp's, but Ijust want to make sure I play it safe.

Thanx again for double checking my set up and husbandry Donnie. I just want to make sure I am on the right track. I was pretty sure I was, but its better to ask to be safe!

I will still get some pics for ya's to look at.

[Donnie_K]

practicing using a hook to turn off the feed response with him is a good idea yes, but as far as handling, I wouldn't try to make him ride the hook like a hot... you'd be better off with a 10 dollar pair of welding gloves and a nice thick hoodie. let him get to know you and realise you're not gonna hurt him.

[edf]

hmmm.... ok... I am familair with th ehook training for th efeeding responce, read about it when I had the boa. 

As far as using the hook to hold him, it would be more of if for some reason, he spazes out. Right now, I can just pick him up- with short sleeves on. He isn't aggressive when I hold him ( like hes looking to strike) and I am comfortable with handling him th efew times I had to clean his cage and all. I was thinking more of a just in case way. I know that when I was talking about hiooks with my boa, I was told that your not really going to be able to hold the snake on the hook- and I never planned on just the hook holding the snake, more like useng the hook as an aide- hooking the snake about a foot from its head, and holding the back of th esnake with my hand, i was kind of thinking this would give more space between me and the snakes head if he was being really nippy- but only if I ever felt that he was being super aggressive.

BUT I can honestly say, my main experiences are with bp's, so my logic may not be right I will admit...LOL.  I will take your advice then, just stick with a hoody and gloves if I feel he is in a bad mood and I have to move him ( my first option would always be to leave him a lone if he looks like he dont want tobe bothered  )

I tend to over think things at times...LOL!  But I will still check out the hooks, since the only one i have now is a smaller one, i am sure it would work for hook training with the touching the snake when you go into the cage not to feed it, I'll look for a longer one.

thanks again y=for your input and advice Donnie, I will put it togreat use!
Janet

[Donnie_K]

well the idea is to make em more comfortable with you... if they're only ever handled with a hook and you holding onto their tail they're never really gonna tame down for you. Gotta get personal with your snakes ma'am yeah, stepping up from balls can be a little testy, most people don't realise how different they are... lol

[edf]

LOL. I have no problem geting personal with the snake, I guess I am just being over paranoid! I am focusing more on the what if's and what could happen instead of just seeing things the way they are.

Ok, here is my new aproach: unless I see that for some reason this snake is suddenly gettign aggressive, I will handle him with my bare hands, which is what I am actually doing now.

Ok, why do I need to make a big deal over nothing? Well, I can answer that, I just simply want things to go smoothly, but that won't happen if I keep thinkng of ways to make things go not smoothly....

LOL. Yeah, I just got to realize that while this snak eis  astep up from the balls, I can handle it.  I am aware they are different then balls, but that is the good news, I am aware of it.  I just got to get to know the snake a bit more, and let him get to know me.

I will try not to make mountains out of mole hills...I just may need yo to tell me to stop over worring about stupid things at times....LOL.

thanx again, I truely appreciate it! I really enjoy having you share your advice with me!!

[Donnie_K]

lol, that's no problem. Like I said, even if the snake is aggressive, that's what the gloves and hoodie are for... armor... they can bite all they want and not draw blood that way. Sooner or later they'll settle down... Glad to hear he's bein' good for you

[edf]

Yeah, so far so good... knock on wood.

I am really enjoying him so far. Even if its mainly just watching him in the cage.

I would love to work wih bigger snakes, but its just not going to happen. Burms are georgous, like huge puppy dogs with how adorable they are, same with retics, but they are just too much responsibility for me, plus, i dont think i coul dfeed cute rabbits!!  LOL.

But I was at first msitaken about the carpets.  I was assuming since they get long, i was thinking they'd be bulky too. My only other experience with a snake bigger then a 6 yr old female ball was a boa, and he had the weight on him, and I didnt really want  aheavy largr snake.  But carpets are slender- i know they will be a bit more work then bp's, but i know I can handle it.  Its just the first of a new type of snake I am working with, and no matter how mkuch reading and researching you do, the only way you truely get the expereince is by working with them. I was well prepared for the snake, and that is a great start, now I just got to work with him getting comfortable with me and vice versa, and I think they qwill come along nicely with time.

[Donnie_K]

you've definately got the right idea! and for the record... a 6 foot boa is quite a bit heavier than a 6 foot burm or a 6 foot retic too