[Quantumdot]

Hi,

I sort of have the same problem here — I don't know what to do!
I have a male jungle carpet python about 1 ¾ years old. He has always been eating fine. In March, I started him on larger prey on advice of the vet: first gerbils, then multimammate mice (Mastomys natalensis) but the latter is now illegal in Belgium, where I live. Then I started him on young rats, about 1 every 8-10 days. He never was a great fan about those but he DID eat them. Then suddenly he stopped eating about 1 month ago (actually it took 1 hour before he attacked his last meal). Now he's on hunger strike ever since.
I went to the vet yesterday, he did have some protozoa in the feces but nothing to worry about. His general impression (and mine too!) is that of a very active but docile, and very healthy snake!
He has always been eating live prey right from when he hatched. He wouldn't even consider live prey held in front of him (yes, his dinner has to run around in his cage) so I'm pretty sure pre-killed won't work.
I now tried a small quail, about the size of a fist, but no luck.

So I'm kind of desperate here. I know snakes can survive for several months without eating but I'm still worried.
These snakes are illegal to import and catch in the wild in Belgium, so they are all captive bred.
Can it be one of the following?:

• he noticed the winter (shorter days, colder temp., especially at night when the lamps go out)
• he's fully grown and just doesn't have to eat that much anymore
• he's ready to mate (there were spermatozoa in the stool sample too)

One more thing: I noticed that he "examines" the prey when presented (scanning the body of the prey and flickering his tongue), but after a while he just turns away.

Thanks

 

[Quantumdot]

males can be sexually mature at 18 months and often go off their food during breeding season

some of my carpets go off their food leading up to and during their shed cycle

your carpet looks healthy mate

cheers shaun

Mmm thanks. So I just continue presenting him food every week or so until he takes it?

 

[Quantumdot]

Hi,

I just wanted everyone to know that he turned out OK.
First I went to the vet, he did had some flagellates (and spermatozoa) in his stool, but nothing to worry about. He recommended trying mice again, small chicks or quails and not to worry for another month.
He did not eat (anything) for another 3 weeks or so. Then I tried with two mice and behold! It worked! Perhaps this boosted his appetite because next week he ate quail, with gusto I might add. Even a rat worked since, but I change his diet more often than before. Can it be that they get "bored" when you give them always the same food?

The only remaining "problem" is that the quail is perhaps not enough to feed him on a weekly basis (it should be a Chinese King Quail, C. chinensis).