Odd Morelia Feeding Behavior

KyleZ · #1 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008, 07:59 AM

Just wondering if anyone else has seen any funny/strange feeding behavior with their Carpets...

Ok...so after a nice relaxing acclimation period, this past Saturday I attempted to feed my new Jungle Carpet Python...I was told she accepts f/t rats, but that day, she wanted absolutely nothing to do the rat pup I offered her...she even seemed afraid of it, puffing and feigning some "tough girl" defensive style strikes, but never actually grabbing at all...I left the rat in with her overnight, to no avail, she inspected it thoroughly, but seemed totally uninterested in eating it. So, I threw out the old rat and figured I'd give her a few days before trying again (with a small adult mouse). She spends her entire night and morning cruising every inch of her cage, climbing her branches, etc. She spends basically the whole day coiled 'sleeping' under her branches or fake plants, but hardly ever in her hide.

Her high activity level, young age (about 1 year), combined with the fact she hadn't eaten in 2 weeks told me that she is hungry, so I went ahead and attempted with a small f/t mouse today...and that's where it got funny...At first, same story as with the rat...she seemed defensive, but never struck...Finally, as I was dangling the mouse above her with the tongs, she reached her little head up, up and all the way till she was touching the mouse's nose...and then opened her mouth as if to say "aaaahhh," but without ever actually grabbing/striking at all. So I gently dropped the snout of the mouse into her mouth, and sure enough, she finally clamped on, pulled the mouse down to the floor, and began eating. It was actually a silly, sappy "aww"-type moment, I've never seen a reptile so gentle with their food

This is the first time I've ever fed a snake (and I've fed plenty) that refuses to strike at her meals, but instead insists on me gently placing the food in her open mouth... I've had boas that just simply cruise up and start eating without any constriction, but never a snake that HAD to be hand-fed. Is this odd to anyone else, especially with a young python? Oh well, just thought I'd put it out there. I am planning on scenting rats w/mice however, I'm very adamant about my snakes not living off of mice...for now, I'm happy and relieved she's at least taking her food now though, it's always a relief with a new arrival

Allysen · #2 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008, 08:25 AM

Lol I know EXACTLY what you're talking about! We have a 4 year old male JCP named Oberon who did the exact same thing when we first got him. For several feedings he would just open up and wait for it to be dropped or placed in his mouth. He probably did it about five consecutive feedings or so, and then one day he started turning his head sideways and pulling rats off of the tongs, rather than waiting for them to be dropped into his mouth. Once he has the rat, he waits a few seconds, then EXPLODES and thrashes around his cage, throwing coil over coil in order to "kill" it.

LukaTisus · #3 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008, 04:26 PM

Silly Morelias anyway, eh?

I fed my JCP last night, and she struck the rat kind of clumsily and knocked it to the floor of her cage. She then stared right at me, and her tail started vibrating and wriggling around like mad. Like, the very tip of her tail!

It was either she was super excited, or was actually trying to caudal lure the rat back to her. Not that it was very effective, considering f/t rats don't have the ability to move too much.

faroutinmt · #4 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008, 11:59 PM

Do you know much history about the snake? It's definitely possible that, if it wasn't fed rats in the past, it may not immediately want one. Jungles have that reputation. My IJ doesn't want anything to do with rats.

I wonder if it might have just been yawning when you poked the mouse in its mouth?

One of my carpets realized very quickly that its food was always dead upon arrival and has since never attacked its food. The other carpet, however, has never figured this out and always attacks the lifeless prey like it's her last meal. Oh well, there all different.

mongoose5971 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-06-2008, 12:57 AM

Funny, mine did the same thing when I first got him. He was already about 4 years old and I was told he hadn't eaten in about 4 months but that he did that every year (and still does) but the first time he actually did eat, he was extremely "gentle" and just slowly opened his mouth to take the rat from me. He progressively got better and now strikes immediately almost ferociously. Must be a carpet thing.

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