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  1. #1
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    Not eatting. Age? Stress?

    I have a male BP that hasn't taken a small rat in 7 weeks. Before that it was 2 months between feedings. I thought at first it was realated to it being Winter. Then others suggested a mature male.

    Is it just a thing that happens around 1 year? Is he just going to eat every 2 months now? Is the following picture exibiting stress? these were just taken at 12:30am (its late).



    Before all this he would eat well every week. He went a month without eattin, then shed. It was at this time that I also moved him to a new cage. Is 4 month a long time to adjust to a new cage? He was in a 2x1x1 (15 gal) before; A 2x2x1 now (30 gal).

    I know im kinda getting paranoid. Just my first snake. Thanks for the help :-)

  2. #2
    BPnet Lifer Vypyrz's Avatar
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    Re: Not eatting. Age? Stress?

    What are you using to heat it? and what are you warm/cool side temps and humidity?
    Are you feeding live or f/t? If you are feeding f/t, how long?

    I would also suggest a 2nd hide in there...
    "Cry, Havoc! And let slip the dogs of war..."

  3. #3
    Registered User lilbit's Avatar
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    looks like the second hide is behind the water bowl

  4. #4
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    Re: Not eatting. Age? Stress?

    Quote Originally Posted by Vypyrz View Post
    What are you using to heat it? and what are you warm/cool side temps and humidity?
    Are you feeding live or f/t? If you are feeding f/t, how long?

    I would also suggest a 2nd hide in there...
    There is some flexwatt under the back half of the cage.
    The back is the warm side (the hide is on the left so it is a little warmer then the bare side)
    The temp are 92-94 on the warm, 80-82 cool.Humidity is about 60 (I spray his cage every other day and there is a humid air pump that runs into his cage thats on a timer)
    I feed live. I tried going with f/t when he was about 5 months but he never seemed too interested in it.

    Thanks!

  5. #5
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    Re: Not eatting. Age? Stress?

    Here are some better ones of the cage. Hope these are easy to see Thanks!


  6. #6
    BPnet Lifer snakesRkewl's Avatar
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    Re: Not eatting. Age? Stress?

    Live? F/t?
    mice? Rats?
    The type and size of prey and your attempting to feed.
    Are you attempting to feed weekly?
    Jerry Robertson

  7. #7
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    Re: Not eatting. Age? Stress?

    Quote Originally Posted by snakesRkewl View Post
    Live? F/t?
    mice? Rats?
    The type and size of prey and your attempting to feed.
    Are you attempting to feed weekly?
    I normally offer live small rats. I tried a jumbo mouse most recently to see if he might take it, but i got nothing.
    I offer weekly, sometimes 5-6 days in between, but try to stay weekly.
    I put him in a serate feeding box when its time. I dont feed in his tank. rat ate his termometer wire, or they just hide in his other hide.

  8. #8
    BPnet Senior Member WingedWolfPsion's Avatar
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    Well, his behavior is abnormal, and your setup looks and sounds good, so I would recommend a parasite check. Given his feeding history, this is a good thing to rule out, because a parasite infestation can cause loss of appetite and irregular feeding and fasting.

    At age 1, he should still be eating weekly, unless he's actually breeding during the winter. Even then, he should be eating weekly the rest of the year.

    Do NOT feed him in a separate cage. This causes stress, and he's quite unlikely to feed if he doesn't feel secure.
    Don't leave the rat in his cage for longer than 15 minutes. If he turns away from it and starts roaming, remove it--that means he's not going to eat it. The longer you leave it, the more it will stress him, after that point.
    There's definitely no reason to leave a rat in long enough for it to start chewing wires.
    --Donna Fernstrom
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  9. #9
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    Re: Not eatting. Age? Stress? (poop pic added)

    Quote Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion View Post
    Well, his behavior is abnormal, and your setup looks and sounds good, so I would recommend a parasite check. Given his feeding history, this is a good thing to rule out, because a parasite infestation can cause loss of appetite and irregular feeding and fasting.

    At age 1, he should still be eating weekly, unless he's actually breeding during the winter. Even then, he should be eating weekly the rest of the year.

    Do NOT feed him in a separate cage. This causes stress, and he's quite unlikely to feed if he doesn't feel secure.
    Don't leave the rat in his cage for longer than 15 minutes. If he turns away from it and starts roaming, remove it--that means he's not going to eat it. The longer you leave it, the more it will stress him, after that point.
    There's definitely no reason to leave a rat in long enough for it to start chewing wires.
    So I took my BP to the Vet on Monday. Did an overall exam and he was given something that makes them hungry. Said it was originally used to treat dysentery in reptiles. (sorry, can’t remember the name)

    Any way, he pooped today, Thursday. I’ve posted some photos if someone can review for parasites or abnormalities. (remember, it's been 2 months since he’s eaten)

    Thanks All!!




  10. #10
    BPnet Lifer snakesRkewl's Avatar
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    Re: Not eatting. Age? Stress?

    I don't use hides but when I did I pulled the hides when I fed.
    Jerry Robertson

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