BP scared of food

[thomasK]

I have a year old BP who is now of feed for about 2,5 months. I know this can occure with BP's but she act's really weird. The moment she sees the rat she is like really scared and then she tries to run away from it. Also when the rat gets near her she pulls her head back really fast and scared.
I've been trying everything last weeks: bigger rats, small rats, brown rats, grey rats, mice, ...

Temps and humidity in the tub are ok: hot side 32°C, cool side 27/28°C and hum 73%, at night temps are around 20/24°C

Anybody knows what this is about? Cause my baby is loosing weight like nothing atm, she went from 810g to 520g ...

[ballpythonluvr]

I have a male normal that does the same exact thing when I try to feed him. He has been off feed for 41 days. I am going to be trying to feed something a little smaller then usual. I am going to try a rat pup because my snake is afraid of everything. Have you tried a rat pup or a weanling rat?

[thomasK]

No, didn't try that yet. This was going to be the next step...

[mommanessy247]

my girl only does that when she thinks the rat is too big, which technically it's not but to her.... i just get the smallest of the small rats.
and she doesnt like it when the rats get in her face and climb on her.

[ptate]

I agree, try a rat pup. Also try feeding her late in the evening and somewhere dark and quiet.

[lk_holla]

Before I switched to f/t my girl was starting to have the same problem. I gave her some time, and tried feeding her f/t. She had interest but wasn't bold enough to strike it so I left it overnight and she ate it. Now thats the only way she'll eat (well.. she used to. i've got a different problem now).

Maybe try leaving a dead rat with her in the hide and check up on her after a couple hours?

[Herp4life11]

My girl went off feed for 3months and that's all she used to do. Pull her head back real fast like she was scared of a little mouse. I think it just comes with being off feed because when she eats now she eats like a fatty and I drop the mouse in......its gone

Good luck! I would deff try the rat pup.

[thomasK]

She ate!! I'm so happy right now, cause i was really getting worried!
I just tried to give her te same rat i had from 2 days ago and she like immediatly striked at it! And it was a good kill to, i heard lots of bones snap
Don't know what made her change her mind, she was in her hide with only her head and neck sticking out, maybe she felt secure like that or something?

thanx for all the advice!! i'm sure gonna remember that for next time she acts like that!

[JMartin]

A little trick that has worked / still working with two of mine is......

I prescent the room and tubs as usual to let them know that it's feeding time. After the others have fed, the last thing i do before i walk out of the room is take a p/k or f/t rat and shake in front of them a time or two. I then lay it down at the entrance to their hide or in front of them, and walk away. I go back and check the next morning to be sure they ate, and so far, it has been working like a charm.

Good luck!