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  1. #1
    BPnet Royalty Gio's Avatar
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    How long of a break do you give a food refuser?

    Our female normal has gone from 480 GM to 525 since her last rat. I weighed her after urine and stool elimination. The rat was a small/juvey. We have been feeding every 7-8 days with a little hesitation since switching to rats, but she has taken them. This last round we have gone 11 days. I saw her peak out and assumed it was "time" she refused. I waited a day and tried the same and she refused. So after the refusal, I saw her head peaking again. I think I'm about to give it another week. I don't like trying too many times and also wasting frozen rats.

    The season is starting to change here in MN, but still not drastic and the tank temps are steady.

    Is it worth another shot tomorrow or should I play hard ball?? (That was kind of a good pun without trying LOL!)
    Last edited by Gio; 09-10-2012 at 11:17 PM. Reason: spelling

  2. #2
    BPnet Senior Member Royal Hijinx's Avatar
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    I wait one cycle, so either 4 or 8 days depending on their size, before offering again. Playing "hard ball" will get you nowhere.

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    Gio (09-11-2012)

  4. #3
    BPnet Royalty KMG's Avatar
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    Re: How long of a break do you give a food refuser?

    Quote Originally Posted by jinx667 View Post
    i wait one cycle, so either 4 or 8 days depending on their size, before offering again. Playing "hard ball" will get you nowhere.
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    BPnet Veteran The Serpent Merchant's Avatar
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    Make a feeding schedule (either a certain day of the week or a certain number of days between feeding) and stick to it. BP's can go months without food so going a week or so in the case of a few refusals really isn't a big deal. A feeding schedule will not only make it easier for you, but also will help prevent stress caused by trying to feed too often.
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  7. #5
    BPnet Royalty DooLittle's Avatar
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    Skip it, wait till next scheduled feed day, they will be fine. I have a VERY picky CL mojave, and he likes bite size meals. Way smaller than what he should be eating, but that's all he will take, and only one, and not everytime. You have to find the "groove" for each snake. They are all different, and all have their own little quirks . My bee, will eat anything, every week. So I have both ends of the spectrum. Try not to worry to much, they can be very picky, and aren't going to die from missing a few meals. It just gives us grey hair worrying about them. Thank god for hair color......

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    Last edited by DooLittle; 09-10-2012 at 11:49 PM.
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    Gio (09-11-2012),meowmeowkazoo (09-11-2012)

  9. #6
    Registered User darthkevin's Avatar
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    One feed period is sufficient
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  11. #7
    BPnet Royalty Gio's Avatar
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    Re: How long of a break do you give a food refuser?

    "Playing "hard ball" will get you nowhere."

    Playing hard ball is waiting a cycle or 2 to me, so I assume you misunderstood what I meant as you seem to be in agreement with the others. Now I just need to figure out which day will be the "new cycle". My last attempt from this round which was last night or my 1st which was the night before.

  12. #8
    BPnet Veteran C&H Exotic Morphs's Avatar
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    Re: How long of a break do you give a food refuser?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gio View Post
    Now I just need to figure out which day will be the "new cycle". My last attempt from this round which was last night or my 1st which was the night before.
    Since you are on a 7 day feeding schedule just pick whatever day of the week it will be easiest for you to feed.

  13. #9
    BPnet Royalty DooLittle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gio View Post
    "Playing "hard ball" will get you nowhere."

    Playing hard ball is waiting a cycle or 2 to me, so I assume you misunderstood what I meant as you seem to be in agreement with the others. Now I just need to figure out which day will be the "new cycle". My last attempt from this round which was last night or my 1st which was the night before.
    Wait a week from today.

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    Gio (09-12-2012)

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    Re: How long of a break do you give a food refuser?

    I don't mean to jake this thread, but I have a question that that is a little off the op's question.
    Now, my question is, will balls refuse if the feeding schedule is a little erratic?
    I feed every 7 to 10 days. It's all due to work schedule. Thanks and sorry in advance.

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    Gio (09-12-2012)

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