Strikes, but doesn't eat?

[Trochu]

Sorry if this has been addressed numerous times before, I did a quick search and didn't see anything. I'd just like some input, other than my own thoughts, on what the issue/reason for my BP behaviour is. My BP never used to have a eating 'problem', I'd throw the prey item in, usually before I got the front latched he'd struck and coiled. I think I even bragged about his eating habits on here a few times.... Anyways, I haven't changed anything, same habitat, humidity at 52%, using a VE-300X2 thermostat set at 90F and 96F providing top of glass temperatures of approx. 87F and 93F. I'm feeding F/T rats that are if anything, too small so I don't think prey size is the issue. To thaw, I put the rat in a ziplock bag, submerse it in hot water for 20 min. to 30 min., then heat it up with a hair dryer. I haven't changed my methods. When I'm heating with the hair dryer, he gets really active, starts doing the S pattern weave, preparing/looking for something to strike. I'll throw the rat in, he'll take 20 to 30 seconds to investigate, strike, then immediately recoil and go back to his hide. I was trying to feel every 7 days as he's a year old but now it's try on day seven, no dice, try again on day 14, no dice, try again on day 17 maybe he'll take it. I though originally I just wasn't getting the rat warm enough as I was getting complacent, reheating often generates the same results though. I'm not so much concerns about his weight, he looks healthy, it's that I'm going though the rats. I keep my snake at work and don't have a freezer handy, so if he doesn't eat it, it's basically throw the rat away, which I really, really dislike doing. Any thoughts?

[DooLittle]

Try live. Maybe that will get his attention. My bee who had never skipped a meal, took two weeks off of food. She usually eats p/k. So I gave her live this weekend, and she ate.

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[dr del]

Hi,

Try doing the zombie mouse dance with the rat using tongs?

But can you explain this line further?

I haven't changed anything, same habitat, humidity at 52%, using a VE-300X2 thermostat set at 90F and 96F providing top of glass temperatures of approx. 87F and 93F.

Are those the cool end and warm end temps? Because your cool end is too warm if it is.

How and where are you measuring the temps - I know you say top of glass but without knowing substrate and hide type that doesn't help much.

Other thigns would be is he around 1000g and what weight/ size of rat are you feeding him?



dr del

[JustinAskin]

I had a similar problem. Turned out my buy went on a hunger strike for a couple weeks.

Turns out he was just telling me that he was annoyed with the food.

Wait a week and try feeding again.


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[Trochu]

Hi,

Try doing the zombie mouse dance with the rat using tongs?

dr del

Yes, I've tried this, same result, strikes but immediately lets go and goes back to his hide.

Are those the cool end and warm end temps? Because your cool end is too warm if it is.

Yes they were. I don't know how many times I've read the BP caresheet, somehow was reading 85/95, not 80/90, the I've lowered the cool side by 5 degrees and the hot side by one.

How and where are you measuring the temps - I know you say top of glass but without knowing substrate and hide type that doesn't help much.

I have a glass bottom enclosure, so, from bottom, it's thermostat sensor, heat pad, glass, thermometer sensor, then paper substraight.

Other thigns would be is he around 1000g and what weight/ size of rat are you feeding him?

He is nowhere near 1000 g. I haven't weighed him for a few months, but I'd guess he's around 400 g. I know it sounds smallish, but he's is fully round, has no loose skin, and regularly sheds every 2 months. I'm also estimating his age (don't know how old he was when I bought him). I'm attempting to feed a rat pinky (sigh, thanks for the bad memories Del ), I bought a bag of 80 rat fuzzies and apparently his fuzzies are everyone else's pinkies, every 7 days. I was trying to do two every 7 days but he'd usually pound one right back and leave the other.

I'm no so much concerned with my setup, I think it's pretty good now, or his weight, also seems pretty good. More the reason for the strike and not coiling/eating. Bad rats, just isn't hungry, maybe they aren't hot enough, maybe they are too hot, season changed (we have snow now), internal biological changes with said season change (there are no other animals in the building though)?

[dr del]

Could be worth trying a mouse?

Or try defrosting them slower somewhere near his enclosure so he gets the scent? I know it makes mine go into feeding mode.