BP Hasn't Eaten in 2 Months, help!!!

[jad23]

Hello all. I got my first BP in July. He was good about eating once a week for several weeks. We then discovered he had mites, and he ended up having a really crappy shed at the same time and retained his eye caps. I tried several ways to remove them, and took him to an "expert," and everyone said after his next shed he'd be fine (got rid of the mites, btw). The last time he ate was September 9! I have continued to offer him his weekly rat and he has ignored it each time. He finally just shed again this past Saturday and the eye caps did come off. So I offered him a rat yesterday, Sunday, and he once again refused. I have not done anything different with his feedings this entire time so I am horribly confused and extremely concerned. I know they can go a few months without eating but I was told he probably wouldn't start fasting until December or so. I am really worried about him, please help! (By the way, he is about 3 feet long and approx. 2 years old).

[ewaldrep]

Were you feeding him live or f/t? It may help to get him started again if you offer live and then switch back once he is eating again. I'm sure others will have more advice, good luck!

[MrLang]

If he's 3 feet long and 2 years old, they start to do these things. They can go many, many months without eating, so I would not worry. As long as you are offering the same food it has eaten consistently in the past, it will choose when it's time to eat again. Are your temps and humidity where they normally are? Any other weird behavior besides food refusal?


I just had my ghost break a 2 month fast last night. It's my first time offering since I moved to a new house. I'm not sure if that played any role or not, but I was worried they were all going to go off feed from the stress. Turns out everyone was hungrier than normal from it!


Good Luck!

[TJ_Burton]

First off, a 2 year old male can go off food for WAY longer than 2 months without issue. I had a mojave stop eating for 8 months before he decided to continue eating again. I wouldn't be too worried about him; sometimes they just need a long period of time on their own in a nice warm enclosure. Only look at him to change water, and give him a whole month without offering any food. Then try f/t again and if he is still not interested, give it a week and try live.

[jad23]

I've been feeding him F/T. Thank you!

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Glad to know it's not that unusual! Nothing else has changed in regards to his environment- I've never moved his enclosure to a new spot or anything. Temps have been consistent and good. Humidity is a pain like it always is. I have him in an acrylic exo-terra enclosure with a screen top. Definitely struggling to keep the humidity at a good level, but it hasn't been any worse than it was the first few weeks I had him when he was eating just fine. Behavior is normal as well and he's as friendly as could be. Your advice is greatly appreciated!

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Wow, I had no idea that they could go as long as 8 months. When they are fasting are there any things to look out for? Any signs I should keep an eye out for that all is not well?

[S.I.R.]

Hang in there! I have had a few go for several months with no food. It is extremely frustrating! However, when they do start up again, you will probably start giving high fives to everyone around and only you will understand why.

[jad23]

You're right, I do believe I will give high-fives to EVERYONE when he finally does eat. What a relief that will be!

[Annarose15]

In the meantime, invest in a digital kitchen scale ($25 from Walmart) so you can monitor his weight. This will give you a baseline to know when to start worrying. I had a male go off feed for 7 months - he only lost 30g (from 750g). It will also help you tell the difference between off feed due to fasting or off due to an issue that is stressing him, like mites, poor husbandry, or illness.

[mshadows]

....all above are correct, I myself have a 2yr 3ft and just got off a 7month fast .

[interloc]

Ah yes. Tis the time of year for these threads. Hang in there bud. I had a male go off feed for 6 months. I'm sure he won't starve himself. You picked a good place to ask for help tho. Everyone has given awesome advise, just be patient is all I can add.


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