Apparently my BP is a vegetarian now.

[JamminJonah]

Icculus still won't eat! I've dropped prey sizes, I've tried new heating methods, I have tried feeding at different times of day, intervals, and that stuff. I haven't tried feeding outside cage but I'm thinking that may be next. He honestly seems not to recognize these rats as food! He slithers up and says hey and then hides or just knocks them around a bit and goes back to bed. I'm flustered and frustrated and am trying to get to the vet this week (I tried holding out a bit more) any suggestions I can try if I can't get there this week? I've tried heating with a lamp, I've tried warming with a heating pad, I've tried different temps to the touch and everything! Temps and humid are spot on! Grrrrr....

Jonah

[Cody]

How old is Icc? It's currently mating time I believe, so if he's old enough, he might just be fasting, looking for some love. As long as his vet check-up goes good, and he's still nice and thick, I wouldn't fret too much. If your husbandry is all good, and he's taken rats before, then maybe he's just being a stubborn bp...it's what they do.

One suggestion is to maybe try a mouse to see if the problem is rats specifically...but if he's of age, I'd think maybe it's the breeding season thing.

Good luck!

[Marla]

Icculus wants to make you a grandaddy. You know how those boys are with their hormones and all ...

[jotay]

The vet can give meds to induce feeding, at least that is what my vet suggested if Ozzy didn't eat.
Your bp sounds like Ozzy was w/ rats. He just plain doesn't like them. Try a mouse. Which was my vets suggestion before we try the meds. and bingo Ozzy is now eating. I now just buy jumbos from RodentPro.
There is one method you can try that the guy who runs the rescue I got Osiris from told me.
Get a cereal box and mist inside it put your bp in it w/ the dead rat and seal it up and put it in a warm spot overnight. By morning he should have eaten it if he is gonna eat. Something about the added humidity and warmth plus dark will sometimes kick in the feed response.
Just place the box on the warm end of his cage.
Good Luck!

[sk8er4life]

have you tried givimg them to the bp live or pre killed with a little dance?

[msolorz]

Mine was the same way for a while. I finally tried feeding her mice and everything was fine. I feed to mice for 2 feedings and switched back to small rats. Worked great for me.

[JamminJonah]

Icc has been eating rats: pups last spring, weaned this summer, and took few small adults (not at one time... 3 over the course of 3 weeks) with great relish. He is proabably on the brink of two years old and hasn't eaten since about the begining of the second week of september. I've tried the rat dance and left them in overnight, I've tried in pitch black as well. Good suggestions all around and perhaps I will try this mouse regression.
thanks guys

[Cody]

Yeah it sounds like he's in the lovin mood, lol. Let us know how it goes with the mousie attempt if you do go with it.