Pied won't eat

[ryanbenson]

Ok, so I know BPs are picky most of the time. But I'm almost positive that that isn't the case here. I got my baby pie bald back in May of this year. She was healthy once I got her and the breeder guarantees a 3 feeds and 1 shed before they start to sell their babies. So I know she had been eating with them. However, she hasn't eaten a single time since I've had her. She notices the mouse, but shows no interest. I've offered live and F/T, black, white, gray, etc. Mice but she hasn't shown interest in any of them! What can I do??

[Stewart_Reptiles]

So she ate 3 times with the breeder and nothing since may?

While they can go a while without food, hatchlings issues need to be addressed relatively fast especially when they only had 3 meals since may.

How do your keep her? enclosure size?, hide types and size?, temps? (how and with what type of thermometer you measure them?),what bedding you are using? how often you have been handling the animal? What size prey have you offered? how you have been offering food?

[ryanbenson]

So she ate 3 times with the breeder and nothing since may?

While they can go a while without food, hatchlings issues need to be addressed relatively fast especially when they only had 3 meals since may.

How do your keep her? enclosure size?, hide types and size?, temps? (how and with what type of thermometer you measure them?),what bedding you are using? how often you have been handling the animal? What size prey have you offered? how you have been offering food?

20 long, tree trunk with hollow center (plenty of room but still has a spot in there where I can't see her), half log, "n" shape rock hide, eco earth, I skipped 2 weeks of handling her to reduce possible stress, other than that twice a week, I've put her in a large tote with a live mouse, a large tote with obeyed sides and lid to reduce lighting in the container with a live mouse, small tote with very little light, and I offered a live while she was in her enclosure and a f/t while she was in an enclosure. Basking spot is at 90 degrees, the floor under that is 85-87, with a heat pad under that spot. Unsure of the brand of therm, I can check once I get home. Cool side 74-78 degrees.

[ryanbenson]

So she ate 3 times with the breeder and nothing since may?

While they can go a while without food, hatchlings issues need to be addressed relatively fast especially when they only had 3 meals since may.

How do your keep her? enclosure size?, hide types and size?, temps? (how and with what type of thermometer you measure them?),what bedding you are using? how often you have been handling the animal? What size prey have you offered? how you have been offering food?

And yes that's correct.. Nothing since May. But all her sheds have been perfect.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The issue is husbandry related, the good news is that it can be fixed.

Ok well here is the plan for an optimum setup.

Assuming she is in the 70-100 grams range maybe less.

Get a 6 quarts tub, use aspen bedding, provide a hot spot of 88 (measured with a digital thermometer, temps gun ideally), 76/78 on the cool side.

Use a 6 inches plastic flower pot saucer for hide, just cut a hole on one side so she can get in. (hide need to be tight around the BP's body)

Once you have the setup together let her settle for a week.

NO HANDLING and I mean none at all until the animal eats at least 3 times for you.

Once a week has passed offer a live hopper mouse in the tub she is in (not out of the enclosure feeding)

[ryanbenson]

The issue is husbandry related, the good news is that it can be fixed.

Ok well here is the plan for an optimum setup.

Assuming she is in the 70-100 grams range maybe less.

Get a 6 quarts tub, use aspen bedding, provide a hot spot of 88 (measured with a digital thermometer, temps gun ideally), 76/78 on the cool side.

Use a 6 inches plastic flower pot saucer for hide, just cut a hole on one side so she can get in. (hide need to be tight around the BP's body)

Once you have the setup together let her settle for a week.

NO HANDLING and I mean none at all until the animal eats at least 3 times for you.

Once a week has passed offer a live hopper mouse in the tub she is in (not out of the enclosure feeding)

Ok thank you! I'll try it and let you know how it goes!

Edit: I weighed her on the 21st of May and she weighed in at 330g

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Ok thank you! I'll try it and let you know how it goes!

Edit: I weighed her on the 21st of May and she weighed in at 330g

If she weighs in at 330 grams she has had way more then 3 meals and was not an hatchling when you got her

With that size use a 15 quarts tub and 2 plastic bowls for hides. as for prey live adult mouse.

[ryanbenson]

If she weighs in at 330 grams she has had way more then 3 meals and was not an hatchling when you got her

With that size use a 15 quarts tub and 2 plastic bowls for hides. as for prey live adult mouse.

Lol who said she was a hatchling?? ;D

Ok.. Also, the adult mice that my local pet store has are tiny.. They aren't even as big as her mud section.. Is that hoe everyone adult mice are??

[joebad976]

I agree with Deb on putting her in a smaller enclosure. Have you tried rat crawlers? Maybe she does not like mice.

[ryanbenson]

I agree with Deb on putting her in a smaller enclosure. Have you tried rat crawlers? Maybe she does not like mice.

Not yet! I will though!