how long should I wait before trying live?

[Dumdum333]

So my BP used to eat like a f/t champ, but has become a real issue recently. When I offer, he refuses to strike, first few times he'd then eat it if I just left the mouse in the viv and covered it up, but recently even that wont happen. He doesnt strike, hiss or anything, just acts really timid and afraid of the mouse. This last time I felt like he was at least interested for a bit, tongue out and coming towards it, but then again he just got afraid and moved off. My temperatures are good, as is humidity.

That being said I feel like he's still stressed, trying to escape, moving around more than he used to. I found him hiding underneath the waterbowl as well, ignoring his two hides. Sometimes he just lies in the middle of the cage. I don't know why he's stressed as husbandry seems fine.

Before anyone asks- temps are 92 in the hotspot, 79 on the cool side, humidity does vary, but never below 50 or above 70, the viv is nice and full of leaves and sticks. there's two hides, a thermostat, measuring with a heat gun and electric hygrometer, only ever had perfect full sheds.

His weight has fallen from 353 to 320, and he hasn't eaten in two weeks, having attempted a feeding every 5 days since refused.
Havent handled at all since the first refuse, which is sad because I really enjoy it.

It's really bumming me out because I feel like I'm doing everything I need to but I cant see where Im going wrong

[Dumdum333]

he's about 8 months old, I thaw directly in water, which is what the pet store i got him from did, and also the only way he used to eat (he refused the hairdryer heated when I tried that at the start). one thing im worried about is that i stressed him too much by rubbing the mouse against him to get his attention- that's how I got him to strike the first time i fed him, after we had some issues getting him started- but dont know if that explains the general stress when not eating

[piedlover79]

I'd continue to wait it out, particularly this time of year. My boy hasn't eaten in two months. Also try heating the mouse up with a hair dryer outside the enclosure...that always gets mine excited.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

While BP who stop eating are frustrating for their owner, it's not something I would be overly worried about at that size.

Feeding live means you must be willing to feed live from that point on and in all honesty if an animal eats F/T and this is what you really want to feed I would suggest to do your best and keep it that way.

The thing I would consider would be to offer less often 7 to 10 days, downsize the enclosure if not done already (down to something like a 12 quarts tub or 10 gallons tank) with very tight hides, and I would lower the temps a bit to 88.

Security is essentil for BP, and learning and understanding their behavior in the wild helps understanding what need to be done, they are secretive animals that will spend 80% to 90% of their life in underground in termite mounts and sometime a vivarium will just leave them to exposed, which often mean stress which translate as food refusal.