Hungry but not eating - scared of the rat??

[Pandora]

Prometheus (my little fatty) hasn't skipped a meal since I got him. He could eat himself stupid if you kept on feeding him.

I've been feeding him every 5-7 days with a F/T small-medium sized adult rat, just as wide as his girth.

This past Sunday, I thawed the rats out overnight (like I usually do) and warmed the rat up with my blow dryer. He was doing the "hungry dance" - you know, head popping out of the hide, tongue flicking like crazy, head moving from side to side. So I go to dangle the rat in front of him and he recoils INSTANTLY away from the rat. I'm thinking what the heck is going on, this guy is ALWAYS hungry.

So I tried a few times, moving the rat within his view a few inches away from him and trying to make it do the zombie rat dance and he kept acting like he was terrified of the thing and moving away.

I decided he might not be hungry since his last meal and thought I would try 2 days later (today). He was moving all over his cage while I was thawing out the rat so I figured I would have better luck; but of course, it's the same thing all over again.

The rat is a fat male medium adult and is all black; I don't know if colour would affect his appetite? I know there's been discussions of this before, but what could possibly be wrong? I know I'm not overheating the rat because It feels slightly warm; like the body temperature of a live rat.

ps: All his temps and humidity is fine, before people start asking. He's also pooping regularly and peeing frequently when he's active at night.

Fast replies would be very convenient since I'm in the middle of trying to figure out with this now twice thawed rat.

[SatanicIntention]

It's breeding season and that's likely what he's thinking about. I would also think about making his meals smaller so he's more apt to eat every 7-10 days or so.

How old is he? Adult males don't need a whole lot of food to maintain. They need to be lean and muscular. Fat males don't breed well at all and are lazy(if that is what he will be used for eventually). My adult males range from 900g to 1300g, my oldest being an '02.

[Pandora]

It's breeding season and that's likely what he's thinking about. I would also think about making his meals smaller so he's more apt to eat every 7-10 days or so.

How old is he? Adult males don't need a whole lot of food to maintain. They need to be lean and muscular. Fat males don't breed well at all and are lazy(if that is what he will be used for eventually). My adult males range from 900g to 1300g, my oldest being an '02.

He's an estimated year and a half old. He was a rescue so I'm not sure of his exact birthday or month even. I've tried feeding him every week but then when I would feed my female every 5 days, he would get hungry as well so I fed him because his previous owner fed him every 3 weeks.

He won't be breeding; so being lean and muscular isn't really a priority.

I don't understand why he's reacting to the smell if he's not hungry.

[Hotshot]

I feed live and my pastel did this also once, just leave him alone for a few days hes sure to start eating and will get over it like mine did =]

[starmom]

I feed my older snakes every 10-14 days. Maybe if you increased the time between feedings (like Becky suggested) it would help to increase his feeding response. Also, it's that time of year...

[Argentra]

Not one, but THREE of my BPs did that same thing tonight. And two are fairly voracious eaters. I gave them light colored PK mice (couldn't get to the store for rats tonight) and they recoiled as if in fear. I even tried another mouse with one of them (SunSpot, the rescued pastel who's hardly missed a meal) after a while and he just wouldn't touch it. Weird stuff...but it is that time of year.

[Pandora]

He's acting hungry, though.
I'm just having a hard time believing he wouldn't eat...

[Argentra]

I know... that pastel of mine nearly always hovers near the tub lid and will strike your hand if you don't get the mouse in front of him fast enough. He was doing that same thing tonight, but when I lowered that mouse in he just took off into his hide!

Must be something in the air...

[SecurityStacey]

My guy Stan (also about a year and a half) was doing the same thing. Acting hungry like crazy but then acting like the (f/t) prey was going to kill him.

I guess its just that time of the year - he may not be being bred but he sure thinks he might get a chance!

Also - he started this when I went up in prey size - so maybe if you do like some other suggested and feed his less often he'll get back on the horse so to speak.

And don't worry - Stan took food this week, even after acting funny about it for a couple feedings so I'm sure your guy will eat when he is hungry.

[azpythons]

i wouldnt be able to eat if there was a beautiful girl like you staring at me either...