Thanks for your wonderfull comments! I originally came here to learn more about the care of BP's because I have learned a lot of varying information. I think he's maybe a bit small for his age (I've had him a year already), but I have never had any trouble with him eating except the first time and never had any trouble with shedding. I feed him? a large mouse every other week. I was told he was a male when I bought him.
Fortunately, I got to pick from about 10 that were about the same age; he was in apparant good health (although I got him cheaper because he hadn't eaten yet! - $40), had a nice personality, and was lighter in color than all of the rest.