Pied male possibly stressed out and not eating

My girlfriend bought me a beautiful male pied in mid February from a reputable local breeder. I set him up in a 15 quart tub and he ate for me 6 times in a row, never missing a meal. He had a little bit of a bad shed (pic below) and has not eaten since. He has missed about 6-7 meals now. I weigh all my snakes at the first of the month and he has only lost about 5 grams since (Currently around 296). He seems to be stressed out because every time I drop a rat pup in with him he defensively strikes at it when it gets close but never wraps it up to eat.

Ive added hides and double checked all of his temps and humidity and every thing seems on. I would say he was a mouse eater if he didnt eat 6 rats in a row for me. I have a mojave girl that gets pissy sometimes and strikes at her food in the same way. The difference is that she is really mean and will try and tag anyone who tried to touch her and he is not. She has been eating recently though.

He is about to shed again and was pink yesterday during feeding but was doing the same behavior striking at the rat.

Any suggestions or comments? I am not really that worried about him yet because of the minimal weight loss but its still a concern that he is so young and just randomly stopped eating.

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How long ago did you add the hides, and how often are you handling him since he's been off feed?

BTW, he's a real looker!

Leave him alone. No handling except for whats necessary for cleaning. Quit adding and removing things from his home. Keep offering once a week. He'll eat when he's ready.

Agreed ^
If he doesnt calm down a black out tub may also be necessary. Use his regular tub and just tape cardboard or construction paper to the sides. I spray paint mine but either way it'll work. No handling, and try and keep everything to the basics. Keep offering.


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Thank for the comments! I don't handle him or mostly any of my snakes just for the sake of handling them. Hes in a low traffic room for the last 3 weeks. He had no hides originally and after 3 weeks of not eating I added 2 hides. After 3 more weeks I put him in a 32 quart because he seemed really cramped in there. I only touch the tub to check the water and when I weigh him. I figure he will get hungry enough eventually.

I may crumple up some news paper and put it towards the front of the bin to create what may be a more secure feel for him in the rack.

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Originally Posted by Billy305

I may crumple up some news paper and put it towards the front of the bin to create what may be a more secure feel for him in the rack.

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That's a great idea!

he is still not eating. i cleaned some pee and stuff out of his cage and now he is down to 276 grams from a peak of 304. At what weight should I really start to worry?

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we have a mojave that did this for a while too but never lost a single gram

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have you offered smaller prey size, he might be scared by the size of the prey or has some stuck shed on his heat pits making targeting hard and off. wait until the next shed and then offer him food.
My albino was like this for a few monet then suddenly he nails anything he can offered.

he just finished a full nice shed. size didnt seem to matter just doesnt seem hungry

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