feeding disaster

i fed julius tonight - she did not want to eat in her cage for some reason.. i usually always feed her in her cardboard box - but the last time i fed her, i fed her in her tank. this time i tried and she would not eat, she stalked the prey in her tank - and even struck once but missed. after that she had no interest in there.

i decided to put her in her box with the mouse, and i didnt even have time to put a cover on the box before she had already struck and was killing the mouse.

i put the cover on and went into the bathroom to change her water bowl - when i found one of my cats had got the door open and had pushed the top of the box off. i called him and he freaked out and ran out of the room - knocking the box upside down and julius onto the floor - at which point she dropped the dead mouse and now refuses to touch it.

is she ever going to eat again? i am worried that she is going to decide not to eat again, and now i have a dead mouse and i don't know what to do with it

help!

thanks,
barry

I'd leave her alone for 7 to 10 days before trying agin. Bag that little fur ball up and stick it in the freezer, maybe she might like FT next time. Good luck in any event!

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Originally Posted by Sputnik

Bag that little fur ball up and stick it in the freezer...

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i thought you where talking about the cat for a second!!!

Routine works wonders for bps. If a cardboard box works, then that's fine.

As for this feeding, I wouldn't worry about it. Just try again next week. It's not uncommon for bps to refuse if they've been startled or scared. Hopefully next week will go more smoothly.

i used to run into the same problem, my boy would look interested, he'd strike and miss, and then completely lose interest. it was like he was saying "eh too much effort to try again..maybe next time"...give it a week and try again.

I'd say probably wait a week. Hunger will beat fear. I'd just worry if there wasn't any eating going on for an extended period because that means usually sick instead of scared.

Weren't you feeding Julius every three days up to a few weeks ago? It could be that she's still fasting to catch up from all the frequent feeding. I'd wait a week, heck, even two before offering again.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Weren't you feeding Julius every three days up to a few weeks ago? It could be that she's still fasting to catch up from all the frequent feeding. I'd wait a week, heck, even two before offering again.

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yeah well the breeder i got it from told me that they should be fed about every 4 days or so in the first 3 or 4 months of their life. it seems that every person who is a 'guru' on bp's tend to have different advice.

which is the correct advice?

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Originally Posted by alexrls

i thought you where talking about the cat for a second!!!

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That is also an option :P

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Originally Posted by bchapman

yeah well the breeder i got it from told me that they should be fed about every 4 days or so in the first 3 or 4 months of their life. it seems that every person who is a 'guru' on bp's tend to have different advice.

which is the correct advice?

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There are many correct forms of advice, because there are different ways of doing things. I wouldn't feed every 4 days, that is usually what's called power feeding. It's not a good thing IMO. The digestive system needs a break! Once a week is fine, the other method is feed it and wait till it craps.... then feed it again. That is also a good method.