Frustrating feeding day...

So my small little albino has been rejecting for a month now, he ate like a champ before so I waited to see if he would get over it. He has lost a few grams but nothing drastic, nothing has changed in husbandry, thermostat controlled uth at 90 hot spot with a 80 ambient temp and 60% humidity. The same arrangement as my larger normal who just finished a shed and also refused today which is the first since I first got him. I keep trying not to freak out but it's frustrating! I have feeders from the rep show which aren't the nicest cleanest rats and they are the only ones my albino has had, could they be being picky?

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How much does he weigh?

He is 120 g. He's lost 4g. Since he last ate which was right before a shed.

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What's his set up like? Size tank? Temps (hot and cold)? What are you using to measure temps? Humidity? Heat source? Hides? Etc? Feel free to post a pic of his enclosure as well :)

Lets see if we can narrow down the issue ;)

I know the feeling, I have two 300g girls that have been off for almost two months and now they are bowl wrapping:rage::rage::rage:

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Originally Posted by Zombie

What's his set up like? Size tank? Temps (hot and cold)? What are you using to measure temps? Humidity? Heat source? Hides? Etc? Feel free to post a pic of his enclosure as well :)

Lets see if we can narrow down the issue ;)

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I have a 75gal split into two sep tanks, with a modified lid with a small screen door for air flow. Hot side hide is 90, ambient 80 and 60% humidity. These are tested by a hydro farm thermostat along with multiple other thermometers to ensure they are all along the same track. Two hides plus a log thing he likesto hide in now. I've tried removing items in the tank and he seems to get agitated. Since he stopped eating he has been active during the day and running around where before he would hide most of the time.

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It is that time of year when they like to go off feed. Seems like your setup is good. I thought maybe because of winter it was getting colder and his temps may have been changing.

Just keep watching him and make sure he isn't losing too much weight. Sounds like you have it under control :)

120 grams shouldn't be going off food for the winter...

It's your set up...Put it in a 6qt shoe box with a hide...Wait a week and offer a live hopper mouse.

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

120 grams shouldn't be going off food for the winter...

It's your set up...Put it in a 6qt shoe box with a hide...Wait a week and offer a live hopper mouse.

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Only thing that has me perplexed is he was eating fine a month ago in the same set up. I thought maybe there was a drop in temps, but it seems the OP has them under control.

I was gonna recommend he be put into a smaller enclosure or more items be added to his current, but was thrown off by him eating fine in there a month ago...


OP, has there been any change to what you are attempting to feed? Anything different you could be doing that you weren't doing before (or doing differently before)?

No change in feeders, I was trying to think of that but I got feeders at the same show I got him so they have been consistent. He skipped a feeding when I changed his set up before to where he is now but I figured that was normal and feed fine for the month following that. I have quite a bit in there cluttering it up as he is a climber .. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/12/26/erydyhyz.jpg

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I appreciate your help in trying to figure out an issue!

Is hard to see in the pic but there are identical hides opposite from each other under some of the sticks

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So just an update, I went ahead and threw in a live rat and he struck and ate right away. We will see how next week goes..

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If you were feeding frozen before, a live rat sometimes gets them jump started back on food. Also, if trying frozen again next feed, use a blow dryer on the head of the rat for a little bit right before giving it to him...

Yeah I have always given him f/t so hopefully this triggers him and I just bought a blow dryer for that reason! I'm just so happy he finally took something!

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I just had a similar problem with my bee. She has been a f/t eater until a couple weeks ago. she wouldn't touch food for a bit. Resorted to a live mouse...hoping to kick start the interest in eating, and it worked like a charm. Frustrating...but sometimes necessary.