Not eating question

[mikebab]

I know similar questions have been asked a million times but I think this question is a bit different. I searched and couldn't find the answer so here goes...

I purchased a 450g Mojave Male about 6 weeks ago. At purchase he was eating live mice weekly with no problems according to the seller. I set him up in an appropriate sized tub with the correct temps in a rack system with my other BP's. I let him settle in his new tub for a week or so and have tried weekly to feed him but he refuses to eat. He has also been pointing his nose straight up in the tub. According to the seller he had locked up with a female prior to my purchase and I've read BP's go off of feeding during the breeding season. My plan was to put some weight on him and try my hand at breed at the end of this year. Because of his recently breeding attempts could that be why he isn't eating? Does positioning males and females near each other in their tubs affect feeding during the breeding season or does contact only cause this?

[Vypyrz]

Do you have any females housed in the same rack?

[mr. s]

Yes, could be due to breeding. It can also be because of a female in the area.
How long did you let him settle in before you tried to feed him? Putting a snake into a new enclosure can cause them to stop eating. I'd recommend a week or two before trying to feed.
(Remember that it is a risk to get a new snake and put it right in with your other snakes without a quarantine period. To each their own though.)

[mikebab]

Yes. I have 7 BP's in the rack total. 3 males and 4 females. There is a 200g female right next to his tub.

I waited 7 days before offering him any food.

My intention was not to put him with any other snakes until Oct/Nov.

[mikebab]

This is a picture of my rack. Isn't the greatest but it works perfectly.

[Big Gunns]

Yes...having animals in the same rack can affect him. His nose straight up may be a sign that there's one he wants. Although this can also be a sign of an RI. Check him out carefully.

At this time of year it's almost a given that a 450 gram animal(especially male) will go off feed. If the person you bought it from was breeding it, there's even more of a chance(99%). This is not a very large animal, so you do need to worry a leeetle more than older larger animals. If it appears to be losing weight, you may need to get some food down it's throat with force feeding. BG knows this seems kinda drastic, but males will just let themselves die during breeding season if they don't eat.

A small dose of Flagyl usually fixes this prolem for Big Gunns, but not always. BG has a couple males that he may need to do something with shortly. He's keeping a close eye on them and removed them from breeding.

Also, you need to contact the seller and ask exactly how it was set up and what EXACTLY it was fed. Your pics show that the substrate is some kind of paper. If your snake was kept on Aspen, they usually will go off feed if put on paper....of any kind. Contact the seller asap and ask all the pertinent questions.