Can't get baby to feed.

[Malaika]

In January I bought my boyfriend his first Mojave Male as a present. I set up the tub, he was in a 32qt sterilite free standing tub with heat at 88-90 F on the hot side 75-80 on the cold side.

When we purchased him the breeder said he fed live, I wasn't worried that I couldn't convert him over. Two weeks later I tried feeding him... no luck. This went on several weeks trying f/t. A few weeks later finally got him to take a f/t rat pup left in overnight. He took several over the course of 3 weeks. Then he got mites (not bad, I found 2) and he stopped eating. He hasn't eaten for me since the beginning of March. I figured the snake didn't like being at his house with all the activity so I brought him to my parents house and stays in my old room with my other snakes. I tried feeding him three times since being there and shows no interest. This weekend I broke down and purchased a live small mouse. Second I put the mouse in his enclosure he slithered out of his tub in a heartbeat and wanted nothing to do with the mouse.

He is 198 grams currently, weight 190 grams when we got him back in January. He is kept the exact same way as my other 4 snakes. He has only been handled a few times since we got him and that was when he was feeding for us. He is in a rack with the other ones, in a 16qt tub this time.

Any tips/tricks or suggestions? I'm so frustrated with him. :/

[Annarose15]

Need more info: hides? Substrate? Frequency you are offering?

I would say the big tubs have definitely been part of the issue.

[matt poker]

I agree with Annarose. At that size, I would try putting him in a 6qt tub with 2 hides and leave him alone for a week before offering food again.

[jcoylesr76]

while the large tub may have had something to do with him, you recently moved him to a different house, a different tub, and a whole new environment. since he had eaten for you a few times, i would try to just relax a bit longer and let him settle, while most will argue with this, everyone has their way of doing it, start offering him every 14 days versus 5-7 days. sometimes that may kick in the "need" not "if i want" to eat mode. my VPI Axanthic male has yet to take a meal for me and have had him since feb. good luck and keep us posted.