Jimmy stopped eating

[jimmysmom]

I got jimmy from pet smart in October 2015. Ever since I got him he has bee eating 3 mice every Monday like clockwork. I have had no issues with him eating. Where I live there is only one place to get live mice or rats, and he is still to small to eat the smallest rats they have. He has went thru shed twice since getting him. All of his temps are on point, humidity is great, he enjoys his warm side hide and does not use his cool side hide, opting to lay in the back corner of the tank behind a log and some plants. He is well behaved has given me no problems with handling him. On dec 7th he ate all 3 mice then I noticed he was acting more shy than normal, so I figured he was going into shed. On the 14th he only ate one mouse, then on the 20th I woke to find he has shed fully in one piece. On the 21st he only ate one mouse. The 28th was his first vet visit, he weighs 325g, she estimated him to be around 6 months old. That night he wouldn't eat and has not ate since then. I have offered him 2 different mice couple times a week with no luck. Sometimes he will follow them around and act as if he is interested, but nothing happens. I know that bp are known to fast in the winter and I have moved North where it is pretty cold and my inside temp is normally cool. I just worry about him not eating. I am from the south where we feed everybody and everything. Is there anything I can do , and when should I start worrying?

[LittleTreeGuy]

I would keep offering him food every 4 or 5 days. I take it you are feeding him live? If the place near you has frozen prey, you could try getting one, thawing it and warming it up, and then leaving it in the cage with him overnight. Some say that is the only way their BP will eat... when left alone overnight. DO NOT leave a live mouse in there over night, or anytime unsupervised or for more than a few minutes, as it can harm the snake if feels the need to bite or claw the snake.

I'd also pick up a cheap digital kitchen scale at Walmart, amazon, ebay, etc... then you can weigh your snake when he goes on a hunger strike. I believe the general thought is that if the snake isn't eating, but really losing any weight, there isn't a need for panic.

[jimmysmom]

Thank you, I will pick up a scale in the morning. And I will get him a frozen. How do I warm it up? pet smart said he would not eat the frozen they fed and had not ate since they had him . He was there for 4 weeks, and he has tripled in size since bringing him home. Vet said he was very healthy. How long can they go without eating ?

[T_Sauer]

You can lay the rat out to thaw until room temp or soft all the way thru ... Then you can either put the rat in a zip lock bag and then let sit in hot water, or set it under a heat lamp , some people even prefer to use a hair dryer to heat up the rat .... Important thing is that the rat is around 95 to 100℉ when you offer it, you'll want to be sure to use some tongs as well to ensure he doesn't accidentally nab you when going for the feeder