Gerbils now? Skinny BP not Eating.

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Hi.

I recently rescued a young BP (born October). She ate for me three times after having splinters pulled from her mouth by a vet 9former owner fed her on coconut husk).

She was doing well until my thermostat broke and we moved her to another part of the same room. On the same day the thermostat broke she managed to get water all over her tank, so she was soaking wet and cold. I have a new thermostat and her temps are good. I didn't change her setup. Hot side is 88-90, cool side is 77 (measured with multiple thermometers with probes just to make sure).

She hasn't been eating now for about two weeks. She has struck twice, constricted, then left it alone after attempting to eat it (i am feeding small fuzzies just to get her started, she's very underweight).

I have successfully fed her f/t mice three times before this incident with the thermostat.

My plan is to wait and try feeding her a live fuzzy mouse on Tuesday or Wednesday (when the local herp shop gets them in).

If she doesn't eat that, should I start breeding Gerbils now? Just so i have some the right size if I can't get her to eat for a month or so?

The only reason i ask is because I think i should have some the right size just in case because this is a skinny bP (spine sticking out).

What do you think? Does this make sense? I dont want to start breeding Gerbils for no reason.

[Wolves-N-Dogs]

Can you get any african soft fur rats? They work better than gerbils.

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Can you get any african soft fur rats? They work better than gerbils.

Well, I am not sure if there are any around here..I have never seen any around here....

I can ask, though. I don't think they are popular here.

[Wh00h0069]

It may be because she is in a tank. You could try switching her to a rack. I have a male that is 7 years old. I used to keep him in a glass tank. He stopped eating for 6 months. I put him into a rack system, and he started back up. They like light dark places, which a glass tank is not. If they are stressed, then they will not eat. Hope this helps.

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She is in a ten gallon with paper all around the sides and a towel on top except for a little spot where there is air exchange. I may try putting her in a tub though.

[dr del]

Hi,

Generally if they strike and "kill it" then don't eat it turns out to be security related. Well, there are other reasons, but that is one of the first ones I would try to see if it helped.

Are you standing watching her eat?

I would also think about bumping the temps up a couple of degrees if you could but the hot side isn't too far off.

When you moved the tank did you change amnything about its layout or anything?


dr del