BP Panic Attack?

[GoFride]

I have a little male het pied that seems to almost be having panic attacks! He gets stressed out REAL easy! He's been this way since I got him. He is now three months old. He wouldn't eat when I first got him - finally started eating somewhat after I added another hide PLUS I crumpled up newspapers and added them in there PLUS draped his container with a towel! So right now he has the water bowl he hides under plus two other hides plus the crumpled papers so he can move around without feeling exposed plus the towel (he is in a sweaterbox). He is a little freaky boy! If I try to spot clean or give him fresh water too soon after his last feed, 50/50 chance he will regurge! He has to be left totally undisturbed to digest. All my other baby BPs are females - they are doing great - eating like little piggies and looking for more. None of the females act this way - so freaked out - and none of them have ever regurged. I keep my temps around 86 - everybody's clean & warm - are the males just more prone to stressing out like this?

[JLC]

I don't think it has anything to do with male/female differences. I think you've just got a quirky little BP. If I were in your shoes, I'd just go with his flow. I'd make sure to leave him completely alone after feeding him...and let him have all his little "security blankets" for as long as he needs them. I would not attempt to handle him at all, except for very brief moments necessary to clean out his enclosure.

Hopefully as he grows and gets some size on him, he'll grow more confident...as well as get used to you and realize you're not out to eat him. In the meantime...just keep him happy.

[Pandora]

You mentioned he's in a sweater box...
Are you heating the enclosure with anything? Are you measuring temps and humidity?

[GoFride]

I just checked temps and humidity to be sure - 86 and 65. I want my little guy to calm the hell down - not sure what else to do to help him. Thanks for your advice!

[JLC]

Just give him time. He's still a baby.

[GoFride]

Okay, thanks! I appreciate your input -I just have been feeling like a bad mom. Guess I should not worry so much!

[starmom]

86F for the warm spot and 65F for the cool spot is WAY too low
I suggest raising the warm temps to 90-94F and totally raising the cool side to about 80-82F

[JLC]

Okay, thanks! I appreciate your input -I just have been feeling like a bad mom. Guess I should not worry so much!

LOL....they have their ways of testing us! Wait 'til you get your first extended fasting period. I don't know how much of my hair I've pulled out wondering what I'm doing wrong, all because the snake looks at the rodent goes, "Meh. Not hungry."

[JLC]

86F for the warm spot and 65F for the cool spot is WAY too low
I suggest raising the warm temps to 90-94F and totally raising the cool side to about 80-82F

I think she meant 86 ambient and 65% humidity.

Which is about exactly how the Barkers keep their entire collection...maybe with just slightly less humidity.

[GoFride]

Yes I meant 86 temp and 65 humidity - sorry for the confusion.