First off I'd like to say these are not my first carpets.

I currently have a jungle and a coastal seperate from these two in my personal collection and have had several come through the halfway house.

I know they sometimes take a while to get started and I know that many users will say something along the lines of 'just be patient'... I know this because thats what I would say to someone else as well.

So for anyone that may offer some advice other than 'just be patient' here is whats going on.

I bought a female '09 Bredli from Ben seigel.

{side note: He has been very good to us and has a wonderful reputation (check the boi) within the community and I am in NO way trying to claim any foul play here on his part. }

She came in with one eye much larger than the other and dent in her big eye. We named her anamoly. So far the dent has came out.

We informed Ben of the issue, and sent him some pictures of the eyes and whatnot. He promptly apologized for the mix up and sent us out a replacement female bredli free of charge, and encouraged us to keep anamoly as well. he even paid the shipping charge which is more than alot are willing to do. The second bredli came in cosmetically perfect, we've been very satisfied with ben's customer service.

prior to the purchase I had inquired as to what they were eating and he had assured me they were eating live mice pinks, so we waited 3 days and then put in a mouse pink at about 9pm shut the lid and that was that. Next morning, both pinks are still there.

So we waited another 5 days, tried again, same results.

Next round we tried prekilled, no results.

Next round we tried braining- no results. (worked for our coastal who was picky at first and pounds em down now)

At this time, they were being housed in a 6 qt shoebox, which a plastic perch built in that ran both directions in the tank, a comfortably sized water dish, paper towel substrate, and a whole mess load of hides on both sides. They were placed on a rack where the temperature is controlled. they have an 80 degree ambient temp and about 95 for basking. The humidity has some fluctuations from day to night but its around 50 usually. I originally thought this may be a little too hot but ive been reassured that it was perfect.

So I wrote ben back, and we had some friendly banter over the biz and I brought up the bredli's are not eating still and so he told me exactly how he keeps his (two of the siblings are now eating fuzzies im told).. Shoebox, aspen shavings, remove the hides and raise the temp to 84... And I followed it to the letter for 5 days then put a 10day old mouse in ( a little furrier and moves a bit more than a peach fuzzy)... They both were interested in it, flicking their tongues around at it and watching it from the perch, so i had some hope

Woke up and checked them, No results. Both fuzzies are still alive.

hmm....

I dont think its parasites, no other symptoms- and they have poo'd and that seems okay... but it is possible. Could it be worms? I have had to panacur larger reptiles before and I feel confident I could do it again if I could get the dosages down small enough. But I dont wanna risk it at this point if it could be something else.

Unfortunately, I live in a place that the nearest actual herp vet is 154 miles away, or else I would have already took them to be checked for it.

The second one seems to be getting a bit more lethargic than the first... they both have a bit of the typical sunken in look to them, Not very much though.. Will load pics as soon as i get the camera charged.

What do I try next?

Ive heard lizard scenting works...

Ive heard the chicken broth thing..

Ive heard to try to starve them out for two weeks. (being we are on 6 weeks now and they reportedly were already started im less comfortable with this option)

Any husbandry changes that might help?

Anyone had this problem before with bredlis specifically?

thanks.