So I have a Female BP that is about 2 years 4 months old and about 850g. I have been feeding her small-medium live rats once a week for quite some time now. While trying to get her weight up to 1000g by march to breed with one of my males I placed both of their glass tanks next to one another where they can see each other, with the intention to get them familiar with eachother for the breeding. 3 weeks ago she was in shed so I did not feed her. The problem is that now she will not eat. I have tried live and pre-killed small-medium rats but she just will not eat. she seems uninterested all together when I wave the rat in front of her and she climbed out of her feeding tub when I left her with the live rat for 20 mins. I have since blocked the future mates from seeing one another. Cages are also temp and humidity appropriate. I live in Missouri so we feel winter as well and I have replaced a faulty UTH 2 weeks ago in the females cage.

My question is: Could she not be eating because she is wanting to mate?

I know it is better to wait to AT LEAST 1000g to breed them but this would be my first time breeding so I don't want to hurt my girl or get her egg bound. There are many variables at play here, (being able to see the male, UTH going out and pushing her into a "hybernating" mind set, local winter climate), so I don't know what to do.

All opinions or comments very appreciated.