New BP not eating anymore

[jbean7916]

I got Chumley right before Valentine’s Day (great boyfriend knows exactly what I love)

He ate the first 2 weeks (2/17 and 2/24) I had him, then went into shed, I offered an adult mouse but he wouldn’t take it so I shrugged it off as not eating due to the fact he was about to shed. He shed beautifully all in one perfect piece, and poo’d a couple times. Now it’s been about 4 weeks and he still hasn’t eaten. His temps are perfect, his humidity stays at about 50-55%, he lounges in his hides (one on the hot side and a humid hide on the cool side) all day long and doesn’t mind being handled.

I know that they are notoriously picky eaters but of course I’m concerned since this little guy is new to me.

Any advise?

[iCandiBallPythons]

What is the enclosure?

[jbean7916]

He’s in a glass 20 gal enclosure with Exo-Terra soil as his substrate.

I have a probe thermometer to measure his temps and a hydrometer for his humidity.

His cool side temp is sitting at 83 on the ground right now and a his warm side ground temp is at 92.

I have a UTH on the warm side and a use a white light during the day to keep his cool side up. He also has a blue light that stays on at night.

He has a rock like hide on his warm side and a humid hide on the cool side that i made out of a butter tub His water dish is in the middle.


He's about 30" long but I haven't gotten a scale to weigh him yet.

[BPelizabeth]

hmmmm....how old is he? maybe make a regular cool hide for him. Then just take some extra steps when he goes into shed. Spray the tank each day. ?? Are you offering F/T? If so maybe try live. If you are offering live...then maybe prekill it and leave it overnight in his enclosure. My bee is being quite picky lately but if I kill it and put it in his enclosure he will take it in an hour or so. Also you can try putting it in the enclosure and covering the tank with a towel so it is dark in there...then just walk away. Just make sure that the feeder is dead. Good luck.

[jbean7916]

I've been offering him live as that's what he took the first couple feeds. I offered him again last night in his enclosure and he simply stayed in his hide, didn't even poke his head out to check and see what that new smell was!!

I sat there for about 20 minutes watching the mouse run all over his tank before giving up!. He was out and cruising last night after I turned off his light though so maybe I'll try the f/t tonight and just leave him covered with it.

Now my next question is how do you guys thaw your f/t mice? I know not to ever microwave them but I've heard different things between just leaving them to thaw and putting them (in the bag) in boiling water.

[Dabonus]

Stay away from boiling water. You dont want to cook the mouse any. I just leave mine in hot (not boiling) water for about 40 minutes then put a blow dryer to their face for 5 - 10 seconds.

[jbean7916]

great thanks!! I'll try that

[jbean7916]

So I put his little mouse in some warm water for about 40 mins, held it over his cage and turned the blow dryer on it for a couple minutes then sat it right in front of his hide, turned off his light, tossed a towel over his enclosure and left him alone for about an hour.

When I checked on him the mouse was gone and he had switched hides!

The mouse was a little smaller than his normal prey size so I'm wondering if I should pick him up another or just wait for his 5 days and get him one thats more appropriately sized.

[Dabonus]

Awesome. Glad to hear it worked for ya.