Since you haven't heard about using two hides, have you read the caresheet? Link is on the front page. (I'm lazy.)
Thanks for the thought. I have been keeping them for about 10 years now. I have just never had any experience with two hides being the difference in their feeding. Not to say that it wouldn't make a difference, maybe I have just been fortunate up until now. With the dozens of them I have owned, none have been bad eaters.
You can try a smaller enclosure, this is most likely what stressed him out. but after 3 months he might be close to going back on feed and changing things again might keep him off feed even longer. if you already placed him in something smaller, let him be. only offer him food once a week. and only offer what he ate before. if you was told he ate live mice, then give him that. he didn't get to 700 grams without eating. It's not the food source that you was told he ate that cause the problem. but most likely moving him into a much larger enclosure that he wasn't use to. in the wild these guys live in termite mounds and in tight places where they just fit into. so bigger isn't always better. if your tubs are in a rack that's closed on 3 sides, hides are not really needed. but that's a keepers choice. good luck, don
He doesn't even like to go in the hide that he has now. Stubborn I guess. I will try braining a rat in the next week or two. I don't care about the rats so much, they are just a meal so whatever needs to be done its cool.
Why do you suggest multiple hides? I have never heard that before.
Sounds to be a husbandry problem. I am new, but lets look at the facts:
1) Extremely active when you take him out of the cage.
2) Never uses his Hide (the most telling sign imo of bad caretaking)
3) Wont eat.
All three of them suggests that he doesnt like his home, doesnt feel safe in his own hide (or its temps are out of whack).
Triple check your hot and cold side temps and humidity. Drop him to a 32 qt tub with 2 hides (one on each side) and a water dish.
Leave him alone for 7 days or so before trying again.
Turns out he is fine just doesn't like eating in a separate tub. Left the rat in the enclosure with him last night and he ate it. No issues. Thanks everyone for your ideas
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Originally Posted by stevepoppers
