two won't eat and one missing

[venessa214]

Hi all, I've been a lurker for some time here. I have 3 BPs...well, right now, I know where two of them are. My year old bp escaped on Sunday and I have yet to find him. I've got a rat in a tank, and a heat mat set out, but no luck so far.
The other two I've had since Mother's Day. I've tried offering food weekly since I got them (I know it's only been a couple weeks) but they have yet to eat. They are around 2 months old, and I've been offering live fuzzies. My first has been a great eater from the time I got him, so this is new to me. Is there anything I should or shouldn't do to try to encourage them to eat? Thanks in advance for any advice!

[stevepoppers]

If you can, cover the floor in flour and watch for tracks. Tear apart every warm place in the house. Good luck.

For food, I'd maybe find something they will eat, then try to flavor the rats with it. Rub it in some mouse bedding or something. I hear they like tuna scent for some reason.

[DrEwTiMe]

Also check dark places, shoe boxes, piles of clothes, if small enough shoes themselves, furniture, dressers etc. The smaller they are the more they can get into.

And never think to yourself "he/she could never fit in there" because they love feeling secure and squeeze into tiny places to feel surrounded. Best of luck!

[ed4281]

Mine loves to go under the dresser

[jbean7916]

My first ball was a super escape artist and no matter what I did to his cage managed to get out! I usually found him in my sock drawer and on a couple occasions, he made his way into my bed!! (well my mattress' were on the floor so not much of a climb)

[stevepoppers]

You saying he got out of cage clips?

[Vypyrz]

to BP.net...

For the 2 that aren't eating:

1) Are you offering mice or rat fuzzies?
2) Are you feeding Live or Frozen/Thawed?
3) Do you feed in the enclosure or a separate container?
4) What type of set-up do you have, as far as, enclosure size, heating, thermostat, thermometers, hides, etc... (a pic would help, if you have one)
5) Are your snakes sharing the same enclosure or do they have individual enclosures?

That information will help in finding out why your little guys aren't eating and finding a solution. Good luck on finding the escapee...

[venessa214]

to BP.net...

For the 2 that aren't eating:

1) Are you offering mice or rat fuzzies? mice-the place where I get my feeders will rarely sell the rats before they reach large mouse size
2) Are you feeding Live or Frozen/Thawed? live
3) Do you feed in the enclosure or a separate container? I've tried both
4) What type of set-up do you have, as far as, enclosure size, heating, thermostat, thermometers, hides, etc... (a pic would help, if you have one) 18x18x18 exo terra tanks, under tank heaters on thermostat, one hide in each tank
5) Are your snakes sharing the same enclosure or do they have individual enclosures? they were together when I got them, but have since been separated

That information will help in finding out why your little guys aren't eating and finding a solution. Good luck on finding the escapee...

[Kaorte]

I would try giving them a smaller enclosure. 18x18x18 is pretty big for a hatchling. I keep my babies in 6qt or 12qt tubs with two hides (if I can squeeze them in).

If you aren't willing to move them out of the tanks, I would for sure get a second identical hide for each of them.

[Vypyrz]

I would say set them up in tubs and save the tanks for later. You could even try just putting the tub set-up inside the empty tanks. Just set them over the UTH so it would heat one end of the tub. It may not be aesthectically nice to look at but the goal is to get your babies eating again. Hope this helps...

I just noticed that I misread the dimensions on your tanks. I would try 2 snug hides and maybe some fake vines or something to fill in some of the vertical space. And if you haven't done it, try covering three sides of the tank with something like construction paper, poster board, aquarium scenery, or something like that so the tank doesn't appear so open and spacious...