breeding hognose male won't eat - would love advice

[mainbutter]

So this is my first season attempting to breed hoggies, or colubrids of any sort for that matter.

My male is just barely large enough for me to feel comfortable attempting to pair him up with my female.

I've been pairing them up weekly, 3 days on, 4 days off, and feeding during the off days. I've seen some interesting behaviors (no visual confirmation of locks, though I haven't been hovering) that suggests they are at least trying to get the deed done.

My issue is that, although my typically problem-feeder female is now ENGULFING food harder than she has since the day I got her, my male seems to have completely gone off feed.

It's been three missed feedings now, and I'm thinking I don't want to pair them up any more if he's not eating, I really don't want to over-breed and exhaust a small male to death.

As a last resort I even tried live feeding with a fuzzy mouse yesterday, and left the mouse in with the snake for a few hours, to no avail. Up until they were paired together, he was eating wonderfully.

Should I just completely separate them for a week or two (or longer if needed) and see if the male eats after being given some time and space to his own? Will he just not eat if he's thinking 'oh boy, it's breeding time!'? If the latter is the case, should I continue to pair them up?

Husbandry (not that I think this is the case, as the biggest change at the time of the food strike has been pairing up for breeding): Housing in racks in tubs, summer temperatures of mid 80s, care fresh bedding for burrowing, and two hides + water dish, attempted feeding once a week

I'm completely open to suggestions.

[mainbutter]

bump, would love some feedback if anyone has any!

[RichsBallPythons]

When I was getting picky hoggies back on food during breeding and after, i used tuna or salmon scented live fuzzies left in over night.

Give that a try and leave fuzzy in over night and see how that reacts. You can freeze the unused tuna/slamon and break pieces off each feeding to scent the fuzzies if it worked.

[mainbutter]

I had not thought of scenting, kind of slipped my mind as he had been eating f/t just fine before breeding, but I suppose it might certainly appear more appetizing I'll give it a shot tomorrow if he doesn't take his live feeder today.

[RedDevil]

Same thing with my anaconda het albino male this season, only he's gotten so thin that I quit putting him with females. I was told it is pretty common, and that I should just soak him in water for eight hours and then continue breeding him while offering food every 2-3 days. I tried scenting as well, but he was not interested.

I got 24 eggs from him x a normal, and 9 to a het albino. I was hoping to double clutch the het with him, but I've since started using my extreme albino male instead. I'd have really liked another shot at an albino anaconda this season.

[TheWinWizard]

Typical male with a one track mind. Watch his weight and if he seems to be loosing, take him away from her.

[Jeremy Browning]

If he absulotly will not eat and the eggs are important enough try a toad. My friend had an het pink pastelxhet albino and the het pink pastel male would not eat so he gave it toads for breeding and it loved them and then after breeding he switched it over to mice.