My BP flinches at food?

[Teclis]

I set the live mouse in there, and he flinches and runs away. He's been a picky feeder the entire time, but for a while there he was eating perfectly fine. He then up and decided not to eat and now is scared of the food.

Can anyone suggest anything?

[Ezekiel285]

Hmm, how long have you had him? also what are his temps and humidity? It could have something to do with the husbandry.

[Teclis]

Running at a steady 91F, with a relative humidity level of ~60% give or take 3%. The humidity is a little wobbly some times.

[Ezekiel285]

so hot side it 91, what is the cool side and ambient? Also does he have a hide on each side of the enclosure? or has anything else changed lately?

Have you tried F/T?

[Homegrownscales]

It sounds like stress. If he's jerking or running from the food I highly suggest:
1. Leaving him be for 10-14 days and retrying to feed.
2. If you have a glass tank cover all the sides but front in black construction paper.
3. Making sure you have tight fitting and identical hides.
4. Use live appropriate sized food.
5. Do not over offer or change the feeding routine at all. Offer food 1x every 5 days. Don't try anything different to try and get it to eat.
6. Don't leave the prey in for more than 15 min. If it doesn't eat by then or you see defensive striking, jerking, or the running away behavior take the prey out immediately and try again the next week.

Hopefully this helps.


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[Teclis]

Currently 77F on the cool side and ambient 72F. I currently only have a hide on the warm side, but no nothing has changed at all. I changed the aspen last week, but I didn't think that'd be a big thing.

[Ezekiel285]

HomeGrownScales is more than likely right, i have a big female that i just got on tuesday that is acting the same way and its because i just got her and she needs time to settle in. He's stressed for some reason, i suggest following what HomeGrownScales suggested.

Edit: Also ambient temps are a little low, and a hide on the cold side would be good so he can thermo-regulate. They will choose safety over temperature so its good to give them the option by giving them two hides.

[cmack91]

mine started doing this a few years ago and it led to a 6month + feeding strike, he wouldnt take anything no matter how hard i tried, he eventually ate and kept eating for another year, then went on a second 6month strike, now hes fine though. unfortunatly when it was happening i had no access to any information on what to do, so i kept everything the same and he eventually started eating, i hope this doesnt happen to you though.

try leaving a f/t over night with him in his usual enclosure and see if that helps

[cmack91]

Currently 77F on the cool side and ambient 72F. I currently only have a hide on the warm side, but no nothing has changed at all. I changed the aspen last week, but I didn't think that'd be a big thing.

you also need a second hide, and try to raise his ambient temps up to at least the 80's IMO, i know anything 75 and lower can be dangerous

until you can get another hide, i'd put his right in the middle, so hes neither hot or cold, that might help

[Homegrownscales]

You can easily make 2 identical hides for less than 2.00$. The drip pans for potted plants work really well. Or 2 upturned pots. I also would up your ambients. A small ceramic heat emitter placed in the middle would work well.



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