eating

[gator8811]

So I bought my pastel about 3 weeks ago and he hasn't eaten yet. He's 1130 grams so he definetly has eaten before. Since I have had him he has not eaten yet. If tried all sizes of rats, small, medium, and large but he hasn't even tried. He will look like he's going to eat by getting in strike position and following but than backing off. Should I be worried?? The owners said he eats live rats they even had a big tank of live rats at there house.

[Kaorte]

Sounds like he is a sexually mature male looking for a mate. Don't worry, I still have a few males that are refusing food. They look so hungry and interested.. but they don't eat. Just have to wait it out! They will eat when they are ready.

[Andybill]

I am assuming you have tried live rats? Some info on your setup could help out a bit too: Temps both hot and cool; humidity; size of the enclosure; hides; interaction: do you handle him a lot? He may just still be adjusting to the new environment. He is a male with some size and that could be why he isnt eating either as sexually mature males may go off feed. If thats the case it will just be a matter of time before he starts chowing again.

[Annarose15]

Pics of your setup? Temperatures? Hides? Although he is a mature male, if he was eating previously there could still be an environmental factor. Recheck your husbandry to make sure it is just a normal fast, and keep tracking his weight. Also, I wouldn't offer anything larger than a small rat. Bigger is unnecessary, and potentially more dangerous.

Edit: Ha! Andy beat me to it!

[gator8811]

So I'm using aspen I got a plastic bowl for water a stick like thing and rock like hide for him that I got at local reptile store. 90-92 in hot spot and 82-84 in book spot and he's in a big 55 gallon tank. I thought it was because he maybe looking for a mate but wasn't sure. When I bought him the owner said he locked up a few times this year already.

Ohh ya yes and live rats small and a smaller sized large rat.