my bp not eating

[newbe]

ok well i put the rat in about 20 mins ago and he was just sniffing it for about a min and then he just went around it so i left it there for a little longer and he dident seem intrested at all so i moved it 2 the other side of the cage and he did the same thing sniffed it and then just slithered over it.

do you think its because it was frozzen and then i thawed it out because last time that i got him 2 eat it was a fresh killed one and when ever i try
f/t he dosent eat so is that a posibility????

[Wizill]

your best bet is probably to feed a few more freshly killed rodents before attempting to switch over to frozen/thawed. most younger bp's have to get used to eating dead prey, especially if it came from a pet store or an unknown breeder.

[newbe]

actuly the place that he came from was more of a breeder then a pet store. there called reptilia and there in toronto and he was eating f/t fuzzy rats in the store so i know he eats them and last night i offered him a fresh killed rat pup and he dident take it

[Marla]

How long have you had him? Has he eaten for you before? How long did you give him to get acclimated to his new home before trying to handle him?

[newbe]

i have had him for 2 weeks now and the breeder said it would be alright 2 feed him if he takes it and the first week i left the dead rat in there over night and he ate it so 1 week l8ter(yesterday) i tryed 2 feed him again and i left it in over night and he dident take it so i toke it out and the first time i handeled him was about 3 or 4 days ago and i handeled him about 3 hours ago

[JLC]

He could still be feeling a bit stressed out. And/or, he may just not be hungry yet if he ate a week ago. How old is he? How big was the rat he ate last week? Feeding once a week is simply a guideline...he may have a different calendar in mind. Especially older snakes, or snakes that last ate a big meal.

[Marla]

Yep, I agree with Judy. I'd suggest avoid handling and try to feed again Sunday or Monday. He's still getting used to you and his new home and the rat may have been a little big for him to need to eat again in just a week. Don't stress too much, he'll eat again.

[newbe]

ya hes going 2 have 2 weeks all to him self anyway because iam going to flordia but i have some one 2 change the water every few days

oh ya and do u think he will be alright for another 2 weeks or do you thing that i should leave a dead rat in there befor i go and just hope he eats it befor it starts 2 rot or dose it take longer 2 rot

[RPlank]

Don't leave a dead rat in there hoping he will eat it. Murphy's Law says he won't, and he will be very sick when you get back from living with a decaying animal and breathing in the polluted air. Not to mention the fact that your entire house would reek!

[JLC]

I agree completely with Randy. He'll be totally fine so long as he has a consistent supply of fresh water and proper temps and such. Snakes are amazingly hardy creatures and simply don't need to eat the way mammals do.