Feeding problems (Big Surprise eh?)

[JamminJonah]

Okay so I got Icculus on March 17th... he hasn't eaten since I got him. In fact, he literally looks at the mouse and rolls right over it, it seems as if he doesn't even recognize it as food. So I called the Hampers and they told me they feed f/t and sometimes live but that he should take the f/t. They gave me a different method of thawing the mouse and yet again - no eats. Does this mean that I should try a stunned or pre killed and then try to convert him to frozen thawed? I'm frustrated of course - but also a bit upset I thought that he would eat f/t to begin with. I'm not really sure how to transition him, any advice would help - I guess I'm just frustrated and feel bad that this poor thing won't eat. I know they go off feed often for long times but he doesn't seem as heavy as when I first got him though he is the same size.

[Wizill]

how old is he man?

[JamminJonah]

hmm... well probably ten months or so.. maybe 11

[iceman25]

Jonah, are you feeding him inside or outside?

[JamminJonah]

well I'm trying to feed outside because of my substrate but tonight I tried inside at first and when he just slithered past I moved him outside, let him settle, turned off all of the lights (that he could see) and used the heat light to see while I tried to feed him.

[iceman25]

I know it can be frustrating as hec man, but keep trying. My little girl wouldn't eat the F/T rat in her feed box and kept on slithering over it and not paying the least amount of attention to it. After two hours of trying I put her back in her tank. The next day I defrosted the rat in hot water for about an hour till he was nice and soft and placed him right in front of her hide. She did her usual thing. Tried to eat it butt first before getting it right. Give this a try and see if it works. If you have loose substrate in her tank consider changing it to carpet of paper. I have found out that it solves a lot of problems.

[JamminJonah]

yeah I'm strongly considering a change to carpet - the thing is once I get my animal plastics cage, the specs are all different, not that carpet is expensive, but where can i get some to cut to size or something? I would do paper but I kinda want the cage to look cool as he is my only herp. I guess my main question is - how can i tell whether or not I have to convert to f/t? Or will they eventually take it anyway regardless?

[JLC]

It's still early on, Jonah. He's still in relatively new surroundings, and may be more interested in making sure his new territory is safe to live in than he is in eating. Just be patient. You've got a long time to go before you should consider resorting to more drastic measures, like live food or something. It's way too soon to figure out if he's refusing because it's frozen, or if he's refusing because he just doesn't want to eat. If you try changing his prey every time you feed, or changing the method of feeding, he may take a lot longer to get settled and you'll have ruled out the simpler options before being sure they weren't going to work in the first place.

[invadertoast]

yeah I'm strongly considering a change to carpet - the thing is once I get my animal plastics cage, the specs are all different, not that carpet is expensive, but where can i get some to cut to size or something?

I got enough astrturf to cover a 40 breeder's floor 4 times for three bucks at Home Depot. They cut 18" (width of my tank) of it off the roll and it was long enough to make 4 peices that fit perfectly. Can't beat that!

Also, I was in a pet shop next door to Home Depot earlier that day that cut reptile carpet to size, but it would have been 17 bucks to get two peices big enough for a 40... so there ya go, lol.

[gozetec02]

I have never had any problems with Jojo not eating he is an eating machine he will eat any rodent i put in his tank , but i have had problems with other BP's lots of times you have to use some hemastats or some tongs and make the mouse move around instead of F/T try a freshly killed mouse. I have used Repticarpet and it is nice but i use aspen bedding now. I have found that they feel really secure if you put the hide down and make an indention under the hide in the substrate. It compacts very well and soaks up any urates. The best part is that it cost me like 7 bux for a huge compacted block about 10lbs of the stuff. But BP's are infamous for not eating so dont be too alarmed. Just make sure that he don't get dehydrated I have had BP's that are so scared to come out of their hide that they will not drink. If you start noticing that he is body is skinny on the sides and his skin is very wrinkly you need to redydrate him quick. This site has a great article about what to do in that kind of situation. A visit to the vet is probibly not such a bad idea. And as a last resort try puting a live mouse in with him but keep a close eye on him even a little mouse can cause lots of damage if left alone lots of times the mouse will actually try to cuddle up with the snake. I had this same problem with Jojo and when i put the live mouse in with him that kind of gave him the proverbial kick start and he has eaten steady after that.

Keep trying and dont give up.