Feeding problems.

[earthwormjim]

My new BP is an adult male and in great health via the vet visit he had a week ago. After I first got him I gave him a couple days in his new tank to adjust, I gave him a medium rat that was on the small side. He ate it no problem. A week later with no changes to him and me handling him about 20 minutes a day, I offered a thawed rat of about the same size. He showed no interest. He was raised on live but I wanted to see if he would take frozen. I waited another week and tried again with the frozen, the only change this time being that I added some plants to his tank to give him more privacy. Two days after I got him a large live rat, twice the size of the first but still what I felt to be an appropriate size for him. I attempted three seperate feedings with it live, then I killed it and tried that. I feed him in a large tote. Still nothing. I am wondering if any of the following or all could be an issue. He did seem interested and was coiling into a strike position and struck twice at the second live rat but then would move away from it.

Humidity has dipped a few times to 40% but I always am on top of getting it back up.

The addition of the plants, they are fake and bought from petco.

The rat was too big and he just doesn't like frozen.

He is going off feed for the winter.

All of his temps are fine and humidity aside from a few dips has been fine.

[Mr. Misha]

How much does your BP weigh? From what I've seen on this forum from different threads, even large females (3,000 grams and up) don't get fed large rats. I think you're trying to feed your BP too large of a meal. Additionally, what do you mean you feed him in a large tote? I hope you don't just leave him in there with the large live rat without any way of observing the feeding. They could really some damage to your BP.

The strikes that your BP made sound like defensive strikes.

[earthwormjim]

How much does your BP weigh? From what I've seen on this forum from different threads, even large females (3,000 grams and up) don't get fed large rats. I think you're trying to feed your BP too large of a meal. Additionally, what do you mean you feed him in a large tote? I hope you don't just leave him in there with the large live rat without any way of observing the feeding. They could really some damage to your BP.

The strikes that your BP made sound like defensive strikes.

he weighs 1270, so it probably was too big. I sit right in front of the tote with a huge pair of tongs to grab the rat if it gets agressive. I always sit to watch until he fully swallows it. I usually then leave him there for a couple hrs until I put him back. If that was the case I am sure the experience was pretty stressful so I think I will avoid handling him for the next week and let him settle, then I will get him a rat that was the same size as the first one. If he takes it then problem solved, if not I can go from there. Than you for your input.

[Mr. Misha]

he weighs 1270, so it probably was too big. I sit right in front of the tote with a huge pair of tongs to grab the rat if it gets agressive. I always sit to watch until he fully swallows it. I usually then leave him there for a couple hrs until I put him back. If that was the case I am sure the experience was pretty stressful so I think I will avoid handling him for the next week and let him settle, then I will get him a rat that was the same size as the first one. If he takes it then problem solved, if not I can go from there. Than you for your input.

That's a healthy weight for a male but he's definitely not big enough for a large rat. I'd feed him a small to a medium sized rat.

It's a good choice not to handle him for a week and try again. Additionally, with eating a medium sized rat, he might not be hungry if you're feeding once a week. Just another thing to throw out there.

[earthwormjim]

Cool, thanks again for the advice. I will post here again in a week when I try to feed him so that anyone else with the same question can see what happened.

[Mr. Misha]

Absolutely. I'm looking forward to the update. Hopefully he'll eat for you.

[Lizardlicks]

Oh yeah, a male that big can go a couple weeks between meals no problem. He probably just wasn't hungry!

[earthwormjim]

Absolutely. I'm looking forward to the update. Hopefully he'll eat for you.

After waiting a couple days and bumping the temps up, success! I fed him two smaller rats and he took them like a champ. Super happy and so is he.

[Mr. Misha]

After waiting a couple days and bumping the temps up, success! I fed him two smaller rats and he took them like a champ. Super happy and so is he.

Congrats! I'm glad he's eating for you again.