Will live feeding switch my BP over from F/T?

[dakski]

If it's only been a few weeks you have nothing to worry about.

I agree with everything that's beens said here.

My female BP, a 5YR old Albino Spider, is about 1600G (when eating). The past three winters, she fasts like clockwork for 4-6 months. No interest. She loses about 5-7% of her body weight (down to 1480G or so) and starts eating when she wants.

I only feed F/T.

She's also very shy.

Most of the time she wants me to leave the rat after she smells it, and she will eat in the next hour on her own. She only strikes 1/15 times. If she hasn't touched in an in hour. I take out and try again another time/week.

BP's can be very shy and do not necessarily like being watched when eating. That could be part of it too. Doesn't really want food right now + shy = she won't eat.

She will probably eat when ready, especially if she has taken F/T readily before. I WOULD NOT SWITCH TO LIVE! For a variety of reasons, including, who knows if she will easily taken F/T again.

Another thing, and has been discussed here, is thawing and heating the rat.

I defrost in luke warm/room temp water for a while (couple of hours). Then I drop the rat into hot water (from tap - not boiling or close), for 30 seconds, let it get nice and warm. Quickly dry off and offer. That helps the feeding response too.

However, you do not want to cook the rat! Then they will almost definitely refuse and it's not good for an animal used to eating raw.

I've heard of people warming in hot water and this is like a Sous Vide - cooking the rat.

I also tend to leave my BP alone for the most part when she's not eating. I usually handle at least 3X a week, but go to 1X or so when she is off feed. I take her out to change water, clean urate and urine, etc.

Good luck, but don't sweat it, unless she loses a lot of weight and isn't drinking, etc.