I think my big boy is fasting!

[dakski]

So, my big 533g male ball is fasting I think. Last Thursday marked 3 weeks since he hasn't eaten. I know they can go longer, I'm just concerned. I've tried different thawing methods, and he's eating two large mice. I know for a fact he's able to eat them and comfortable eating them, as he's done it many times before! He hasn't lost weight and his husbandry has been fine. What do you think? Thank you!

Sounds like fasting to me.

At that weight he can go a while. I wouldn’t sweat it for a long time.

Keep monitoring his weight weekly or every other week. Common for BP’s to lose 5-10% of their body weight in a fast. Shayna fasts every winter and loses between 6-8% of her body weight over 5 months or so.

I would go to offering every two weeks instead of every week though. At least until he eats again.

Offering when he doesn’t want to eat can just stress him out.

Also, any reason you aren’t offering weaned/small rats at this point?

Would probably be easier than offering two mice. Soon he will need more than two mice as well.