Feeding Strike/Staying in Cold Hide?

[Hannahvh]

Thanks for your reply!

No, I have 2 digital thermometer/hygrometers inside the cage on each end as well as a temp gun that I use to measure the surface temp! So I am pretty positive it is not TOO hot for her (unless all the gadgets are broken of course! lol). If it's not too hot, is this still normal for her to do?
Before this shed cycle, she would switch between the two hides fairly regularly, so it is just concerning to me that she's now all of a sudden on the cold hide exclusively, especially when it's such a cold winter.

Isn't she adorable? lol I'm gaga eyes for her But yes, I've had her a little over a month and adopted her from her previous owner who never had a problem feeding (he never mentioned if she's ever been on a hunger strike, though). And since I've had her, she's eaten like a machine exactly once a week (so about 4 times). She weighs about 850G and her widest girth is about 3 big fingers (or 4 if you have tiny hands lol), so she is definitely big enough for the SMALL rats I've been feeding her. Definitely not medium or full sized, but she seems to do just fine with the small ones!

As to whether or not this is a "hunger strike", there's a first time for everything, and she's also about the right age to do it.

I wouldn't offer food weekly, I'd do not less than 2 weeks. Another thing, you're going by the temperature on the thermostat, right? Be sure you take the
actual-IN-cage temperature right over the UTH & under any substrate...just to make sure it's not too hot where she might be touching. That alone could
explain her desire for the cooler hide, IF the warm hide is too warm.

She looks fine to me in photos...a cutie! But you've only had her "a little more than a month" now, right? How many times has she fed for you? Any?
And are you sure she ate rats (not mice?) prior to coming home with you?