Beans is being stubborn, or just picky.

[dakski]

I agree with JM here.

You need to get the cool side temps up.

Hot side 87-89F

Cool side 77-80F.

Nowhere in a BP tank should it ever be below 75F. Also humidity should be around 50% when not in shed. Make sure you can maintain that with proper substrate, bigger water bowl, etc. if your heating elements are drying out your tank. Keep on eye on this as you raise temps.

Gradient is important too. In other words, if the hot side is 88F, the middle can be 82-84F or so, and the cool side 77-80F. You BP needs to be able to choose what temp is best for them at any given time.

If not gone over, make sure there are hides on the hot and the cool side. They should be identical.

Further, for the people on the forum our number one priority is your animal's well being, not your feelings. People will sometimes be blunt, especially if we think you are doing something wrong. It's not because we hate you or are angry with you, it's because we want what's best for your animal. In this case, people are being blunt because, I think, they are worried about some of the things you are doing and that your BP hasn't eaten. It appears you are doing things to make the situation worse. If your BP is a young animal, time is critical.

My advice:

1. Correct temps and make sure their are hides on both side and matching.

2. DO NOT HANDLE - AT ALL! Don't reduce handling. Stop handling until your BP has eaten 3 meals in a row. If you have to clean the tank, remove your BP and put him/her into a holding container while you clean. Then put him/her back. NO exceptions. His/her life is now dependent on you, and on you being disciplined now and NOT Handling. A healthy BP will live a long, long, time - 20+ years. You'll have a long time to enjoy Beans.

3. Don't offer food too often. 1X a week max.

4. What was he/she eating before? Stick with it. If it was F/T, fine. Feed that. If it was live, feed that. Also same size and prey. In other words, if he/she was eating adult mice, feed adult mice, don't try to switch to rats until he/she is eating regularly.

You should not thaw a rat overnight. It takes a few hours tops in room temp water. Then you blast with a hairdryer or hot water quickly to warm up and entice the BP.

See below for proper technique on defrosting and offering f/t food.

Any questions, just ask, we are here to help.




This is my step by step list on defrosting F/T rodents.

Others may do it differently and that's fine. This how I do it and it works for me.


STEPS FOR DEFROSTING F/T RODENTS/PREY

1. Put prey item(s) into appropriate size plastic bag. I use Quart size ziplock bags up to a medium rat. NOTE: Bags are optional. Some people just throw the prey in the water. I like the bags, but you have to squeeze the air out of them.

2. Fill the container/storage box 3/4 of the way with room temp to slightly warm water. If you have a temp gun (which you should, so if you don't, get one), make sure the water is not hotter than 85-90F, or there about.

3. Put F/T prey item(s) in water. Cover (optional) and leave for an hour +/-.

4. After an hour, rotate/flip prey. If in plastic bags, they often will stay on whatever side you put them in on. So if mouse is on left side, turn to right side, etc.

5. Leave for another hour +/- for a TOTAL of about 2 hours (up to medium sized rat - longer if bigger prey).

6. Check that prey is defrosted totally through. Squeeze at different sections of the preys body. Should be cool/room temp to touch, but be soft with no cold spots. If hard (except for bone), in abdomen, for example, or cold, put back in water until room temp and soft.

7. Take prey out of the container/storage box and put aside. THEN FOLLOW STEPS 8-11 OR STEP 12

8. Fill container with hot water from tap. If using temp gun, water temp should be 110-130F, not more.

9. Drop prey item into water for 30 seconds +/-. If multiple prey items, do one at a time. You want each item hot when you offer.

10. Remove (if hot water, with tongs).

11. Dry as best as you can, and is quickly as you can, with paper towels. I dry with paper towels while I am walking from the bathroom where I defrost to the snake tanks. I kind of wrap the prey item up in them. It's ten feet, so by the time I get to the tanks, the prey is drier, but still warm.

12. If not using hot water, use a hairdryer to heat rat so it entices snake

13. Open tank and offer ASAP - with tongs - not your hand.