Cecilia stopped eating :(

[lionheart]

Well, I didn't think there would be a day when I write a topic like this. But it has happened now: cecilia stopped eating. I've read a lot about this topic but still wanted to ask if you've got some comments on her particular case.

She's around 1,5 years now, weighed 728 when she stopped. She's always been a good eater, that's why I'm confused about her sudden halt. The first time she refused on July 13, a week from that she ate. Then she refused twice, and ate again on August 28. I've been offering her food three times after that, and she has refused. She now weighs 680. She hasn't pooped nor is she shedding. She's been active almost every evening, roaming around in her enclosure (glass vivarium 32 gallons, if my calculations are correct). She has two hides, one warm (95-100) one cool (78-82). She's had around the same temperatures ever since I got her. She usually spends time in her warm hide, but is also fond of burrowing underneath the newspaper bedding.

I don't handle her much. I change the water once every three days. The humidity is around 50%. When I handle her, she's calm and doesn't show any signs of aggression or fear. She's not limp or apathetic.

I've been giving her rats, trying smaller and bigger (the biggest being crawlers, 60 grams, slightly smaller than I assume she should be able to take. She's taken one of that size, but refused since. Today I tried a smaller one, but with no success). I thaw the rat in warm water and check that it's warm when offering it. I do the "dance" in various ways. She comes forward and sniffs at it, follows it with her stare, but doesn't strike. After a while she turns away or backs off. I tried leaving the rat on the floor, she circled around it and looked interested, but didn't eat. I used to feed her in a separate box, now I've offered the food in her enclosure so as not to stress her by handling her. She took one that way, on August 28. Since that she hasn't eaten.

What I could do is tweak the temps a bit, which isn't that easy with reptile heating carpets. I admit the temps have been a bit bouncy since I don't have a thermostat, but it hasn't bothered her before. The rats I've been giving now are from a different breeder than before, and were slightly thawed when shipped, could that be a reason? She's never been picky, that's why I doubt it. I'm worried because she's still so young and not fully grown; if she was an adult I would concider the pause quite normal.

Any help is appreciated in this time of concern

[ladywhipple02]

Have you tried feeding her live rats? Maybe switch to mice? BPs are funny that way... sometimes, they like a switch-up. I have a female who took f/t perfectly, up until about a month ago. Now, she won't take anything but live.


Feed them what they'll eat. It can't hurt to try.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Tweak the temps a bit (82-84 on one side, 92-94 on the other) and fill her cage with crumpled up balls of newpaper so that they take up all of the loose "space". Leave her alone for two weeks and try feeding a mouse.

Usually does the trick, but if not, try crawler rats too. Sooner or later she'll come around.

-adam