Longest Fast?

[MasonC2K]

As some of you know, my girl just came off a 9 month fast.

I have read that the record in captivity is somewhere around 2 years.

So I was wondering what is the longest fast you have had to endure?

[munding]

9 months??????????? wow!!!!!!!!! and im already going crazy cos my 2 males haven't eaten in 1 month.

[muddoc]

The longest fast we got was 55 weeks. About 3 years ago, we boughyt a group of 3 "proven breeder females", that once I laid eyes on them, I believe to have been recently imported gravid females that dropped eggs. After offering numerous sizes and types of rodents, I finally got her to eat a mouse. After that first mouse, it was all downhill. SHe ate like she hadn't eaten in 55 weeks (which she hadn't). I don't have my records here, but if memory serves me right, she came to us at about 1300 grams, and dropped down to about 900 grams during her fast. Once she started eating, she gained about 900 grams in 5 months, and was ready for breeding season in Nov. 2006. Well, she didn't go that year, but she continued to eat in 2007, and got to about 2250 grams. The good news, is that she just ovulated about 5 days ago.

So, another lesson was learned the hard way. Many times, bringing in adult females to try and speed up production just doesn't work. I have CH females that I bought as babies the same year that I bought that female, that are ovulating right alongside this girl. I am not saying that all adult females are bad purchases, but be very careful, and ask alot of questions before you attempt to rush success. (sorry for the long winded response, but sometimes I get carried away).

Hope that helps,

[monk90222]

I have a male that came off of a fast from Dec 06 until March 08. That is 16 months. He has now eaten every week from the end of March until yesterday, so I hope he stays steady ....

[Stewart_Reptiles]

150 days (but with a good reason)

[Antares]

About 5 months. A little more than 2 months after I got him. Kinda freaked me out.

[munding]

The longest fast we got was 55 weeks. About 3 years ago, we boughyt a group of 3 "proven breeder females", that once I laid eyes on them, I believe to have been recently imported gravid females that dropped eggs. After offering numerous sizes and types of rodents, I finally got her to eat a mouse. After that first mouse, it was all downhill. SHe ate like she hadn't eaten in 55 weeks (which she hadn't). I don't have my records here, but if memory serves me right, she came to us at about 1300 grams, and dropped down to about 900 grams during her fast. Once she started eating, she gained about 900 grams in 5 months, and was ready for breeding season in Nov. 2006. Well, she didn't go that year, but she continued to eat in 2007, and got to about 2250 grams. The good news, is that she just ovulated about 5 days ago.

So, another lesson was learned the hard way. Many times, bringing in adult females to try and speed up production just doesn't work. I have CH females that I bought as babies the same year that I bought that female, that are ovulating right alongside this girl. I am not saying that all adult females are bad purchases, but be very careful, and ask alot of questions before you attempt to rush success. (sorry for the long winded response, but sometimes I get carried away).

Hope that helps,

55 weeks?!!???!!?! man!! has a bp ever died of going off feed??

[muddoc]

55 weeks?!!???!!?! man!! has a bp ever died of going off feed??

I don't know the answer to that question. However, Charlie posted right below my original post, with a longer fast than that. Also, if memory serves me right, I remember reading that the longest recorded fast was 22 months.

[Jerhart]

...I had a male go off in November and Just fed for me about 2 weeks ago...

[munding]

oh yeah. i thought 54 weeks was more than 16 months! doh!
22 months?? thats crazy..how can something not eat for a year and still survive...
amazing..

i guess i should just stop worrying about my 2 males.