First time he refused to eat

[beaglegod]

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Well its not a false alarm this time, Plissken (my BP) realy did miss his first meal ever with me. I guess I shouldnt have offered him that rat, he probably COULD eat it but may have seen it as too big a meal to bother with right now, I left the rat on one side of the enclosure and the mouse on the other, shut the lights and left him for the night. I did check up on him at mid night and at 3 A.M. and he was all over the cage cruising,very active, but this morning at 9 A.M. both items were still their. Looks like next sunday its back to mice .

I hope I didnt screw his feeding schedule up by trying something new. Do you guys think I should wait the full week till trying to feed again, or should I try sooner?

How would you get him switched over to rats?

[Auskan]

If he didn't eat the mouse either, then its probably not the fact that you offered a rat that stopped him from eating. BPs sometimes just don't feel like eating. I would continue to try to switch him over to rats, but next time I wouldn't offer the mouse as well - just offer the rat. If offering both, chances are he will go for the mouse.

Personally, if my BP refuses, a meal, I wait 2 weeks before offering again. I'm not sure what everyone else does.

[mykee]

I wouldn't give up so soon. Stick with the rats, one week of not eating is NOTHING. Chances are, he'll go months at some point, so get used to it. Don't break down and go back to mice if he didn't eat for one week unless you're willing to feed him mice forever.

[beaglegod]

point well taken guys, only thing Im not sure of is if I would have more success offering rat fuzzies, or simply small sized rats. Rat pups are next to impossible to get for some odd reason, I could scent a rat fuzzy and try that although nutritionaly an adult mouse is probably better. Or I could try feeding the scented fuzzy right after he eats an adult mouse. Any suggestions on a good method I would apreciate..............no realy I would ;)

[mykee]

A rat is more nutritional than ANY size mouse. Stick with it, and don't give up, it'll only be harder if you wait. I would recommend the 'starve method', just don't offer him food unless it's what you want him eat.