BRB not eating.

[lewis13]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

60% is dangerously low. It should never, at any time, fall below 80%, and a constant 90%+ is best. Although they can tolerate 75% to a degree, extended periods of time this low will cause dehydration in the long term. Stabilizing the humidity will be a large step to getting him to eat reliably (if he isn't on a breeding fast).

Thank you I do mist so I know it does increase and then decrease as the day goes on, but I will make sure that I maintain a more stable balance of higher humidity and see if that makes a difference.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by lewis13

Thank you I do mist so I know it does increase and then decrease as the day goes on, but I will make sure that I maintain a more stable balance of higher humidity and see if that makes a difference.

There's your culprit right there: misting. What sort of set up do you have? Bedding, enclosure type, etc. In the correct set up, you should never need to mist at all, misting is more like a bandaid (and a bad one at that) than a source of humidity.

[lewis13]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

There's your culprit right there: misting. What sort of set up do you have? Bedding, enclosure type, etc. In the correct set up, you should never need to mist at all, misting is more like a bandaid (and a bad one at that) than a source of humidity.

He is in a 4'x2'x18" sealed wooden enclosure with cyprus much and heat tape under one end.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by lewis13

He is in a 4'x2'x18" sealed wooden enclosure with cyprus much and heat tape under one end.

I take it either the heat tape is inside the enclosure or you've modified the floor so the heat can get through? Heat doesn't travel through wood very easily. I have two PVC enclosures and when stacked directly on top of each other if I don't set the temps low enough in both, the top one overheats as the heat rises from the heat panel below it. I have two wooden enclosures stacked on top of each other and the bottom one doesn't affect the top one whatsoever even with both a CHE and an RHP. I never could get a UTH to heat through it so that's why I went with CHEs and RHPs in those enclosures.

I would try changing the bedding and potentially installing a heat panel in there. I've had bad luck with cypress mulch as far as humidity goes, but EcoEarth has worked absolute wonders with me. But, EcoEarth is best paired with an ambient heat source as belly heat doesn't evaporate the moisture in the bedding fast enough and it tends to mold. When I tried cypress mulch by itself it would dry out completely within a day, but EcoEarth holds its humidity for 1-2 weeks. The thicker the bedding is the longer it lasts and the more humidity it provides, I keep my bedding 1"-2" thick in my 6'x2'x3's.

[lewis13]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

I take it either the heat tape is inside the enclosure or you've modified the floor so the heat can get through? Heat doesn't travel through wood very easily. I have two PVC enclosures and when stacked directly on top of each other if I don't set the temps low enough in both, the top one overheats as the heat rises from the heat panel below it. I have two wooden enclosures stacked on top of each other and the bottom one doesn't affect the top one whatsoever even with both a CHE and an RHP. I never could get a UTH to heat through it so that's why I went with CHEs and RHPs in those enclosures.

I would try changing the bedding and potentially installing a heat panel in there. I've had bad luck with cypress mulch as far as humidity goes, but EcoEarth has worked absolute wonders with me. But, EcoEarth is best paired with an ambient heat source as belly heat doesn't evaporate the moisture in the bedding fast enough and it tends to mold. When I tried cypress mulch by itself it would dry out completely within a day, but EcoEarth holds its humidity for 1-2 weeks. The thicker the bedding is the longer it lasts and the more humidity it provides, I keep my bedding 1"-2" thick in my 6'x2'x3's.

Your are correct on pretty much everything you said regarding the heat tape. I will change out the substrate because I have noticed it drying out and I will also look into the RHP. I have them in some of my other enclosures. I am not sure if that is causing the eating issue because he has been in that enclosure for 6+ mos with no eating issues, but I think your advice is spot on. Thank You!

[blakkangell]

If after fixing the humidity he still wont eat then check the freshness of your rats. My brb got super picky because the mice I was giving her weren't fresh enough for her taste.