Feeding Advice Please

[mitchdiamond]

Hi, I am after some advice.
3 weeks ago I got two yearling diamonds, a male and a female. I am keeping them together, as they have been housed together their whole lives. The breeder told me that he has been feeding them one pinkie each once a week.
The female ate...then shed, then ate again...so I know she is fine. The male has not eaten and has not shed...I know that he may not shed at the same time as her but I am concerned that he hasn't eaten.
Anyway, I have taken him out of the enclosure and put him in a click clack with a heat rock...I thought maybe the female is a bit more dominant and won't let him near the food?
The temps and everything is great in the enclosure, so I know that he is getting hot enough.
I have offered him food again this morning, he has been in the click clack by himself for 2 days, but he still hasn't eaten, I am going to leave the pinkie in this for a while and see what he does.
How long before I should get worried if he doesn't eat? And what measures should I take if that amount of time passes and he still hasn't eaten?
Any advice from any experienced people would be very welcome!
Thanks

[Ashleigh:]]

My blonde mac hatchie didnt eat for 1&a half weeks/2 weeks after 4 attempts of trying, and i left it in there overnight and as soon as it was dark she must of ate because when i checked on her at 11pm she had eaten it, maybe try leaving it in overnight.

[Kyro]

2/3 weeks without a feed is not that uncommon for snakes so don't stress too much. Just completely leave him alone for a few days & try offering prey at night as Ashleigh mentioned, they are nocturnal so it's much more natural for them to eat later in the day as opposed to the morning.

[Magpie]

Assuming it's 10 months old and not an early hatchy from this year, if it's only on pinkies it may be a bad feeder.
You don't need to worry for at least 8 weeks, likely more.
Make sure you are offering the food in the smae way as the breeder and keeping it in similar conditions. Only offer food onec a week.

[mitchdiamond]

Thanks guys, I will leave it for a couple of days and then try again at night.
When I got them, the breeder said something about putting the pinkie in chicken stock? Does anyway know about that? Is that a common thing to do?
If he goes 8 weeks and doesn't eat, what do I do then?

[SlothHead]

If the person that you got it off was putting into chicken stock before feeding it then there is more than likely your problem.

When you tried feeding them, (when they were in the enclosure together) did you separate them or what process did you use??

Cheers

D

[NicG]

Hi Mitch,

As Magpie suggested, at 10-12 months old a pinkie rat is a pretty small feed. My little one (same age) has been eating fuzzy rats for a couple of months now. I guess it all depends on how big it is ...

How long are your two Diamond Pythons respectively? And what diameter are they at their thickest? A pen, a whiteboard marker, etc ... ?

Cheers,
Nic

[mitchdiamond]

There a bit thicker than a pen but not as thick as a whitebeoard marker.We are going to buy some pinkie rats