Yes- sounds perfectly normal.

I had the exact same scenario with my JCP- he was SUCH a pain to get eating, and shipment of him to me was delayed because he wouldn't eat for the guy who hatched him.

Anyway, patience is KEY.

Try different things to stimulate him- assuming your feeding frozen thawed- try warming up the rat a bit more in warm water. If you're not drying the rat off well, try that.

What ended up working for me (he SLAMS small/medium rats now!) was tossing that rat around his enclosure with the tongs- not literally, but would make the rat 'fly' around his enclosure really fast and all over the place.

All the movement seemed to stimulate him beyond control.

Oh- and I'd occasionally bump him with the rat. When he finally looked like he was in the 'feeding mode', I'd slowly move it around in front of him, and as SOON as he'd strike, I'd let it go, close things up, and leave the room for an hour.

Now, you have to watch your fingers whenever you open his enclosure!

Hope this helps!

Before (October 2006):


After (Yesterday- 5/23/09):


//Todd

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