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I have a 28 inch leopard rat. I am having a real hard time getting him to eat. I tried almost evry trick in the book and then some. Does any one have experience with this species? Thanks Greg

>>I have a 28 inch leopard rat. I am having a real hard time getting him to eat. I tried almost evry trick in the book and then some. Does any one have experience with this species? Thanks Greg

Hey, Chop. Leopards are adapted to a long, cold brumation. They will often go off feed this time of year, especially males. If you don't want to brumate right now, try small, live fuzzies, or maybe even jumbo pinks.

TC

I have a pretty large group of adults and about 30% have stopped eating.I will try again this week and then cool them all in a couple of weeks......

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Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

Loyd,

That is one of yours? I really should have taken you up on that offer! But even if I do decide to get them, I wouldn't ship any herp this time of year. Beautiful, truly the crown jewel of Eurasian Rats!
And I assume you are getting ready to give them a long winters nap? Even in Florida, my tropical species would go off feed in the winter. Must be sunlight changes..

Sincerely,
Matthew

Most of all my breeders have shut down for the season...which is typical for this time of year.

Scott John Reptiles

Sounds like you got your probable answer, as long your animal has reasonable weight and body mass.
.
Just for perspective, even though Leopard Rats are from a warmer part of Europe and photo cycle is not everything that determines hibernation, get a globe, look at the latitude of Rome (41°54'N ), for example, and then find the same latitude in North America. Even though warm weather palms and the like grow in Rome with help from the warming Mediterranean, the latitude is between NYC (40.74N) and Boston (42.358N).

Palermo Sicily (38.1108°N) would be like Washington DC (38.89N).
Mid-October in these places is time to start a nap!!
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Regards, Bill McGighan

Thanks guys. I am going to wait a couple of weeks to make sure his system is clean an then place him into hibernation. His body weight is real good. Infact he looks and acts real real healthy.

Excellent piece of advice Bill. Although this does not give accurate temperature comparisons it does give a very good guide to the day-night photo period. My Leopard male is currently still feeding but only taking one of two items offerred weekly. I'm at 51:39:57N by the way.
Graham.
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30 Snakes :
Corns, Milks, Kings, American Rats, Asian Rats, Leopard Rat, Royal, Boa, Diadems
www.ratsnakefoundation.org