Capes are awesome, and I have a red cape gopher that is one of my absolute faves of my collection. They are truly gems of the pit world, and really are neat snakes.
The one thing that I have learned with capes, and I learned the hard way, is that they seem to do better with cooler temps than let’s say, most kings, milks, or some other pits. They come from a cooler climate area, and overall seem to do just better with temps lower than other snakes. Same goes for jani and deppei. Capes are extremely sensitive animals. Make sure that they have a decent hidebox or two, as they are very shy. I keep my cape at the very lowest part of my room, just like I do with my jani and deppei.
I would lower the temps on both of their cages, to 78 if possible, and give them some days to settle into that, and then try feeding them smaller food items than what you would normally feed something like a bull or northern pine, as food size could be a factor as well, if the temp is not the issue. Some capes I have seen refused what some would call decent sized meals, and they would always seem to prefer smaller meals. That is something to think about as well. Try smaller food items if the temps are not an issue. If smaller food items does the trick, please remember to perhaps play it on the safe side, and to not feed them too much right away, despite the excitement of getting them to eat. The last thing you want to happen is for them to regurge. They do not handle force feeding well at all, as I would try to avoid at all costs, and again also, regurgitation is a killer, no pun intended. Again, since they are very sensitive animals, they require a little more TLC.
Then, there is the chance that they wanted to be brumated, which may explain the timing.
Hope this helps!! Take care!
Here is a good care sheet on capes:
Link
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