Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 1 and a half year old borneo blood is a v ery stubborn feeder and I am starting to fear that he is not growing fast enough because of it. He is 2ft long and not as that chunky but he does present an interest in chicks(which he eats) and chick scented rats which he is interested in but doesnt eat.He is setup in a penpal cage heated by a heat mat with a damp bark substrate and 2 hides with a water bowl. Should I set him up in a heated small vivarium?
any useful ideas would be gratefully appreciated

How big is the enclosure he's currently in, and how big is the snake?

K
-----
"Remember the days of the old schoolyard?" - Cat Stevens

He is currently in a 13" by 7" geo flat container. He is about 20 inches long.

It's most likely time to move him into something larger - can't help but wonder if he's having a hard time thermoregulating in such a small enclosure. Typically for big juvies the rubbermaid 2221 sweater boxes work very well (especially in a rack system). You may want to think about moving him into a larger, low-maintenance setup & see if this helps with the feeding response. Get him into something bigger with a clearly defined thermal gradient, a couple of hides, simple substrate and a water bowl, and let him settle in for at least a week. Once he's settled, try offering him rodents (even scented) to see if you can get him turned back on. When you get him eating consistently, try sticking to a routine - in my experience blood & short-tailed pythons respond very well to "habit," i.e. feeding at the same time, maintenance at the same time, etc.

Good luck!

K
-----
"Remember the days of the old schoolyard?" - Cat Stevens