Bacon,The 2 month old retic

[Jadonh]

I have a question for all of you Retic people.
I have a baby 2 monh old retic named Bacon. Bacon gets fed every 10 days either a adult mouse or a rat pup.Approx. 21/2 to 3 foot He was just fed 5 days ago an adult mouse.
I also breed my own rats and mice. Last night at around 1145, I walked into my snake room last night and saw Bacon in his cage. I also noticed that in my Birthing tank I had a female who just gave me 10 pinkies. Also in the Birthing tank were 3 more females, that were very prego, about to drop in the next few days. I also had about 6-8 fuzzies. So all together 4 adults, 10 pinkies, and 6-8 fuzzies.
This morning at about 1030, I noticed that Bacon was out of his enclosure, and was in my Birthing tank, Looking like he swallowed a Nerf football. Also in my ebirthing tank,was 1 female adult who just had babies yesterday, 6-8 pinkies, and a fuzzy. Everything else was gone.....

My question is, Should I feed him more often or should I move up to larger prey.

[SnakeKB]

I'd say do both. With babies they use all there food to grow and i like to feed every 5-7 days. My yellow anaconda is almost 3ft and was born in July. He's eating weaned rats every 5 days. So with your retic, I'd say go up to weaned rats and go to a 5-7 day feeding. As he grows, increase it's feeding size.

[SnakeKB]

Sorry double post.

[Jadonh]

I'd say do both. With babies they use all there food to grow and i like to feed every 5-7 days. My yellow anaconda is almost 3ft and was born in July. He's eating weaned rats every 5 days. So with your retic, I'd say go up to weaned rats and go to a 5-7 day feeding. As he grows, increase it's feeding size.

OK I knew that, about increasing food size, but what I am concerned with is his girth, I'm wondering if a weaned rat will be to big

[SnakeKB]

I was worried about that with mine too but it hasn't effected him at all. Snakes can eat something twice it's body size, why people don't feed them that way is because it can cause them to go off feed. If the retic is over 2ft it should handle it fine. Maybe contact a retic breeder like NERD and see what they say.

[Alexandra V]

I would recommend moving him up to something larger, instead of feeding multiple smaller prey items, because it's easier on the snake's digestive system.

[tomfromtheshade]

Retics have such a strong feeding response and such a strong ability to consume and digest large prey I wouldn't worry about it.

I used to breed burms and I would occasionally run across a rabbit that was too big for my burms. I took my HUGE rabbits to a guy downtown that bred retics and I never found a rabbit too big for his retics.

The retics head is so enormous compared to a burm, they are able to eat things that other snakes can not.

[Utta]

No matter what the size of the prey item, Bacon will have it digested in 3-4 days. Don't worry about the prey size, but if it takes longer then 5min once the head is started, its to large. And bump down the gram weight. Its up to you if you want to take it away(tickle his throat) or let him eat it.

[alexOATH]

I say both, retics can handle surprisingly large prey for their size, especially when young. And he needs to eat more often.

[anthonym]

I would recommend moving him up to something larger, instead of feeding multiple smaller prey items, because it's easier on the snake's digestive system.

What are you basing that information on? Not saying you're wrong, but I dont understand the logic of that. Can you cite something reliable? Or is this just something you've heard.