Eating too much?

[flatsix02]

I normally wouldn't post something like this, but as of the last 24 hours, my girl has been nothing but a vacuum cleaner. I normally feed her 2 large mice every 5 days, but the pet store was out, so I had to settle with some younger mice *though they were pretty fat*. She's very close to moving to small rats, but I'm just not quite ready to take that jump as I'm not sure she can handle them quite yet.

Regardless, last night, she sucked down 3 mice without an issue, back to back. Then today, one of the mice I still have *purchased 6, still have 3,* kept breaking out of her little make shift cage, so I decided to try and feed that punk to my girl, even tho I knew it was too soon, and she took it! That's 4 mice in 24 hours! The mice are just a tad smaller than her widest point *when shes empty.* Feeding her this much isn't going to hurt her is it? Even after she devoured this one, she laid there in a half ass attack strike before going back in to her rock, looking at me like "I want more!"

[Crazy4Herps]

The biggest dilemma with feeding multiple feeders over the course of a few days is that it risks a regurgitation. Even if she seems "hungry" and is enthusiastic about eating all the mice at once, you may later find a pile of half-digested mice and an unwell snake.

As you say they are small, I wouldn't expect her to regurge after four, especially with a gap between the 3rd and 4th, but to be safe, keep temps up, no handling for 48 hours, and wait at least 7 days until you feed off the rest of the mice.

[flatsix02]

Thats the main thing I was worried about, I don't want her throwin it all back up. I did raise the temps a little, and shes done nothing but stay in her rock over the heating pad *so thats a good sign for digestion.* Also, I never handle for a solid 2 days after feeding.... I just dropped this one in her tank to see if she'd come out and get it, and she instantly flew out of her rock after the mouse!

[DZ Reptiles]

Sounds like she has no problems eating She should be fine after 4 smaller mice. You can probably move up to small rats, as long as you think its ok. I don't know how big your snake is =P

I would actually give her 3 days to digest. Although the mice aren't as big as the other mice you were feeding her. 4 small mice sounds almost equivalent to a small rat altogether.

Hooray to hungry snakes!

[flatsix02]

Oh I know! After reading so many complaint post's about finicky eaters, I'm SO glad that she'e such a hoover. She has never once refused a meal since she was a baby. Hell, she'll even eat with completely clouded eyes. Plus she's the friendliest thing ever, and even lets me give her head kisses.

She's a year and 3 months to be exact! When I weighed her about 3 months ago, she was around 550g. While I know this is small, my good girlfriend I got her from only fed her like once a month, so she was a tad behind schedule when I picked her up from her at the end of last summer. I'm waiting on the scale I ordered, so when that shows up, I'll know her exact size!

[Crazy4Herps]

While I know this is small, my good girlfriend I got her from only fed her like once a month, so she was a tad behind schedule when I picked her up from her at the end of last summer.

Imo, a slim snake is a healthy snake; I feed my bp's monthly (though they are both over 3 years, I feed younger snakes more often).

Anyways, sounds like you're set! And yes, you are very fortunate to have such a good eater!

[flatsix02]

I wouldn't mind her being a bit pudgy, or at least near breeding size. Ive seen so many posts about people with year old's that are 1k plus in size, and I just don't get how!!

Regardless, I'll take a vacuum cleaner over a pickey eater.