Greedy Snake

[Cyndymei]

I know this is probably a strange question but, what do you do with a greedy snake. After I feed Kaa usually 2 days later he starts his "begging and prowling" for food routine. However, I don't want him to get too fat.

I got him at a mom and pop pet store and he was 537g when I got him and eating two large mice. 2 days after I got him home he slammed a medium rat with no problem. This was on 6/30. On 7/5 I fed him a 60g jumbo mouse and now he's back to prowling again. Would feeding him every 5 days be alright? He is also a little over 3 feet long I believe, is 537g too skinny for a 3 foot snake?

I just don't want to overfeed. I've attached a picture of him too just in case. Thanks!

[CptJack]

Are you sure he's actually looking for food? My guys DO come out after about 2 days of digesting, but they're not hunting, exactly; they're just out and moving around their enclosures and checking things out because they've finished digesting their last meal. I suppose technically they would eat then, but unless I wanted them digesting ALL the time, you're probably always going to see a little cruising - especially in a younger snake. If they don't spend a couple of days hiding after a meal, I'd say you need to up the meal size and I don't think anything's wrong with every 5 days, but I wouldn't assume because he's out and moving around that he needs to eat again.

[Pyrate81]

He looks healthy to me. General rule of thumb is yearlings get fed every 5 days. You can keep the prey size up and stay on medium rats. See how he does with just one. If he still seems hungry right after the first, offer a second. He might be a 1-2 rat/week snake and he's growing so eating that much is fine. I had a bp that ate 2 small rats one week then 1 rat every other week before he was big enough to take 2 mediums every week. It's what/how he ate, now he downs 1 large a week or 3-5 ASFs.


Edit: Good point by Cptjack with "cruising around".

[Cyndymei]

Thank you very much both of you!

Now that I think about it CptJack it does seem more like "exploring" cruising at night after a couple of days of digesting and he redecorates

Pyrate, I'll try the medium rats again. I didnt expect the jumbo mice to be so small Would you say he is a yearling by looking at him. I wish I knew his age.

Thanks again everyone!

[CORBIN911]

Be happy hes doing this, and get him big for the Wall that will happen!!!! Then youll be wishing for him to eat!

[CptJack]

Be happy hes doing this, and get him big for the Wall that will happen!!!! Then youll be wishing for him to eat!

Males are *nowhere* as likely to hit 'the wall' as females are, and honestly even if they do it's only a real issue for breeders. Trying to 'fast grow' a snake, especially a ball python, is unhealthy and ineffective. Mostly they just stop eating for a while to catch up with all the food, anyway.

[CORBIN911]

Males are *nowhere* as likely to hit 'the wall' as females are, and honestly even if they do it's only a real issue for breeders. Trying to 'fast grow' a snake, especially a ball python, is unhealthy and ineffective. Mostly they just stop eating for a while to catch up with all the food, anyway.

No one likes there pets/breeders going off food for weeks, Most people panic or stress (i got over it after 1-2 times)

And by getting him big, I mean keep up regular feeding.

Iv never power fed, only close thing is to my juveys at every 3-4 days, After 500-600g they get it every 6days.

[Pyrate81]

Thank you very much both of you!

Now that I think about it CptJack it does seem more like "exploring" cruising at night after a couple of days of digesting and he redecorates

Pyrate, I'll try the medium rats again. I didnt expect the jumbo mice to be so small Would you say he is a yearling by looking at him. I wish I knew his age.

Thanks again everyone!

YW.

Age can't be determined by look. I adopted my sister's 2 year old BP in November and it was only 600+ grams and I have a one year old male lesser that is probably around 600-700 grams now. From my observations of conversations and BPs, the average seems to be 1000grams in the first year. Each snake grows at their own rate though so it's only a guide line and not a rule.