Do snakes overeat?

[MontyAndMelissa]

I fed my BP on Saturday one adult mouse. Yesterday he was still in feed mode, so I fed him his second adult mouse (I feed two every two weeks.) Today, he was STILL in feed mode, so I got a frozen adult mouse from the pet store (figuring if he's hungry, he'll eat it, if not I'll take it out and toss or refreeze it. He has never eaten f/t for me before.) Before it hit the bottom of the tank, he had himself wrapped around the mouse. I know 3 mice isn't considered overeating for a snake his size, and now that I know he will eat f/t I will be moving to rats.

Will snakes overeat? I know they are opportunistic eaters, but he always had his fill with two, and if I offered him a third he'd ignore it.

He is roughly 4 years old. Approx. 4ft long (not sure about weight).

If he is still aggressive in a few days should I try feeding him more or just not handle him until next feed (two weeks)?

[Lizardlicks]

Weight is really gonna be the most accurate way to figure it out. The guideline I've seen most often is to feed a prey item (or equivalent multiple smaller items) equal to 10 - 15% the snakes body weight. Two weeks is also a long time to go between meals, and one mouse is NOT gonna be a satisfactory meal unless it's a pretty big one. You might find these charts helpful. General guideline for what to be feeding by weight and prey sizing equivalent.

[MontyAndMelissa]

No no, I feed two large mice. Every one to two weeks (when we rescued him the previous owner fed him that way, and he was my first ball so I didn't find it odd.) I used to have a RTB and she only ate once a month, so I thought it normal. I can't weigh him until he stops striking at me. But if I had to guess (from the last time I held him) I'd say 3-5 lbs?

[KMG]

Well that's good it ate a f/t. You need to find out the snakes weight and feed appropriate sized meals. After starting that I would stick to a feed schedule and see how the snake starts acting.

Place a towel over it and then pick it up. That or just pick it up and let it learn you are not there to hurt it and will not be deterred by a lil bite.

[MontyAndMelissa]

He's between 1360.8 and 2268 grams. (I know it's a large margin, but its hard for me to weigh him without getting bit right now.) The mice I've been feeding him are roughly 20 grams a piece (so 60 grams total)

[Lizardlicks]

He's between 1360.8 and 2268 grams. (I know it's a large margin, but its hard for me to weigh him without getting bit right now.) The mice I've been feeding him are roughly 20 grams a piece (so 60 grams total)

You just did your own math. Even at your lowest eyeball estimate 60 g is not anywhere close to 10% of body weight. If you're right, you would need to double that.

[MontyAndMelissa]

Okay, 136 is roughly one med/large rat. So should I give him a 60g prey animal tomorrow? Or wait? I'm afraid to feed him four separate times

[Sauzo]

To answer your question, yes snakes can over eat. They are opportunistic eaters and will eat when they get the chance to an extent. I mean if you feed a baby snake 4 mice, it will eventually get full to where it wont take more but in a couple days when those mice digest, he would take more. That is partially why adult snakes can get overweight. My red tail will eat pretty much anytime you offer her food be it 2 days or 2 weeks.

Also like some others have said, once your snake gets to adulthood, the 10-15% rule doesn't really apply anymore. You just feed them something that is about their girth usually every week or so for a BP. My red tail boa eats a large rat every 2 weeks or when she goes into hunt mode and starts patrolling the cage.

[Sauzo]

Okay, 136 is roughly one med/large rat. So should I give him a 60g prey animal tomorrow? Or wait? I'm afraid to feed him four separate times

How large is your BP??!! My red tail boa who is 5ft+ eats a large rat once every 2 weeks. Unless your BP is a BIG girl, I couldn't imagine a large rat for them.

[MontyAndMelissa]

The "gourmet rodents" brand they had at the pet store says their approx for an adult mouse is 18g, possibly heavier. I will weigh him in a few days, after he's had the chance to digest. I'll then have a much better idea of how much to feed him.