Zekes first feed!!!!!!

[ZEKESMOM]

Zeke ate for the first time today!!!!!! Thank you to everyone for the advice on feeding. I did what was suggested. I went and bought a hopper, set it on the top of the cage for 5 min is all because zeke was going crazy....dropped the thing in and in less than 30 seconds he had it took him no time to get it down and i can not see it in him so now i am worried that maybe it was a little to small :eek: i wont worry though as as I am just thrilled that he ate so well....he is now under his log snoozing!http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...6/PICT0001.JPG

[elevatethis]

That looks like a good size in relation to his body. How was his demeanor after he ate? You may want to double up next time. Just let him completely finish one, then repeat the process. Sometime if they hang out and kind of give you this "look," they may eat seconds. If they retreat to a hide out of sight, then they're probably done.

Either way, glad you got the feeding issue sorted out.

[ZEKESMOM]

That looks like a good size in relation to his body. How was his demeanor after he ate? You may want to double up next time. Just let him completely finish one, then repeat the process. Sometime if they hang out and kind of give you this "look," they may eat seconds. If they retreat to a hide out of sight, then they're probably done.

Either way, glad you got the feeding issue sorted out.

actually now that you mention it he did make a trip around his viv after eating! wonder if he was looking for more? will see what happens next week

[Freakie_frog]

yea you might want to Stepup the size just a little next time. Great job on the fee glad to hear he's eating for you.. Congrats

[elevatethis]

I think feeding multiple smaller items is more appropriate for putting weight on ball pythons of any size, juvi or adult. Something about feeding larger items tends to make them "less hungry" and more likely to refuse a meal.

[Freakie_frog]

I think feeding multiple smaller items is more appropriate for putting weight on ball pythons of any size, juvi or adult. Something about feeding larger items tends to make them "less hungry" and more likely to refuse a meal.

Really. I guess I haven't run into that yet. Not to say it's not true I just havent had it happen yet. So I guess both will work. It depends on the animal I would imagine.

[elevatethis]

I used to go by the "girth rule." I was feeding a 1200 gram ball python medium sized rats...why not....they are about the same girth, right? This same snake is also one of my most reluctant feeders. I took the advice of a more experienced breeder and switched to smaller prey items. I feed all of my adults small sized rats and they pound food week after week after week. They get seconds if they want, too.

[tigerlily]

Congrats on the feed. I thought the rodent looked like a pretty good sized. I'd offer a couple of those meals before even think of changing to something else. (start that routine ) Sometimes larger meals will intimidate a shy snake. I've experienced that myself with a couple of mine bps. I complete agree with Brad. Smaller meals all the way!!

[frankykeno]

Yep I'm in the "smaller than girth" feeding routine myself and it works beautifully for our snakes. The biggest thing we feed here is a small to very small medium, most of ours are on the just weaned rat size for ages and do very well. We do feed some of them two prey items per week if they want it.


I'd stick with that same size for the next couple of weeks then offer a 2nd of the same size and see what happens. Once they are eating it's best to not change anything right away and upset the applecart so to speak. Let Zeke get down a couple more meals of what he likes and then I bet he'll happily go two 2 of those a week with ease. As he grows you can just slowly move up the size of the mouse a bit to suit growing needs.

[ZEKESMOM]

thank you to everyone for the great advice. wil stick with the same size for the next few weeks and go from there