feeders

[2kdime]

I feel like I'm in a posting frenzy!!

I fed my guy the other day. He's a little over 3 feet and 1550 grams. I fed him a so called medium rat that weighed 150 grams.

Now I didn't see any real noticeable lump from it. And it was smaller than his girth by far.

My question is. What's your bloods weight? And what size feeder are you giving em?

[Petboy15]

My blood is around 800-900, not positive, but I usually do about 75-100 grams, though if I have a larger one that I need to get rid of, I give her up to 130-140, but usually about 75-100. Your seems good, if wouldnt hurt to be doing 175 I think, but lets see what others say.

[2kdime]

I figured I could step him up a little. Ill feed the rest of the 150ish gram rats I got for him. Then step up to something a little bigger.

Yeah I'd like to see what everybody else is doing too. Where's everybody else???

[littleindiangirl]

I personally wouldnt start feeding anything more than a weanling 50-60 gram rat for my girl, solely based on the idea that these animals have a slower metabolism compared to a ball python and the fact that they are kept at cooler temps. Now I dont have any real evidence to support that view, but I think it's healthy. Yes they are girthy animals, but there are WAY too many fat blood/sumatran pictures circulating around the internet. I am avoiding stuffing my animals. Just because they can eat a huge meal, doesnt mean they should.

Oh and, I have a little baby sumatran light head, at 222 grams, he gets fuzzys when he wants them, and the girl is around 800, and she gets weanlings.

[Krazy99CL]

my girl is ~1900grams. I feed her small rats. Shes about the size of your male. About 3 1/2 feet.

[2kdime]

Hmmm. Smalls really? Just doesn't seem like itd be enough ya know?

I always figured to feed slightly less than girth.

How's she doin on smalls? Are you talking small smalls or like 75 grams and up?

[SatanicIntention]

I have a 1.5-2year old STP female that is around 3 ft and 1800-2000g. She's on 1-2 weaned rats(from Big Cheese Rodents) every 7-10 days. Keeps her happy and growing.

[littleindiangirl]

Hmmm. Smalls really? Just doesn't seem like itd be enough ya know?

I always figured to feed slightly less than girth.

How's she doin on smalls? Are you talking small smalls or like 75 grams and up?

Wow, slighty less than girth? Do they make rats that big? lol. But really, its proven that these animals have a slower metabolism, so why shove more food down the gullet than what they will use? Check out VPI, Nerd, Hartwig, they have animals appropriately sized. Not fat sausage snakes. When they are older, spacing out the feedings to every 14 days with a small/med rat is good and advised. (nerd, hartwig, vpi)

Maybe Kara will pop on and give us the low down.

[2kdime]

No they certainly wouldn't have rats that big haha.

I have no problem feeding smaller rats. Whatever is healthiest for my guy. He's just been taking the larger ones no problem. So I figure everything is fine.

Yeah I'd like to see what kara has to say on the matter too.

thanks for the input everybody!!!

[littleindiangirl]

VPI Caresheet
"One small to medium rat per week is an adequate feeding schedule. We have observed large specimens to eat the largest rats and even small rabbits. However, we rarely feed large meals to this species. The species is a sedentary ambush predator with a slow and efficient metabolism—in other words, Borneos will get fat easily if fed too much. We feed the largest specimens only single medium-sized rats for meals."
NERD Caresheet
"Feed your Blood an appropriately sized rodent weekly. By "appropriately sized" we mean prey items that are no bigger around than the python at its largest point... These snakes are enthusiastic feeders and do well on a 7-day feeding regime as young animals. Sub-adult & adult bloods are prone to obesity due to a strong feeding response coupled with a slow metabolism. For animals of this age/size, a 10-14 day feeding schedule is strongly recommended..."

And as for Hartwig, he told us to feed our girl the same exact thing stated above, stressing how easy it is for them to become overweight.

I would use your best judgment when considering what size rodent to feed and how often. Hope all that helps!