Feeding Multiple Mice

[BJJPython]

So I got a scale the other day from BB&B (kitchen scale does the same job) and Lucifer weighs 350g. So I was curious, am I feeding him enough? I feed him one adult F/T mouse per week. I've only had him for a few weeks, 3-4 maybe, but I didn't think that was enough. So I looked and the mice were only ~19g each! Applying the 10-15% rule I've read so much about here, I figured I'd give him 2, since I felt he was looking too thin. Needless to say, he snatched the first one, downed it, and just waited patiently for more, and he ate the second one. At first I was worried he wouldn't want to eat them back to back. He did. I was proud. But I was wondering, is there any reason why people would not recommend in this case feeding one every 1/2 week? And feeding more frequently? I don't plan on doing this, but I was just wondering what the implications were and if there was a definitive answer on the topic. Either way, Lucifer is happy as a clam!

[RichsBallPythons]

1 adult is fine for now.

hatchlings-200grams-1 Sm adult
200-600- 1 adult
600-800-2 adults or one XL
800-1200- 2or3 adults 2 XL's
1200+ 3-4 adults 2-3 XL

Ball pythons never need more that 60-80 grams of food per feeding when fully grown. i keep all meals under 40 grams till their 800 grams

[kc261]

I have several girls that are in the approximate weight range as yours. They all get offered 2 mice at each feeding. Most of them take both mice most of the time.

As your snake matures, remember that the 10-15% rule is applicable for young, growing snakes, and maybe for females trying to get back up to weight after laying eggs. However, it would be too much for a maintenance diet for an adult.

Snakes are designed to eat much larger meals much less often than mammals. Their digestive system actually shuts down in between meals. For this reason, one appropriately sized meal per week is better than 2 smaller meals.

[BJJPython]

That makes total sense actually. Didn't think about that with their digestive systems. He is still growing so for now I want to make sure he gets what he needs and at a more mature age I'll slow that down. Another question though, if they are willing to eat it, is it good for them? What I mean is, will a snake be willing to eat beyond its required means and could that be to its detriment?

[jsmorphs2]

As your snake matures, remember that the 10-15% rule is applicable for young, growing snakes, and maybe for females trying to get back up to weight after laying eggs. However, it would be too much for a maintenance diet for an adult.

Snakes are designed to eat much larger meals much less often than mammals. Their digestive system actually shuts down in between meals. For this reason, one appropriately sized meal per week is better than 2 smaller meals.

I agree with you, If your not breeding (breeders are a whole other ball game) your BPs then once they get to a larger size 800-1000gm plus (unless you have a 4000gm girl or something) then a small rat 60-80gm once a week is an appropriate meal to keep them in good condition. If they fast, when they go back on feed you might want to bump up the meals for a few weeks to make sure they get back up to size.

But feeding multiples at a time is ok. But make sure the snake has eaten the first one, swallowed all the way and has settled at least a few minutes before you throw in a second (rodents like to hide)! Too many rodents in an enclosure will stress your snake and if they are a shy eater they might not eat at all. Also don't forget that you put the second or third rodent in, set yourself a reminder to check on it and pull it out if they haven't eaten it with in 10-20 minutes. My experience has been that if they don't eat a second rodent right after the first then they wont and its better to try again next week than risk the rodent stressing/hurting you snake.

Hope this helps

[BJJPython]

I actually feed Frozen Thawed for Lucifer so for me its more about me sitting in there dangling it in front of him. He used to recoil when I'd pop his hide off and show him the mouse, now when I take the hide off, put the mouse in he immediately goes over and gets face to face with the mouse and strikes. I don't even have to prescent anything he's just a champ eater. But what I did last night was wait until the first mouse was down the hatch (btw I absolutely LOVE when the tail is still sticking out of their mouth, I find it hilarious, if anyone has any good tail shots post them!) and I saw it move all the way into the beefy part of his body, after he finished that, he just sat there looking like he wanted more. I let him be for about 5 minutes and then offered the next mouse. He took it immediately. Would he ever eat too much? Will a BP eat more than they should, and is that a reason why you need to make sure not to feed them too much?

[kc261]

BPs seem to be pretty good at regulating themselves as far as how much to eat. Some other snakes, such as corn snakes, do have a tendency to eat everything offered to them and can get really obese.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean you should feed your BP like he is at an all-you-can-eat buffet. He might, for example, take 3 mice a week for 5 weeks in a row, then skip eating entirely for a month or 2 to even things out. Fasting like this probably doesn't hurt the BP at all, but owners tend to find it stressful, and since you are feeding f/t, you'll end up wasting food when you thaw it each week only to have him refuse it.

[jsmorphs2]

Would he ever eat too much? Will a BP eat more than they should, and is that a reason why you need to make sure not to feed them too much?

They may. It really depends on the individual animal. I have a few that probably wouldn't know when to stop cause they are such aggressive feeders (they come out of their tubs as soon as I open them and if I'm not careful I would get tagged ). Snakes have evolved to be opportunistic feeders in the wild so if they get a meal thats big they wait longer to eat again. If a meal is too big and they have problems digesting or are stressed they may regurgitate it. So as their keepers we try to size their meals appropriately. Its ok to feed multiple meals (live or frozen/thawed) as long as you keep track of the total weight/size of the whole meal. Again, if you think you've given them a meal that seems too large (a big or uncomfortable belly) they will usually be ok, just feed a smaller meal the next week. Its a good idea to keep track of meals too (date, size, type of rodent) so you can go back and see what you gave them the previous week.

[BAD Morphs]

I also feed according to eyeing up the sizes. Like today was feeding day for me and one of my female albino's who has been eating 2 mice at one sitting I fed her a baby gerbil today. It seemed to look a bit on the larger side in the box but you have to remember too that you have to try and picture the prey arms and legs extended and no air in them they seem to shrink a bit when they have expired. So she was fine with that and she doesn't have an overly large "knot" in her stomach area. She looks pretty even. Just my 2 cents.

[iCandiBallPythons]

An appropriate size rat makes things so much more simpler....