Prey Size When Very Thin?

[Patricia]

It's only after seeing all the pictures of full, round, chunky BPs here that I'm realizing just how very thin our Patriot was when we first got him. At the time I didn't know what was normal, just that I noticed his spine, which I'd never noticed on any other snake I'd ever seen before. Below is his Craigslist picture where he's more like the shape of an eel.

The prior owner was feeding him hopper mice, which I continued for 2 feedings. I'd read here several times that (a) hatchlings start on hopper mice and that a snake this age (6 months?) should be on adult mice, and (b) the prey should be the size of the snake's widest part. In this case, a hopper mouse WAS the size of the girth!

In the 2½ weeks we've had him, Patriot is gradually filling out, although he spent that first week hungry (not that I realized at the time). My question: What's the best way to handle such thinness? Several of the too-small size in one sitting until the snake fills out to take larger prey? Or go straight to the size it should be eating?

[llovelace]

What is his weight?

[Joe Cope]

When you go to feed him try thawing out two hoppers. After he eats the first see if he'll eat the second.

Both my pythons are still slightly thin. Though I do not know their exact age, one of them (my bigger girl, Probably seven months old) has gained a significant amount of girth over the last month. She has moved up to good sized adults. Her diet is amazing. As for my little guy who is probably four to five months old he is still thin as can be and eats adequately.

You best bet is to feed him as much as he wants and just wait it out. I am not positive on this, but I think the girth comes later in their first year.

[llovelace]

When you go to feed him try thawing out two hoppers. After he eats the first see if he'll eat the second.

Both my pythons are still slightly thin. Though I do not know their exact age, one of them (my bigger girl, Probably seven months old) has gained a significant amount of girth over the last month. She has moved up to good sized adults. Her diet is amazing. As for my little guy who is probably four to five months old he is still thin as can be and eats adequately.

You best bet is to feed him as much as he wants and just wait it out. I am not positive on this, but I think the girth comes later in their first year.

Hoppers are entirely too small for him.

[Patricia]

What is his weight?

120g when we brought him home
152g immediately after eating today (138g beforehand)

[Joe Cope]

I really just meant what ever she is going to feed him double it. See if he will go for seconds.

[llovelace]

even doubling a hopper won't be enough lol, lets see mice are about 11g weaned, adults breeders about 33g, I'd shoot for the 15-20g range every 5 days til he puts more weight on.

[Danounet]

my 2 BPs are 150g now (before eating) and sometimes they ate adult mice because thats all the local store had available sometimes, other than way too big rats.

They didnt have any trouble with the mice, even though one bit me one time (my fault... I stuck my finger in a hole). If you could pick out the "smallest adult" that would probably be perfect for him.

How old is he? if you know

[Patricia]

even doubling a hopper won't be enough lol, lets see mice are about 11g weaned, adults breeders about 33g, I'd shoot for the 15-20g range every 5 days til he puts more weight on.

That's exactly what I'm planning to do, unless I see it do more daytime roaming, which in these circumstances isn't stress but "feed me NOW!"

The hopper packet shows a printed weight of 8g. I'm now weighing each mouse and writing the weight on the baggie it's in.

[llovelace]

I had a prob with my little het pied when I got him back in Feb. he was 6 mos. old & 227g, he ate his mouse that came with him, and didn't eat again for almost a month, I checked all my husbandry and came to the conclusion his tub was too big, so after 4 days in a rubbermaid rectangle take-a-long tub he ate and hasn't missed a meal since. He's up to 400g now, and graduated to a 15qt tub.