Julius Squeezers weight and diet
Fed Julius Squeezer on Fri for 1st time since he's been home. Live hopper and he destroyed it. Ate really well. Pooped and all that Sunday morning so seems like all is well in that regard. Decided I should weigh him. He's a 5 month old albino, weighs 99g and he is about 18" long. Girth wise I'd say he's thinner than some I've seen. Probably equal to a hopper and maybe slightly larger. Should I try 2 hoppers at 5 day mark or 1 weaned mouse. Trying to avoid switching him to rats just yet and may not ever swap over. Haven't decided. Also he came from a breeder and has eaten a hopper every week supposedly like clock work. Should I worry about his weight or just trust that since he is eating and pooping that nature will take its course and he will bulk up in time.
Re: Julius Squeezers weight and diet
At 99 grams you can keep him on the hopper mice until he's big enough for rats or you can try and switch him to fuzzy rats now. Keep feeding him 10-15% of his body weight per feeding until he is older (most people stop following this rule when the snakes reach adulthood - between 600-800 grams). Feeding him every 5-7 days will allow him to grow without over feeding. Feeding more in a sitting could make him regurgitate and go off-feed.
Rats are more nutritious, and as an adult you'll only need to feed one prey item per feeding, vs feeding several mice to an adult snake. Some also never want to switch. I didn't have trouble switching mine. He had been on a small mouse per 5 days at the breeder and for his first 4 meals with me, to switch him to rats I waited 8 days then he was hungry enough to take the rat without hesitation, has been on them since. Untimely it's up to you what you want to feed. :gj:
