Feeding for year old male BCI

Hi, I just wanting to double check that I'm feeding my male BCI correctly. He gets a small rat every other week. He's 40 inches long and 490grams. Also, I feel like I can see his spine? Or maybe he's supposed to look like that. I will post a pic. He was born January 2017.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9dd27ff4aa.jpg


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by svtvenom

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...9dd27ff4aa.jpg


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I have a BCI, but am not an expert. He looks okay to me (also on my cell). Easier to overfeed a BCI than underfeed.

I would be feeding weaned rats though. Small rats are 60-90g and that’s a lot for a BCI who is 490g.

I fed Behira weaned rats weekly until she was about 600g. Then every other week a small rat between 60-70g tops. Now she is 715g empty and before eating last night. I am still feeding smaller small rats. Last nights meal was 60g and she won’t eat again for two weeks. BP’s can pretty easily eat 10-15% of their body weight (up to medium rats for even females 4000g and under). BCI’s are bigger snakes overall, but although thick bodied, have more length to spread it out over. They are also more sensitive to big meals and have a slower metabolism.

Like a BP, I don’t feed anything that I can really notice in their belly after they eat. You don’t want them to stretch. I would stick with 10% of body weight prey or less for a BCI.

So, again, weaned rats now (40-60g) are probably better for him now, and he will thank you later.

Slow grown boas are healthy and long lived boas.

Is this a small rat or weaned rat?...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0361f0f769.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by svtvenom

Is this a small rat or weaned rat?...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...0361f0f769.jpg

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Looks like a small to me. However. Difficult to tell from picture.

Can you weigh it?

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Originally Posted by dakski

Looks like a small to me. However. Difficult to tell from picture.

Can you weigh it?

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I can weigh one when I get home. There isn’t a bump or anything after I feed the snake.


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My male is from 3/2017. Empty (after shedding and pooping) he weights about 550 gramm now. I feed him small rats (60 - 70 gramm) every two weeks.

Weigh it. I dont go by weights on my snakes for food. I just feed them something that leaves a small lump in them or something noticeable. That is for the smaller snakes. Once they get big, unless you are feeding them something like a large rabbit, you wont notice a lump when you feed them.

For comparison, my baby snakes who are anywhere from 1.5-2 years old have just graduated to weaned rats which are anywhere from 28-37 grams when i first weighed them as they got upgraded. They get one every 2 weeks. But also your snake is longer than mine are. My little guys and gals are pushing around 3 feet if that. I do tend to feed on the smaller side though.

And that pic looks like a small rat to me also.

If the size in the pic is what you are feeding yours and it doesnt leave a lump, then stick with it. No one can really tell you what size you need as you are the one feeding the snake. Just use the guideline of a slight lump and you will be fine.

Thank you for the response I’ll watch him next time. I don’t think it leaves a lump.


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