The Art of Feeding Multiple Prey
This may be a question mainly for BP owners who have a BP that only eats mice so I would like to get your take on the best way to approach this.
If you look at the Ball Python Feeding Guidelines Chart that gets passed around on this site, it references feeding multiple mice (2-3) once the BP reaches 500grams (I know this is very subjective but using it as a point of reference).
So here's my questions (for reference my BP is approx 400 grams eating F/T Adult mice):
1. How soon after feeding the 1st mouse can I offer the 2nd? I feed in the dark as to not disturb so I never stick around to watch him eat and the majority of times he pulls the prey in his hide so I have no idea when he fully consumes the mouse.
2. Is it harmful for a BPs digestive process to offer the 2nd mouse the next day/night? I ask because at least I know the 1st mouse was eaten.
3. How fast can one prepare and get the 2nd mouse ready? I'm used to thawing overnight, soaking in hot water 15-20 minutes and heating w/ a hairdryer. I'd rather not do this for the 2nd mouse in case he doesn't take the 1st one.
** This past feeding he refused a rat pup for the millionth time so I ended up offering a small mouse that I used for scenting purposes which he took immediately. The next day, I could tell he was still hungry and didn't know if I could feed him again due to potential digestion issues. **
Re: The Art of Feeding Multiple Prey
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ckuhn003
This may be a question mainly for BP owners who have a BP that only eats mice so I would like to get your take on the best way to approach this.
If you look at the Ball Python Feeding Guidelines Chart that gets passed around on this site, it references feeding multiple mice (2-3) once the BP reaches 500grams (I know this is very subjective but using it as a point of reference).
So here's my questions (for reference my BP is approx 400 grams eating F/T Adult mice):
1. How soon after feeding the 1st mouse can I offer the 2nd? I feed in the dark as to not disturb so I never stick around to watch him eat and the majority of times he pulls the prey in his hide so I have no idea when he fully consumes the mouse.
2. Is it harmful for a BPs digestive process to offer the 2nd mouse the next day/night? I ask because at least I know the 1st mouse was eaten.
3. How fast can one prepare and get the 2nd mouse ready? I'm used to thawing overnight, soaking in hot water 15-20 minutes and heating w/ a hairdryer. I'd rather not do this for the 2nd mouse in case he doesn't take the 1st one.
** This past feeding he refused a rat pup for the millionth time so I ended up offering a small mouse that I used for scenting purposes which he took immediately. The next day, I could tell he was still hungry and didn't know if I could feed him again due to potential digestion issues. **
I can only answer your third question, I'll let someone with more experience answer the others. I can have a rat pup ready to eat within 25min easy. I use the hot water method. Place frozen rat in a Ziploc bag (doesn't need to be sealed) and I put the hottest water my tap puts out in a bowl and put the rat bag in the water. (I use a spoon to weigh down the bag to submerge it) Just don't let the top get under so you don't have a soaked rat. I do that for about 15 min, then I'll replace the water and change it every 5 min. Just feel the stomach of the rat to make sure they're fully thawed. Then you can do your hair dryer to get it nice and warm for your snake to enjoy.
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Re: The Art of Feeding Multiple Prey
Thanks for everyone's responses. It's hard to know what's going on in that hide once he drags his prey in there so I wanted to make sure I added an ample amount of time before I offered the 2nd. I guess I can just wait until the 2nd one is thawed and prepared to offer or like some suggested, the following night.
Re: The Art of Feeding Multiple Prey
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Phillydubs
Not a bp but my rat snake was eating 2 at a time and I would offer both and let him decide... this was with live. He’s giving me issues with ft so I may need to readjust.
May i ask... have you tried rats ?
yes, I've tried rats many of times but he's just not interested. I bought a bag of 20 plus at a local Repticon months ago and he's never taken one. I may try and buy a couple more this weekend at Repticon just to 'rule' out the possibility it could of been a 'bad/old' lot of rat pups that I had purchased.
Re: The Art of Feeding Multiple Prey
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ckuhn003
yes, I've tried rats many of times but he's just not interested. I bought a bag of 20 plus at a local Repticon months ago and he's never taken one. I may try and buy a couple more this weekend at Repticon just to 'rule' out the possibility it could of been a 'bad/old' lot of rat pups that I had purchased.
The ol mouser huh?
have you tried any of the seasoning methods. Using a mouse to scent the rat ?
maybe if you are feeding 2 start with a mouse and get a small rat as the second and maybe he’s take it and get a taste for it or see it isn’t so bad afterall? Just a thought for you
Re: The Art of Feeding Multiple Prey
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Phillydubs
The ol mouser huh?
have you tried any of the seasoning methods. Using a mouse to scent the rat ?
maybe if you are feeding 2 start with a mouse and get a small rat as the second and maybe he’s take it and get a taste for it or see it isn’t so bad afterall? Just a thought for you
yep, it's looking more and more like he's a mouser.
I've scented the last 2-3 attempts and he's acted interested but he never takes it. In fact, I finally offered the mouse that I was using for scenting and he pounced on it the 2nd I offered. It's amazing how quickly he knew the difference between the two.
Re: The Art of Feeding Multiple Prey
I'm feeding multiple rats every time because I bought too many of the smaller sizes. I wait until Maze is out and about actively looking for food and then offer, which I understand may not be possible for you. I find that waiting 15-30 minutes between offering is usually enough time for her to get the first rat down, and I spend that time heating up the second rat to the correct temps.
