power feeding?

will a snake eat if its NOT hungry? id like my bp to actually be quite big in his later years. i feed him 2 hoppers( baby mice, hair and eyes open) every monday. Now would it be ok to feed hime smaller sized mice in the middle of the week as a little snack? im assuming a snake will know when enough is enough correct?

No, power feeding is bad in all ways bad can be bad.

Feed your snake once a week either one prey item the same size or slightly larger than the widest diameter of the snake's girth, or two smaller prey items (if you are sort of in between sizes).

Your snake will be the size it's going to be - it's dictated by the snakes genes, just like your height is dictated by yours. Feeding more than is necessary will only make your snake obese, which is bad and can lead to health problems, regurges, etc.

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Originally Posted by Liquid Snake 06

will a snake eat if its NOT hungry? id like my bp to actually be quite big in his later years. i feed him 2 hoppers( baby mice, hair and eyes open) every monday. Now would it be ok to feed hime smaller sized mice in the middle of the week as a little snack? im assuming a snake will know when enough is enough correct?

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No some snake will eat until they are fatties.Stick to the once every 5 to 7 day schedual for babies and 10 to 14 for adults.Power feeding shortens the life span of your snake and is just not a good thing for them over all.

Snakes don't need snacks. (Try saying that five times fast! LOL) Their digestive system is nothing like a mammals and you run the risk of making a sick snake by feeding it too frequently.


You should look for some pics from Adam_Wysocki and his collection. He's got MASSIVE females and he only feeds them small meals once a week...nothing more than that. So long as you keep your snake in a proper, healthy environment, and feed it regular, appropriately sized meals, it will grow to its full potential without you having to force anything. :)

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Originally Posted by JLC

Snakes don't need snacks.

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Cleo likes a little mouse pate, water crackers and a glass of Cristal when she's watching her afternoon soaps tho...:P

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Originally Posted by cassandra

Cleo likes a little mouse pate, water crackers and a glass of Cristal when she's watching her afternoon soaps tho...:P

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You should tell her to lay off those soaps...they'll rot her brain! :P

hey, a little general hospital and all my children every now and then isnt too bad! ok guys im kidding. my mom watches them. i dont. really.

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Power feeding shortens the life span of your snake

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According to whom? Do you have any direct evidence proving this statement or is opinion?

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

According to whom? Do you have any direct evidence proving this statement or is opinion?

-adam

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This is what i have been told and read on several forums.The ones stating this were breeders not just kids talking;) .

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Originally Posted by joepythons

This is what i have been told and read on several forums.The ones stating this were breeders not just kids talking;) .

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Just because a "breeder" says it, doesn't make it true. Opinion and fact are two very different things. The only scientific study I have ever been able to find related to power feeding was one done at USC 20 years ago with fruit flys ... as far as "power feeding" a ball python, I honestly don't believe that it can be done.

-adam