Over feeding or just a Piggie?

Well I'm wondering this cuz my guy has a voracious appetite! I have him on a 5-day feeding schedule but here's the problem. He has a decent size to him and can manage small rats but there's no live ones that size around my area, so I'm stuck feeding him adult mice.

I fed him on Friday night...he ate one mouse, usually I feed him a 2nd time on Sunday night and he's content with that cuz he doesn't want to eat again until the following Friday night. Thing is, I just fed him about 45 min ago tonight and this time he ate 2 mice right after another.

Am I overfeeding him or like I said, does he just have a huge appetite? Oh and no, his scales don't look stretched at all.

Only feed once every 7 days, if you are feeding him on friday, and then feeding again on Sunday his system will barely have been able to digest the first meal, let alone prepare for another.

If because of his size/weight (which are unknowns at this point) he needs two mice, offer them back to back... let him eat the first one, then offer another shortly therafter.

I have some very large females that i feed 1 or 2 small rats to a week, and they are always "looking" for more, or looking hungry, but that is just their nature. (opportunistic feeder)


Also keep in mind that 2 smaller meals right in a row won't show up as a bulge as much because they arent as large, but it is possible that it is too much food.

If you feed him a lot in one sitting, just don't be suprised if he doesn't eat for you next time you feed...

how many prey items are you offering at once? the reason i ask is because you sound (to me) surprised that he ate two in one feeding... and the only way he can eat two in one feeding is to have two in his tub with him. ;)

it is best for your ball to be fed once a week... same day every week, one or two prey items. feeding them larger amounts of food or more often to 'beef them up' isn't recommended.

and as they get larger... sometimes once every two weeks is recommended. ;)

I think it's important to compare food size with food amount. One of the breeders that taught me said if he feeds smaller rodents he may feed a little more often(5-7 days) but if he feeds a larger item (The size of the widest part of snake) he would feed 8-12 days. I was also told changing food size and feeding days is more like a snake would eat naturally.

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

I think it's important to compare food size with food amount. One of the breeders that taught me said if he feeds smaller rodents he may feed a little more often(5-7 days) but if he feeds a larger item (The size of the widest part of snake) he would feed 8-12 days. I was also told changing food size and feeding days is more like a snake would eat naturally.

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I have to admit I do not have the extensive experience that many others have, but from what I have experienced a regular schedule works great. I have no in depth knowledge on the subject, but these guys are opportunistic feeders. As long as it has been sufficient time since their last meal (week?) and their last meal was small, feeding on the same day every week seems to work.

I also admit that it "appears" they are more active and anticipate food on the same day every week... and this is before i bring rats or rat smells into the room... Now some snakes are active all the time, but I am just speaking about the majority difference I notice :)

I would definitely disagree that changing food size is important... sure, if we want to completely emulate a natural existance for our animal, we would let it go weeks without food sometimes, and offer it many different sizes, but we would also vary the temperatures, and let large predators attack them :P I know that wasn't a very good argument but you see my point for how the "natural" way isnt always the best :)