To those of you NOT cooling

Do you still feed smaller than normal meals and/or less frequently? I assumed the suggestions of feeding smaller than normal prey items was because of the reduction in heat due to cooling which could create digestion problems. So those of you that do not cool, do you feed a normal schedule during the breeding season?

I feed until they stop. Then try again next week. Smaller meals is a good idea when breeding snakes, many will slow down or stop, which is a good sign they are ready to breed.

OK. Thanks. Just out of curiousity, why would smaller than normal meals be a good idea during breeding if you were not cooling? Does the stress of breeding possibly cause digestion problems?

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Originally Posted by ivylea77

OK. Thanks. Just out of curiousity, why would smaller than normal meals be a good idea during breeding if you were not cooling? Does the stress of breeding possibly cause digestion problems?

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Ball pythons tend to eat more consistently from week to week with smaller meals.

Breeding stress isn't really the issue as much as the cooler temperatures used during breeding. Some snakes simply will not eat while breeding, they just aren't interested.

Are you not planning on breeding this year? If that's the case, and you don't change the light cycle or temps., there are no reasons to feed smaller prey than you usually would.

I don't. I actually fed some largish prey items in the past month.. nothing oversize of course. But I do so to let them build up a nice weight for breeding.. not fat, but good enough that they are ready for breeding.

I just feed until they stop eating. Some of my breeding males have already stopped, females are pounding everything with a little more gusto lately. I never feed large meals anyway so that's not a problem.


Mark

I still feed multiple smalls to them to help pack on weight.

I feed every week, same prey items as thru out the year... If they don't eat, they don't.

They get food offered every week no matter what, unless they are breeding.

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

I feed every week, same prey items as thru out the year... If they don't eat, they don't.

They get food offered every week no matter what, unless they are breeding.

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Same here thats what i do. Offer same size till they stop eating. Then offer every week unless paired up.