Feeding Enough??

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

In my opinion, 20% is way too much. I usually shoot for 10% but if it is a little higher (up to 15%) then that is fine. I don't aim for 15%.

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Even if the width is their body width and actually to small for the big normal.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

you can't necessarily make them grow faster by feeding them more.

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Can't say I agree with this. If that were true breeders feeding heavily to breed early wouldn't be a successful venture. If some feeds BPs once weekly for the first 12 months you can pretty much guarantee on average they would smaller than someone feeding twice weekly same sized prey.

I am not interested in power feeding at all just to get to breeding size ASAP. I am curious...

Has any long term obervsation/study been done on a power-fed snake vs one that is not? How does power-feeding affect a snakes lifespan, etc?

I am in no hurry to force my snake to grow, but I am curious how intentionally overfeeding your snake affects it.

I feed every 4 - 5 days for anything under 500g, then once a week for anything larger.

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Originally Posted by Turbo Serpent

I feed every 4 - 5 days for anything under 500g, then once a week for anything larger.

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Yea I was thinking about dropping to 4 days a week. That isn't considered power feeding b/c I really don't wanna power feed.

Seems like recently I've not been able to give my yearling enough!

When he first got home he went on about a month long hunger strike. Since beginning to take food, he's been in hunt mode 80%+ of the time, even with feedings 3-4 days apart...

The breeder was feeding every 7 days for us. We got him and the next day he was supposed to eat we waited like extra 3 days. Then fed him he ate. Taking mouse down within 30 seconds. So today we dropped another one in. This making it like 4.5 days. Same thing. Soon as it hits the aspen hes ready to take it down

So does feeding every 4 days 10-15% sound good?

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Originally Posted by MitsuMike

So does feeding every 4 days 10-15% sound good?

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idk im just feeding our guy a small mouse a every 4 days. He seems to be eating that just fine. Not sure exactly the size of the mouse :p or weight

I say anything under 500 grams that is on mice should be every 3-4 days. If you go by girth of snake to girth of mouse you could be under or over feeding. Some are slender and some are plump.

Like this for example. You go to get a feeder and they look smaller then your snake girth wise. 1 is under feeding 2 may be over feeding depending on the weight of rodent to the weight of your snake. That is if you go off the 10-15% rule.

I say feed every 3-4 depending on the size of the prey. Just do what you think is right. When you ask a question like this on here you will get different answers for sure. It ultimately ends up being your call on what to do. I like many others see nothing wrong with the 3-4 day schedule for the youngins.

When they are small they are constantly growing like a weed. They absorb majority of the prey instead of deficating it out. They can use the extra food when young. J ust dont feed them 3-4 days the rest of their life. Once they get into fatty rats, normally over 500 grams/ 1 year old feed every 5to7 days.

I just thought about this, a problem with the whole 10-15% rule. So when your snake is over 2k or 3k grams do you still go by the rule? No way. People feed full grown adults a medium (80) gram rat once every 7 days, some even go longer.

I am sorry to stretch this out but the whole 10-15% rule is something I have a problem with. There is loop holes everywhere, try to go off the girth of your snake. Only you can tell if they are still hungry and I bet with the size of your snakes 3-4 would not be a problem if done correctly..