Why do we feed this way?

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Originally Posted by SnakeEYEZ

Your all very right, but back to the original question!

For those who feed rats, do you do it weekly or biweekly?

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Depends on the snake. If they will eat, I feed them weekly. I have found that my BP's start slowing down on the feedings once they get around 500-800 grams. Usually they will eat weekly, but sometimes they skip a week or two, for whatever reason. My adult BP's are fed when they will eat. Most typically eat every 2-3 weeks, but one of my males, Joe, only eats once a month. I have tried different sized rats, and if I give him a smaller one, he will go three weeks, but he rarely eats more often than that.
I tailor the feeding schedule to the snake. I know their habits because I keep records, and usually know any given week who will eat.
I offer food weekly to anyone who is under about 3' long. If they don't eat it, it goes to my garbage disposal (boa), and I try again the next week.

For yearlings and under, I feed every 7 days......then after that every 10-14 days. I have an '02 Male that is fasting right now and has not eaten in 2 months. Once he decides he is hungry again, he will be eating a medium rat every 10-14 days.

I've heard people say if one snake doesn't eat it's food they feed it to another. I've always thought that would be great - no wasted food. But now I'm wondering if this is a good idea - disease and health wise. I mean taking food out of one snakes cage and putting it into another. Isn't there a risk of transferring possible illnesses, mites, parasites, etc?

Yes, that could be an issue. I am comfortable with doing it in my collection because everyone has passed their quarrantine period, and I breed my own rats.

I feed them whenever they start searching.....When Atreyu (5 years) isnt off feed...I feed him every 7-10 days. He was off feed last winter from November to April. This season he started his fast in in September.

Bastian (8 months) gets fed every 5 days. He's been an excellent feeder for me, ate the night I brought him home, eats when in shed, eats after being handled, basically eats no matter what! I moved him in with Atreyu 12 days ago...and he ate the other day with no problems. He's not refused a meal yet.

My BP's are still young, only around 6 months old. Phil is being very active still, and I tend to feed based on his behavior. If he's out a lot prowling around, I take that as an indication that he's looking for food. If he's keeping to his hides mostly, and simply moving around to regulate his temperature by moving from the warm areas to the cooler areas, I don't offer him food, as I take that to mean he's not in a feeding mood. He's been very active this weekend, so I'll swing by the reptile shop this afternoon and get him a rat.

Magellan has been spending most of his time in his hide, which I think is more due to the cooler weather. He's eaten one rat since I've had him. This week, I'm going to transfer him to a smaller enclosure that's easier to keep warm and see if he starts showing more activity, but he's still looking fine and healthy, has shed for me once since I've had him, and shows no signs of any undue distress, so I'm not worrying about the lack of interest in frequent meals.