mmm, yummy fuzzy

i wasn't sure so the pet store where i got the mice told me to try fuzzies to start with but that she would probably move up to hoppers pretty quickly... she is five weeks old now, so should i just go ahead and give her a hopper at her next feeding?

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Originally Posted by mlededee

i wasn't sure so the pet store where i got the mice told me to try fuzzies to start with but that she would probably move up to hoppers pretty quickly... she is five weeks old now, so should i just go ahead and give her a hopper at her next feeding?

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As long as the prey is the correct size, go for it.

i would. if it doesnt look TOO big then it should be fine, how long is she ? i aksed about feeding frozen thawed fuzzies and people said that dont waste your time cuz fuzzies are irrelevant becuase when they are hatchlings they can take bigger than fuzzies, so i would try that, ever since i got rocky on hoppers and small adults i have notcied a little change in his growth. most fuzzies are just skin and bones hoppers have more meat and fat on em.

she is 17 inches long now. it seemed like the fuzzy i gave her was about the right size, comparing it's width to the width of her girth. i may go to the petstore and ask to see a hopper for size comparison and go from there.

She can definitely handle a hopper or juvenile, and could most likely take a small adult. Keep in mind, a rodent isn't nearly as thick when stretched out. I find the best way to see the real girth of a rodent is when it's inside your BP's neck. So, if your BP's neck with the prey item inside it is thinner than the thickest part of the BP, then I guess it's safe to say you can try feeding something bigger. Another way to determine good feeding size is by weight. Somewhere around 20% of a snake's weight is probably good.

Also, keep in mind that using the thickest part of your snake to equal the girth of the mouse is IDEAL sizing, not the limit. A BP can easily take something much bigger, so if it's just a bit bigger than the ideal size, it's nothing to worry about.

I was under the impression that BP's can take Hoppers right from birth o_O

For a comparison, my MBK eats Fuzzies and they are perfect size for her at the moment. Elysia is 9 months old and probably twice as skinny as your BP most likely is. I would think about giving a hopper the next time. Knowing the size of a fuzzy, I can't imagine giving a BP one as an appropriate meal, but thats just me.

when rocky takes a adult you can make out a litte lump in his widest part. its not huge but if you look close you can tell that he just had a meal.

ok, well i have two more fuzzies in the freezer for her but i don't want her to not be getting enough of a meal out of them. should i feed them both to her at the next feeding if she will take them or should i give them to her at closer intervals--like one tuesday and then another saturday--and then switch to the hoppers? i don't want to waste what i already have either when there is a perfectly hungry snake in the next room...

What you can do is, feed them to her 24-48 hours apart. I don't suggest multiple feedings at the same time cause it can be extremely stressfull for the snake I think. Wait till her next feeding, whatever day it might be, then feed her 1 fuzzy. Then 1 or 2 days later, go ahead and feed her the other one. This should be a sufficient meal for her, and it should give her enough time to properly digest the first mouse. If anyone else wants to "critique" this advice feel free to. I'm just saying what I've heard before here ^_^

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Originally Posted by Alkaurkharim

What you can do is, feed them to her 24-48 hours apart. I don't suggest multiple feedings at the same time cause it can be extremely stressfull for the snake I think. Wait till her next feeding, whatever day it might be, then feed her 1 fuzzy. Then 1 or 2 days later, go ahead and feed her the other one. This should be a sufficient meal for her, and it should give her enough time to properly digest the first mouse. If anyone else wants to "critique" this advice feel free to. I'm just saying what I've heard before here ^_^

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I would try not to feed two meals that close together, or even two prey items at the same time.

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Originally Posted by mlededee

she is 17 inches long now. it seemed like the fuzzy i gave her was about the right size, comparing it's width to the width of her girth. i may go to the petstore and ask to see a hopper for size comparison and go from there.

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If they are still a good size for her, feed them to her on the regular schedule. Then you can switch to another size if those are no longer big enough for her.