I want my BP to put on some weight

Now there is an opening for an interesting study. One group on mice, the other on rats. Same feeding schedule, similar mass/feeding (ie. 3-2 oz mice vs 1-6 oz rat), and compare the weight of the waste material produced per snake. That would give us how much waste material has to be processed by the snake, compared to the initial weight of the prey animal. Any takers?

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Originally Posted by Marla

A former regular of this forum was emphatic in encouraging that position, if you recall TigerG. His theory was that it wasn't as hard on the digestive system. My thought is, as long as the snake is getting enough to eat of nutritious prey items (not pinkies or wild-caught rodents, etc.), then the only really important factor left is whether the prey is offered live. I don't think an adult ball python who eats 5 mice every 10 days is 'suffering' any more than one who eats 1 large rat every 10 days.

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I do recall that Marla (somewhat), but the impression I got was that that person was just saying it didn't matter much - I'm curious to know why/how one can say it is definitely better to feed one versus multiples - and why that is better. I can buy saying it's better to feed multiples, and I can buy saying it isn't as important or doesn't matter much - but I'm having trouble figuring out why one would say it's better to feed one prey item and not multiples. Just a quirk of mine I guess - especially since getting into herps I've learned a lot of info is simply regurgitated as if gospel w/o anyone questioning it or being able to back up what they repeat. Guess there's a bit of scientist in me that wants the facts. :) Pardon my babbling! :wink:

The individual I have in mind was very clear that he believed one prey item was superior to multiple, but not clear in supporting that position with any evidence. There is the anecdotal evidence of increased growth rates once ball pythons are switched to rats, which probably at least supports the contention that it would be better for breeders to stick to one appropriately-sized prey item per meal, but since increased caloric intake is at least tentatively linked with reduced life span in herps, it may be better for those who have no reason to rush growth to stick with multiple prey items.

I would also think consistency in sustaining the feeding response might be a supportable reason:

A hungry BP might take down a rat, but there's no guarantee he will take X number of small prey items - say he gets demotivated scared etc etc after the first item and doesnt go after the second. Fiar enough on the flipside what if he doesnt take the single larger item at ALL? If it's a safer bet that the first prey item will be consumed I say go bigger if only to guarantee it gets the max meal instead of gambling on multiples. Maybe that's too pragmatic a view of it - but it is certainly easier from a husbandry standpoint to feed a single as opposed to multiple items.

That is definitely a good point, Smulkin, but to play devil's advocate for a minute, what if the snake has a better innate or instinctive understanding of its caloric needs than its keeper does? I know ball pythons are notorious for going off feed for months, but it's not as if they've actually gone extinct from this behavior, so maybe if it just wants one mouse, it just needs one mouse.

Sure. Sesha has taken some proportionally huge rats and has on occasion sat out a feed the following week before, and I can dig that. I'm not a proponent of power-feeding at all so I'm not backing the approach to jam them as full as possible as often as you can but heck why not let them put their jaws to use. Devil's advocate to your devil's advocate (or maybe even co-counsel) maybe it would be harder for them to move with 3 mice lined up in their belly than a single rat? Ponder these mysteries glasshopper, what is the sound of one snake clapping?

Sssssssss....

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Originally Posted by Marla

Sssssssss....

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http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/laugh2.gif Good one Marla.

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Yes, your bp will do a little breakdance after it eats it.

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lol, I needed a good laugh, thanks Code.

As for my adult Bp Goblin, I am lucky if he will show interest in one rat , let alone eat more than one in one feeding! If I relied on feeding him several prey items, he would probably lose interest after eating the first one, and the consequence would be that he'd have less nourishment. But if I just fed the large rat (which is what I do do) then all is well.

the reason its better is because 1 rat is more nutritious than 15 pinkies......get it? its better for your snake.