Feeding question...everyone chime in

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

You could probably feed an adult ball python only 12 - 20 times a year and you won't be "starving them" ... cold blooded animals do not need anywhere near the amount of food that most people believe they do.

-adam

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Man I wish I could do that. I am more like snakeysnake and just eat to keep from being bored :)

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Originally Posted by ECLARK

Yes, slugs are always a possibility, but a heavy female will be more likely to recover faster than a thin one.:)

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I've stopped keeping my females "heavy" ... Over the last 4 or 5 years, I noticed a strong corrolation between heavier girls and clutches with slugs in them ... so after speaking with Tracy and a couple other people that I know keep strong records on their animals weights and breeding results, last season I decided to keep my girls less "heavy" and more "athletic" ... out of the 40 couple clutches that I produced, I only had 8 slugs total for the season ... and every single girl has recovered just fine.

Not being critical of how anyone chooses to feed or raise their animals for breeding, just sharing my experiences ... We'll see if the same happens for me this year ... lots more girls to collect data from. ;)

-adam

Snakeysnakesnake, you misunderstood. they are maintained all year long on the largest rat that im comfortable feeding them. 1 rat per week, I increase the amount of food about 5-6 months before breeding season, mainly because the females will take more food at that point and it benefits them greatly going into breeding season. This is how I do it. I know that others have their own ideas, this has always worked for me. :)

Adam, its always good to hear how different people attack the same subject. and thats how we all come up with new methods about doing things. :)

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Originally Posted by jotay

Man I wish I could do that. I am more like snakeysnake and just eat to keep from being bored :)

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Actually, as a warm blooded mammal, the constant intake of calories is required for your body to generate it's own heat ... ectotherms are very different ... they only need a minimum amount of calories for the most basic physiological functions ... beyond that, they only need to eat to fuel their own movement ... but even then, if food becomes scarce, they can slow their own metabolisms, become sedentary, and need even less.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

slow their own metabolisms, become sedentary, and need even less.

-adam

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makes me think of my hubby laying on the couch playing video games... he may need less... but he eats more LOL

:rofl:

Great thread guy's , to Ed and Adam great info it's good to read to side's to one common goal.