One more question for today: 2 rats vs. 1

How old is he, and do you know his weight?

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Originally Posted by rabernet

How old is he, and do you know his weight?

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He's at least 2 years old, maybe nearing 3 (I saved him from a moving college student). I haven't tried to weigh him yet...

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Originally Posted by jenakle

So I can feed 2 small rats a week?

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That would be way too much food IMO ... I small rat per week is more than enough food for an adult male ball python.

-adam

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

Back when I used to use the "girth rule," it seemed I'd always end up with picky eaters in my collection.

Funny, since I got some great advice for a certain someone and switched to feeding smaller stuff, those "picky" feeders now slam food week after week and have grown faster than when I fed them larger items.

Interesting, huh?

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:bow: http://www.8ballpythons.com/uploads/smilies/8ball.gif

:clap: http://www.8ballpythons.com/uploads/smilies/8ball.gif

:love: http://www.8ballpythons.com/uploads/smilies/8ball.gif

;)

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

That would be way too much food IMO ... I small rat per week is more than enough food for an adult male ball python.

-adam

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Ok! I'll keep him to his usual routine then.

Is there ever a need to feed more than 1 per session? Missed feeds or after fasting?

I think, as humans, many of us feel a strong emotional urge to express our love for something by feeding it. Not just feeding it what it needs, but by giving it extra "treats." We think we're "enriching" its life with extra food...but its really just something we do to meet our OWN emotional needs to try and express ourselves.


This may work great for dogs or cats or horses....they'll appreciate the sentiment (in as much as animals can)...they'll at least appreciate the treats. But snakes don't need treats and wouldn't feel any more "loved" if you gave them.

nope. they don't need to 'make up' a meal ;) stick with adam's advice... he is the GURU :bow: in my opinion!

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Originally Posted by jenakle

Ok! I'll keep him to his usual routine then.

Is there ever a need to feed more than 1 per session? Missed feeds or after fasting?

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Not for a boy ... but if you're doing it right, there shouldn't be any missed feeds or fasting ... that's the point of staying small.

-adam

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Originally Posted by jenakle

Ok! I'll keep him to his usual routine then.

Is there ever a need to feed more than 1 per session? Missed feeds or after fasting?

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After missed feeds or an extended period of fasting, feeding large or multiple prey items may do much more harm than good.

Keeping ball pythons is a marathon, not a sprint. You've been given some good advice. I was skeptical at first, but only after a long stretch of time did I see the difference that feeding smaller prey items offered.

Great! No worries then. Thanks everyone for the quick responses!

:sweeet: