Growth diet vs maintenance diet?

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Originally Posted by PythonWallace

I don't feed anything larger than a small rat. My rat eaters get smalls from the time they are about 700g to over 2,000g. Occationally if a big girl has been looking hungry for a few days she'll get 2, but still 2 smalls. Big girls can take medium rats, but most people seem to stick with smalls. I prefer to stay on the small end and offer more qty. I have 800g mousers that get 3-4 mice a week, because I keep prey items smaller than I could.

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Great post, Jake! :gj:

I was told recently and agree that if you feed more than one smaller prey in one feeding that equal a larger prey in weight, you'll give the snake a more comfortable full belly instead of a bulge they have to drag around. Also, they'll get more nutrients that promote growth. Then you'll have fast growing snake that's not obese.

If you think the snake can take a small rat, give it 2 weanlings, or possibly 3 pups in one feeding instead. Not sure on the nutritional value of pups compared to weanlings or smalls though. I'm currently giving this idea a try to see how it goes.

This info was given to me from a breeder who has studied how they eat in the wild and has used this knowledge with his own bps for many years.

I'm just giving up the info, you can take it or leave it. I know everyone has their own beliefs and habits. Good luck. :)

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

In the wild a ball python survives.
EDIT: John could you tell me why you feed your males every 2 weeks? I'm just curious. :]
Your method is very knowledgeable and wise. Rather be safe then sorry.

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Jess,

I feed my adult males every two weeks due to their significantly reduced need of nutrition when compared to an adult female that is building back up from laying eggs or that has gained her weight back but will be laying eggs in the near future. Also, by feeding my males every two weeks it is very easy to keep an eye on how their weight is progressing. I can always feed them on their "off" week if I feel that will be beneficial to them. I want my males to be healthy and constantly gaining weight, but I want them to be slim. Not skinny or starving, but just healthy. They have no need to be heavy, just like us. Their bodies do not go through the drastic fluctuations every year due to breeding, as do the females.

If I had any females that I was not planning on breeding, or only for a pet, I would put her on a similar diet. Taking the breeding process out of the equation, there is no adult female that needs to eat every week.

I could compare my methods to how ball pythons live in the wild, but in my house there is no comparison really. They get food when it is appropriate, which is not always the case in the wild, they eat when and what they can. They will, hopefully, breed every year, again not always the case in the wild, I am sure many females do not get the opportunity to breed every year considering how much weight they lose due to laying and incubating. They also get much less exercise in my house than in the wild, so it is much easier for any of my snakes to become obese, in stead of fit. With all these differences, I do not believe that I need to attempt to mimic their conditions in the wild when I can provide conditions that are much better for them.

I hope this helps. Please, if anyone disagrees with me, please speak up. I am always open to hearing other peoples opinion. One can never have to much information to base a decision on.

John

Well here is my .02 cents. (keep in mind i am new at BP's)

After talking to local breeders and researching on this site and many others, I have come up with my own feeding pattern

All my BP's eat on Wednesday Night(weigh day) and Saturday Afternoon(so kids can watch, i try to teach kids and adults that snakes are not bad, but good and great pets if handled properly)

1.0 Pastel(76g) gets 1 hopper on each feeding day
0.1 Normal(220g) gets 1 small mouse on each feeding day
0.1 Normal(260g) gets 1 small mouse on each feeding day
0.1 Normal(750g) gets 1 large mouse on each feeding day

I only feed live mice. This seems to make them stronger and replicates more of the "wild" for them. They also seem to be slimmer(more active) while adding weight.

Well like i said just my .2 cents


Casey

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Originally Posted by John Marker

I hope this helps. Please, if anyone disagrees with me, please speak up. I am always open to hearing other peoples opinion. One can never have to much information to base a decision on.

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Thanks for the info AND being open minded!:)

Ahh, so there does seem to be more support for feeding them multiple smaller prey items... That just always made sense to me.

All righty, I think I'll stick with small rats once he (or she, I actually don't know) really outgrows the jumbo mice- but if he's not into rats I'll just give him several mice per feeding. (He takes two currently, a big and a small) I just wonder when I'll know he/she is full grown so I can known when to cut back?

Thanks all!