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Re: Feeding your ball python
Quote:
Originally Posted by AK907
Do I need to put you two in time out? :rolleyes:
A scale helps, especially when you're new to keeping snakes. Underfeeding is a major issue in this hobby. Do you have to have scale to successfully keep a ball python? No. Do I rely on mine 100% and weigh every meal? Nope, but it helps sometimes and those new to keeping them might not know exactly how big of a meal is best and a scale helps teach them. People also like to keep track of their snake's growth.
I'll bet the majority of underfeeding issues are due to "Bob" at Petco telling the new snake customer "just give 'em a mouse every couple of weeks and it will be fine. They're snakes, they can go months without eating..."
That or laziness or cheapness...
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Re: Feeding your ball python
Quote:
Originally Posted by AK907
A scale helps, especially when you're new to keeping snakes. Underfeeding is a major issue in this hobby. Do you have to have scale to successfully keep a ball python? No. Do I rely on mine 100% and weigh every meal? Nope, but it helps sometimes and those new to keeping them might not know exactly how big of a meal is best and a scale helps teach them. People also like to keep track of their snake's growth.
X2.
To the OP, a scale is not an absolute neccesity right away, but it helps later down the road.
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Re: Feeding your ball python
Quote:
Originally Posted by sho220
I'll bet the majority of underfeeding issues are due to "Bob" at Petco telling the new snake customer "just give 'em a mouse every couple of weeks and it will be fine. They're snakes, they can go months without eating..."
That or laziness or cheapness...
Laziness and cheapness is what you have shown in this thread
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Re: Feeding your ball python
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyvale420
Laziness and cheapness is what you have shown in this thread
How so?
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Re: Feeding your ball python
Quote:
Originally Posted by sho220
How so?
I dont mean to bust any balls it's just that unless you're a breeder of hundreds of snakes, how hard is it to place a feeder on a $20-$70 scale? You're already writing down fed SR (which is already the least amount of effort for identifying a small rat btw). A small rat ranges from what 40-80 grams? That's a pretty big variance. It's nothing to worry about but if you are closely monitoring the snake after an illness, Wanna keep neat paperwork to see growth rate, compare to your other snakes... I only have 2 ball pythons but i know i can feed both a small rat every 7 days but one snake could be getting a 40g and the other 80g for their meals. Then you have people starting a thread asking 'why is mr wiggles so much bigger than ms curls?'. You accuse slim of giving confusing information while youre doing exactly that. Not everyone can just eyeball an appropriate feeder, so the 10-15% rule is pretty fail safe and great for new owners to follow.
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Re: Feeding your ball python
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyvale420
I dont mean to bust any balls it's just that unless you're a breeder of hundreds of snakes, how hard is it to place a feeder on a $20-$70 scale? You're already writing down fed SR (which is already the least amount of effort for identifying a small rat btw).
RP = Rat Pup
WR = Weaned Rat
SR = Small Rat
Why make it more difficult?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyvale420
A small rat ranges from what 40-80 grams? That's a pretty big variance. It's nothing to worry about but if you are closely monitoring the snake after an illness,
And after 7 years or so I've never had to monitor a snake after an illness because I've never had a sick snake. Guess I'm just lucky...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyvale420
I only have 2 ball pythons but i know i can feed both a small rat every 7 days but one snake could be getting a 40g and the other 80g for their meals.
I only have 17 snakes and I know every one of them very well, so I don't need to weigh their food...I figure out who's eating that night and pick out an appropriate sized rat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyvale420
Then you have people starting a thread asking 'why is mr wiggles so much bigger than ms curls?'.
I would point them to the caresheet posted on this site that says:
"What size and how often to feed is always up for debate. Many keepers hold to the standard of feeding a rodent that is as big around at its widest point (the hips) as the snake is at its widest girth."
Pretty simple and reliable...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyvale420
You accuse slim of giving confusing information while youre doing exactly that. Not everyone can just eyeball an appropriate feeder, so the 10-15% rule is pretty fail safe and great for new owners to follow.
The OP has ONE (1) snake...he doesn't need a scale...if someone can't follow the guideline above that was taken from the caresheet posted here they're an idiot...
Don't follow the crowd just to follow the crowd...if you call me out, you should probably be able to back it up...no offense and I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but people spew....um...stuff here on a daily basis...it's not rocket science despite how hard some people try to make it....
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Re: Feeding your ball python
Quote:
Originally Posted by sho220
RP = Rat Pup
WR = Weaned Rat
SR = Small Rat
Why make it more difficult?
And after 7 years or so I've never had to monitor a snake after an illness because I've never had a sick snake. Guess I'm just lucky...
I only have 17 snakes and I know every one of them very well, so I don't need to weigh their food...I figure out who's eating that night and pick out an appropriate sized rat.
I would point them to the caresheet posted on this site that says:
"What size and how often to feed is always up for debate. Many keepers hold to the standard of feeding a rodent that is as big around at its widest point (the hips) as the snake is at its widest girth."
Pretty simple and reliable...
The OP has ONE (1) snake...he doesn't need a scale...if someone can't follow the guideline above that was taken from the caresheet posted here they're an idiot...
Don't follow the crowd just to follow the crowd...if you call me out, you should probably be able to back it up...no offense and I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but people spew....um...stuff here on a daily basis...it's not rocket science despite how hard some people try to make it....
Congrats on your collection. I've never had an illness in a reptile either but i acheive this by doing due dilligence as an owner. I don't have a rheostat controlling my pets-thats guessing temperatures. So i dont guess my weights. Your legend of rats is what i use to write down...for the first month of owning a snake. After that I just wanted better paperwork and like to know whats going on, maybe thats me. Considering how much nicer snakes cost, how much feeders cost (my local stores are $4.70 each on sale)- why cheap out and not just pick up a $20 scale from sprawl mart or wherever. I dont have a 70 lb 70$ scale for big snakes but if owned any i would definately buy one, even if i only had 1 big snake...
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Re: Feeding your ball python
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyvale420
Congrats on your collection. I've never had an illness in a reptile either but i acheive this by doing due dilligence as an owner. I don't have a rheostat controlling my pets-thats guessing temperatures. So i dont guess my weights....
I've done my due diligence...and guessing weights of feeders versus knowing your temps are not even in the same ballpark...and I use Herpstats, if you must know...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyvale420
Your legend of rats is what i use to write down...for the first month of owning a snake. After that I just wanted better paperwork and like to know whats going on, maybe thats me.
Efficiency is my friend...SR = Small Rat, why make that harder? Spelling out "Small Rat" adds no value...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyvale420
Considering how much nicer snakes cost, how much feeders cost (my local stores are $4.70 each on sale)- why cheap out and not just pick up a $20 scale from sprawl mart or wherever. I dont have a 70 lb 70$ scale for big snakes but if owned any i would definately buy one, even if i only had 1 big snake...
Please point out where I said I don't have a scale. I'll save you the trouble....I never said I don't have a scale. I have one, and only use it occassionaly to weigh the younger snakes, more out of curiousity than anything else...like I said, I know my snakes. I don't have to rely on a gadget to tell me how to feed them...
You sure seem to do a lot of assuming...
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Re: Feeding your ball python
Quote:
Originally Posted by sho220
I've done my due diligence...and guessing weights of feeders versus knowing your temps are not even in the same ballpark...and I use Herpstats, if you must know...
Efficiency is my friend...SR = Small Rat, why make that harder? Spelling out "Small Rat" adds no value...
Please point out where I said I don't have a scale. I'll save you the trouble....I never said I don't have a scale. I have one, and only use it occassionaly to weigh the younger snakes, more out of curiousity than anything else...like I said, I know my snakes. I don't have to rely on a gadget to tell me how to feed them...
You sure seem to do a lot of assuming...
You seem to have forgotten what this thread is about. My responses on it are not towards your husbandry, they are towards the OP and your lazy, cheap, know it all posts in this thread only. Good day
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Re: Feeding your ball python
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyvale420
You seem to have forgotten what this thread is about. My responses on it are not towards your husbandry, they are towards the OP and your lazy, cheap, know it all posts in this thread only. Good day
Yeah...it's about some dude with ONE ball python and how it's doomed to die because he doesn't weigh every meal he gives it...:rolleyes:
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