Maintainance feeding

Ginevive,

There are several statements that you've made that I have a problem with.

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I just do not think there's a huge, plentiful food supply for wild BPs;

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This is not true at all. All of the field studies done in Ghana and Togo indicate that ruralization and farming are causing a huge increase in rodent populations supplying food to ball pythons. Every indication is that ball pythons are thriving due to this increased food supply.

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

they are the type of animal which eats one big meal and then goes off to digest it slowly.

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Also not true, ball pythons (like many heavy bodied snakes) are opportunistic feeders that will take down any prey that makes itself available to them wether several small animals or a single large. If a ball python comes across an entire litter of rodents and is hungry, it will eat as many as it needs.

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

This is how their digestive system has evolved;

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There is no scientific evidence anywhere to support this statement.

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I do not think a BP who's busy digesting a rare food item in the wild, would be eager to go out in the wild and look for another one until that's absolutely necessary.

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Again, this is opinion. There is no way for you or anyone to know what exactly a ball python does in the wild in regards to eating except for the people that are over there observing them.

If you have any scientific data to support your opinions I'd be thrilled to hear it. I am always interested in learning more about the animals that I love!

-adam

Hi Kara! 8) How you doin? :lol:

Thank you .... YOU ROCK!

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

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Originally Posted by Blink

I bet you my left shoe, I can show you an obese bp.

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Diagnosed by a DVM or VMD as obese or obese in your opinion?

I would love to see a written diagnoses of obesity in p. reqius by a qualified veterinarian.

I'm not really sure that I want your left shoe though. Is it a NIKE?

-adam

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next time I feed her, I'll show you... you tell me what you think.

No, it's pay less and always save. :oops:

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Originally Posted by Blink

next time I feed her, I'll show you... you tell me what you think.

No, it's pay less and always save. :oops:

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I'm not qualified to diagnose a snake as obese, especially via a picture over the internet.

Just because you "think" your ball pythons looks obese after it takes a large meal does not necessarily mean that it is.

If you think your snakes obese, please take it to a vet.

Anytime you want to send me that Payless shoe, I'm down!

-adam

I never said they were like BP's, but that is a result of an obese snake, and a powerfed snake. I never said they were like BP's, i even said this is not a BP. I was just showing that picture so people would understand what people meant when they said Obese.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonBabe448

I never said they were like BP's, but that is a result of an obese snake, and a powerfed snake. I never said they were like BP's, i even said this is not a BP. I was just showing that picture so people would understand what people meant when they said Obese.

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I don't think Adam was arguing that with you, just clarifying the point that boids & colubrids don't operate the same way.

That was certainly an obese snake you posted. You'd be amazed at how many snakes in captivity actually are.

K

Oops, I didn't meant to start this argument again. hehehe. I am actually pretty sure I have a friend who seriously over feeds her BP. Of course, I cna't get pics since I lack a camera, grr, but I will discribe what he looks like. He is so bloated looking and has trouble coiling and bending in the usual ways, like in half to turn around in a small space. I have talked to her about this, but she, unlike me, has a bigger fear of him getting too skinny from going off feed, than getting too fat. She doesn't think she is over feeding him, even though he is still barely 3 feet long and almost twice as thick as Kitty, granted, Kitty is a little on the thin side. His tail does kind of look like that corn snake one. I swear, if this isnake isn't obese then there is something else seriously wrong with him

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Currently the oldest snake on record is a ball python that lived in the Philadelphia Zoo for 49 yrs 4 mos.

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http://www.vpi.com/5VPIBreeders/Ball...BallPython.htm

Id be interested to know this bp's feeding habits...
Anyone have any more information on it?

Ooh, me too. It seems that must have been very well cared for so I want to copy whatever they did.

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Ginevive,

There are several statements that you've made that I have a problem with.

Ginevive wrote:
I just do not think there's a huge, plentiful food supply for wild BPs;


This is not true at all. All of the field studies done in Ghana and Togo indicate that ruralization and farming are causing a huge increase in rodent populations supplying food to ball pythons. Every indication is that ball pythons are thriving due to this increased food supply.

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Let's just call this my "brain fart thread." I was going on and on making assumptions. I promise not to do it again! :D