Feeding females during breeding season?

So Ive been feeding all my female's that are ready to breed this year one rat every 6-7 days they seem to be happy with this. However one of my females that wieghs 2900 g wants to eat a rat every 3 days and would probably eat 2 or 3 every 3 days if I gave them to her. I know that females go through a feeding frenzy during breeding season but just not sure what is too much and what is not enough. So my question is where do I draw the line or do I just give her what she wants? I have been giving her a medium rat every 3 days and you cant even tell she has eaten anything. any comments would be helpfull, I dont want her getting too fat on me. Thanks, Aaron

I always feed my females whatever they want to eat. Remember though...If they get too fat, they have a tendency to throw some slugs. Also, your girls will go off feed as soon as they start to feel uncomfortable with the development of follicles taking place. If you are cooling, try to offer smaller meals as they cannot process thier food as quickly. You don't want gut rot. Hope this helps a bit.

I don't change my weekly feeding schedule during breeding season. I do offer my female multiple meals per feeding. From about Sept on I give them as much as they will eat. They know there body better than I do so I let them decide. They will also tell you when they are to far along in the egg process to continue eating. The way I look at it is these guys have been doing this breeding stuff for 1000's of years before we came along and decided we knew it all.

If they want a rat they get it. Im more worried about the females that dont want to eat than the ones that do. :P

I have some that will eat everyday if I offered. I had females last year that ate until 1 week before they laid with no problems. I had some that didn't eat for months. They are all different.

I'm still in the peak eating period with all my adults. I'm getting a few locks now, but everyone is still hungry, so I'm feeding them, since I figure this when they put on the weight they'll need to make it through the winter fast.

I do continue to offer food during the winter breeding season, but I drop to only offering every other week for the adults. I don't like to waste f/t rodents, and I don't like to waste my time trying to entice animals that don't want to eat.

But that big girl of yours, I'd let her eat if she wants it. I'd probably offer two rats once a week instead of one every three days. How old is she?

I always offer regular meals to my girls. They will either eat or they wont but i offer. Now my males i offer small meals when they are seperated. I try and keep them full of energy for the task at hand

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Originally Posted by loonunit

I'm still in the peak eating period with all my adults. I'm getting a few locks now, but everyone is still hungry, so I'm feeding them, since I figure this when they put on the weight they'll need to make it through the winter fast.

I do continue to offer food during the winter breeding season, but I drop to only offering every other week for the adults. I don't like to waste f/t rodents, and I don't like to waste my time trying to entice animals that don't want to eat.

But that big girl of yours, I'd let her eat if she wants it. I'd probably offer two rats once a week instead of one every three days. How old is she?

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She's an 05'. She laid in 08' and 10'. She's just looking for food everytime I get near the rack. She's locked up again with my spider and she was looking for food since she seen me feeding the others. Normally when shes locked its like shes in a coma but not this time.

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Originally Posted by snake lab

I always offer regular meals to my girls. They will either eat or they wont but i offer. Now my males i offer small meals when they are seperated. I try and keep them full of energy for the task at hand

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I offer meals every week to all my males and females. 1 female is off feed, one only eats every other week, and 2 will eat anything everytime. Even my males are still eating which makes me so happy since they went off feed last season for months. I guess its because i decided not to drop temps this year.

Once a female is at a healthy weight I feed 1 small rat per week every week.

For the next month my females will be getting offered 2 small rats a week.
In the last two weeks each of my over 2000 gram females have eaten 2-3 smalls per week and will be offered every 3-4 days throughout November also.

I'm having to be very careful when I open tubs up right now, the large girls are RAVENOUS :rofl:

In December the females will go back to once a week medium rats until they decide to stop eating before they ovulate.
Feeding up this time last year I believe was instrumental in throwing 77 perfect eggs out of 80 eggs that the girls dropped this past season.
The 3 slugs we did get came from a female that wouldn't feed up...

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

For the next month my females will be getting offered 2 small rats a week.
In the last two weeks each of my over 2000 gram females have eaten 2-3 smalls per week and will be offered every 3-4 days throughout November also.

I'm having to be very careful when I open tubs up right now, the large girls are RAVENOUS :rofl:

In December the females will go back to once a week medium rats until they decide to stop eating before they ovulate.
Feeding up this time last year I believe was instrumental in throwing 77 perfect eggs out of 80 eggs that the girls dropped this past season.
The 3 slugs we did get came from a female that wouldn't feed up...

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Perfect this was just what I needed to hear. I've been giving the big girl 2 a week and I guess I'll keep that up for another month or so and then start maintaining in Dec. Shes really packing it on right now. lol, I know how you feel about the large ravenous females, the one I'm talking about has her face pushed up against the opening of the lid and tub when I'm getting ready to feed just waiting to get me and then strikes at me several times while I'm trying to get her rat in there. Its a pretty ridiculous scene. Ive had to resort to putting on leather gloves just to feel safe. Thanks for the reply

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Once a female is at a healthy weight I feed 1 small rat per week every week.

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I'm gonna switch to one a week in december like the op said. I'm pretty sure shes a good weight as of now but I'll give her a little more since she wants it. Shes kind of a spoiled brat, always getting her way.THanks