How to saftley power feed?

I have a 300g spider and I want to power feed her. What would be the safest way to do that? She eats adult mice, f/t.

The safest thing to do would be to NOT power feed her. Why do you want to do that?

I would think it very difficult to power feed a ball python.. considering I'm excited that they eat once a week let alone any more then that.

There is no such thing as safely "power-feeding". By overfeeding, you will shorten the snake's life and have an unhealthy snake the shorter time it is alive, period.

Could you describe what you actually want to do? Power-feeding might be the incorrect word to use.

People confuse the language of a few things in this hobby. Please describe what you mean by power feed before someone can tell you whether or not you should do what you're asking.

If you are wondering the safest way to get the snake to grow, feed it a meal every 4 days that's approximately 15% of its body weight until the meal is about 100 grams, then stop increasing the size and make the meals every 5 days. The rest is patience - if the snake doesn't want to eat then it doesn't want to eat, so every 4 days is contingent on the snake willingly biting and swallowing the meal without 'aid'.

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Originally Posted by Sita

There is no such thing as safely "power-feeding". By overfeeding, you will shorten the snake's life and have an unhealthy snake the shorter time it is alive, period.

Could you describe what you actually want to do? Power-feeding might be the incorrect word to use.

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QFT.

MrLang is correct, just feed larger meals more often. That's what I do, and I'm gaining an average of 120g a month or so.

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Just feed accordingly, theyll grow at a healthy rate. No need to rush.

While I haven't come across any ACTUAL data proving power feeding (feeding regular sized or large meals more often) shortens a snakes life however it can lead to obese animals, and as we all know, obesity is not a good thing. Also, just because you power feed and get a girl up to size in 12-18 months does NOT mean she will produce for you her first season. Weight is only one part of the equation. My advice if you are going to power feed is to make sure they don't become obese, are defecating regularly (not getting backed up form all the extra food), and don't be surprised if they go off feed at some point but still don't recommend it. The only time it's really warranted IMO is when they are recovering from egg-laying or a really long fast.

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Originally Posted by jsmorphs2

While I haven't come across any ACTUAL data proving power feeding (feeding regular sized or large meals more often) shortens a snakes life however it can lead to obese animals, and as we all know, obesity is not a good thing. Also, just because you power feed and get a girl up to size in 12-18 months does NOT mean she will produce for you her first season. Weight is only one part of the equation. My advice if you are going to power feed is to make sure they don't become obese, are defecating regularly (not getting backed up form all the extra food), and don't be surprised if they go off feed at some point but still don't recommend it. The only time it's really warranted IMO is when they are recovering from egg-laying or a really long fast.

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Everything that's ever come of it is a small headed large bodied deformity.

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Originally Posted by Haddady's RnR

I have a 300g spider and I want to power feed her. What would be the safest way to do that? She eats adult mice, f/t.

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Switch her over to rats, stop worrying about power feeding, and be thankful if she turns out to be a consistent feeder.

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Originally Posted by Kodieh

Everything that's ever come of it is a small headed large bodied deformity.

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Any pics?

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Originally Posted by Kodieh

Everything that's ever come of it is a small headed large bodied deformity.

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Just curious, can you link your references? Saying it creates a deformity with out data to back it up doesn't make a lot of sense.

Not trying to be mean but if there is info out there I haven't seen I'd like to read it. Every "power fed" animal I've seen just looks like a fat sausage but definitely not deformed. I can see how it could possibly create underlying health issues or growth problems but there hasn't been any legitimate studies on it. And throwing this out there again, I don't agree with the practice and we grow our BPs up at an appropriate pace.

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Originally Posted by jsmorphs2

Just curious, can you link your references? Saying it creates a deformity with out data to back it up doesn't make a lot of sense.

Not trying to be mean but if there is info out there I haven't seen I'd like to read it. Every "power fed" animal I've seen just looks like a fat sausage but definitely not deformed. I can see how it could possibly create underlying health issues or growth problems but there hasn't been any legitimate studies on it. And throwing this out there again, I don't agree with the practice and we grow our BPs up at an appropriate pace.

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I have a yellowbelly female that most people probably would have considered "power fed"...she never turned down a meal and was the back-up plan for any refusals. Admittedly, she got pretty chunky, but not deformed. And she eventually slowed down, lost a bit of fat and now looks normal...well except for the eggs she's about to lay. :D

Without some pics, I'm not buying the deformities thing...even if a ball python happens to be eating enough to get fat, things will eventually pull a 180 and even out...

I'm mobile right now and headed to work, but I'll pull together my sources and make an informative post, don't worry.

Just to be clear, power feeding is giving an animal who eats a SINGLE small rat a SINGLE small rat and then when it's almost done stick A SECOND small rat into its mouth where it swallows the second one as well.

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Originally Posted by Kodieh

Just to be clear, power feeding is giving an animal who eats a SINGLE small rat a SINGLE small rat and then when it's almost done stick A SECOND small rat into its mouth where it swallows the second one as well.

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That's one way to power feed. Feeding large, regular sized or multiple meals every few days is also considered power feeding. It's basically just overfeeding however it's accomplished. People will do the above method if a snake wont take a second rat or wont eat every few days.

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Originally Posted by jsmorphs2

That's one way to power feed. Feeding large, regular sized or multiple meals every few days is also considered power feeding. It's basically just overfeeding however it's accomplished. People will do the above method if a snake wont take a second rat or wont eat every few days.

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I could not disagree with you more, and my sources later will reflect what I have defined as power feeding.

For the time being, I'll retract my term deformity. Deformities cannot be corrected, 9 and a half times out of ten. What I consider the adverse effect of what I have defined as power feeding is called Pinhead syndrome.

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Originally Posted by Kodieh

I could not disagree with you more, and my sources later will reflect what I have defined as power feeding.

For the time being, I'll retract my term deformity. Deformities cannot be corrected, 9 and a half times out of ten. What I consider the adverse effect of what I have defined as power feeding is called Pinhead syndrome.

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Your "sources" lol...how mysterious! Are they gonna covertly pass you the official definition of "power feeding" in a back alley under the cover of darkness? So exciting!!!

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Originally Posted by sho220

Your "sources" lol...how mysterious! Are they gonna covertly pass you the official definition of "power feeding" in a back alley under the cover of darkness? So exciting!!!

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That's cute, however like I stated I'm mobile and don't feel like gathering everything on my phone just yet.

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To my knowledge, power feeding is putting the head of another prey item into your snakes mouth as its finishing another one. I can only think of a couple instances where i'd attempt this. I've never felt the need to before.

Feeding multiple times in a week isn't power feeding imo. When my female who was breeding was on an eating kick i fed her every 3-4days for like 2 weeks until she quit that and went back to her regular 7-10 day schedule. So like 6 meals in 14 days. You just gotta know your snakes and they'll let you know when they're hungry. When she wasn't as hungry anymore she quit that piggy schedule lol. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

To my knowledge, power feeding is putting the head of another prey item into your snakes mouth as its finishing another one.

Feeding multiple times in a week isn't power feeding imo.:

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This is exactly it to my knowledge as well ^
If the snake is willing to eat extras on it's own, I don't consider that power feeding....
Daisy chaining feeders is what I consider power feeding....
Unnaturally forcing the snake to eat more than what they're willing to.

Like for me the other day, was feeding day for my bp. I gave her a rat, she ate it fine. Went back to check on her and she got it down and was still hanging out of her hide waiting for more. I tossed we another and she downed that one as well.

I don't consider that powerfeeding, I call that a hungry girl!

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Originally Posted by Haddady's RnR

I have a 300g spider and I want to power feed her. What would be the safest way to do that? She eats adult mice, f/t.

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Why?

Why not be patient and let the snake eat and grow at his own pace?

Feeding an appropriate size prey every 4 to 5 days will be more than enough and allow your snake to grow at a rapid rate why power feeding?

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Originally Posted by Kodieh

I could not disagree with you more, and my sources later will reflect what I have defined as power feeding.

For the time being, I'll retract my term deformity. Deformities cannot be corrected, 9 and a half times out of ten. What I consider the adverse effect of what I have defined as power feeding is called Pinhead syndrome.

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Adverse effect is exactly what I'd call the 'sausages' too. Once they are on a normal schedule or diet, they will lean out and not look like Bloods. No one has yet proven that there is permanent damage done by power feeding. I hope in the future there can be a legit study done on it so keepers know for sure if they are causing harm to their animals.

Also, I never said that the double feeding method WASN'T power feeding. It certainly is however there are other ways to 'force' a snake to eat way more than is necessary for a healthy growth rate. If someone was feeding a 500g snake a 70g rat every three days for months and months, I'd consider that power feeding. Feeding a female that is developing follicles as much as she will take for a few weeks isn't.

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Originally Posted by jsmorphs2

Adverse effect is exactly what I'd call the 'sausages' too. Once they are on a normal schedule or diet, they will lean out and not look like Bloods. No one has yet proven that there is permanent damage done by power feeding. I hope in the future there can be a legit study done on it so keepers know for sure if they are causing harm to their animals.

Also, I never said that the double feeding method WASN'T power feeding. It certainly is however there are other ways to 'force' a snake to eat way more than is necessary for a healthy growth rate. If someone was feeding a 500g snake a 70g rat every three days for months and months, I'd consider that power feeding. Feeding a female that is developing follicles as much as she will take for a few weeks isn't.

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I have yet to say that you're wrong. I simply said the way I define power feeding is different. I've come to the conclusion that if we all do the same things, we could a potentially be doing the same wrong things. I encourage disagreement in practices.

I don't think a study will be done, it's kind of like formally testing medications effect on pregnant women and developing fetuses. It's just...not going to be okay, haha.

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Do NOT power feed.

However, you CAN introduce her to rats.
Rats at 10-15% of your snakes body weight will give you steady, healthy gains.

There are no safe short-cuts to husbandry. Only "best practices" that evolve as we learn more about the animals we keep.

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Originally Posted by Kodieh

I don't think a study will be done, it's kind of like formally testing medications effect on pregnant women and developing fetuses. It's just...not going to be okay, haha.

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Lol. I agree. For a study to be done they would have to powerfeed a lot of snakes to get accurate data that proved any adverse affects or otherwise. For that reason I hope there isnt a study done regardless of the educational benefit. That's why we have a responsibility to promote and encourage healthy and safe husbandry in this community.

And from my findings my definition of powerfeeding is the same as Kodieh's and Mike's.