Feeding Question Take Two

I am going out, as much as I don't want to, my husband is forcing me to go. While I'm out, I was planning on buying two rat pinkies for Kaa instead of just one. If he is still hungry after eating the first one, will it be ok to feed him the second one?

also LOL!

My husband showed me a vid just now of an Albino ball farting in a sink of water. And that guy was still able to smell the stink. I lawled so hard.

It's just fine feeding them two mice or rats rather than just one.

When I used to feed mine adult mice, he would sit there as if expecting something. So I'd go warm up another one and he'd be waiting for it.

Yes two is fine, he'll eat it if he's hungry.

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If he'll take it, feed it :)

I know you're not supposed to handle a snake after it had eatin, but Kaa did indeed eat the two pinkies, granted for some reason he doesn't really seem to kill them. He just gets them all gaspy, then lets go and swallows them. Anyway, I weighed him real quick, and he was past the 20 gram mark. I think from now on, I'm gonna feed him two rat pinkies every 7 days to help him bulk up, cause it doesn't seem like 1 is doing it for him. He happily took the second rat pinky on his own, and it surprised me that I didn't have to dance it around for him. :)

The extra weight is because he is full, you always want to weigh before you feed. You can feed him every 5 days

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Is feeding him two pinkies every 5 days safe? I don't know how much belly heat he needs to help him digest without fatality, and right now he's in a smaller plastic tank with aspen. Half of the tank is on the floor over my floor vent so it's got heat on the bottom, and it's not too hot for him, but he's always been the type to hang out on the cooler side for some reason. I just don't want to push him. But even after feeding him just one, like a few days, when I would weigh him he would still weigh the same. If he doesn't bulk up with two, I'm going to take him to a vet and have his poop tested.

The reason I've got it set up that way is because it's held in humidity better and it's not too wet. I'm going to be getting a tub for him with some heating pads tomorrow. :)

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Originally Posted by KayleighBrown

I know you're not supposed to handle a snake after it had eatin, but Kaa did indeed eat the two pinkies, granted for some reason he doesn't really seem to kill them. He just gets them all gaspy, then lets go and swallows them. Anyway, I weighed him real quick, and he was past the 20 gram mark. I think from now on, I'm gonna feed him two rat pinkies every 7 days to help him bulk up, cause it doesn't seem like 1 is doing it for him. He happily took the second rat pinky on his own, and it surprised me that I didn't have to dance it around for him. :)

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Something needs clarification.
20 grams? Kaa I am assuming is a BP and uhhhh I've not seen a snake that small come out of an egg.
If It was a typo and 200 grams which sounds more reasonable is what we are dealing with going 10-15% of body weight gives 20-30 gram prey.
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...ps50a8f497.jpg

2 rat pinkies are probably underfeeding for a snake of that size although, suppliers can and do differ in what they class as each size.
If this is a 200 gram snake I would definitely increase prey size. This also helps them stretch jaw ligaments as they grow.

Kaa was extremely under weight. He should be 3 months or near it, and he's still rather small, like he can curl up in the palm of my hand. I don't think we got his grams wrong, but I'll be happy to weigh him again or atleast have my husband check the scale and add up the grams to see if his made a mistake.

Yeah seeing where the marker was last time, he should be 20 grams? Now he's more like 100 grams now that he's eaten twice.

Here is what he weighed before I fed him last week

I'm still meaning to get a digital scale for better accuracy D: I feel stupid when it comes to mechanical scales.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...094646_555.jpg

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Originally Posted by KayleighBrown

I know you're not supposed to handle a snake after it had eatin,

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Why is that? I have handled mine many times right after he has fed and not even a day later at times,for certain reasons ofcourse and very quickly and he's never stressed or regurgitated anything... I think that it's over exaggerated, basically don't take him out and handle him for 20 mins and let him slither around etc,don't play with him...but the whole don't touch him after he ate is dramatized,I've done it to my other guy as well,never any problems

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

Why is that? I have handled mine many times right after he has fed and not even a day later at times,for certain reasons ofcourse and very quickly and he's never stressed or regurgitated anything... I think that it's over exaggerated, basically don't take him out and handle him for 20 mins and let him slither around etc,don't play with him...but the whole don't touch him after he ate is dramatized,I've done it to my other guy as well,never any problems

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o_o ok.

Looks hard to be anywhere near accurate with that particular scale. :) IMO it reads higher than 20 for sure. Maybe somewhere between 60 and 80

As an aside I'm fairly certain you read from the "front" of the arm with that type of scale as the arm lacks a point.

It is best not to chance a regurg, it is very hard on them, if it's a must, then it's a must... but if not... it's better just to leave them alone for 24 hours.

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You can pick up digital kitchen scales for $20 or under and several reptile suppliers have very reasonably priced scales as well.
Right after a thermostat and an IR gun this would be my 3rd on the list of critical equipment for new herp keepers.
I have the same scale I think and used it all of once for the same reason. It is very hard to gauge what size prey is best and if an animal is gaining steadily, stalled or losing weight.

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Originally Posted by KayleighBrown

Is feeding him two pinkies every 5 days safe? I don't know how much belly heat he needs to help him digest without fatality, and right now he's in a smaller plastic tank with aspen. Half of the tank is on the floor over my floor vent so it's got heat on the bottom, and it's not too hot for him, but he's always been the type to hang out on the cooler side for some reason. I just don't want to push him. But even after feeding him just one, like a few days, when I would weigh him he would still weigh the same. If he doesn't bulk up with two, I'm going to take him to a vet and have his poop tested.

The reason I've got it set up that way is because it's held in humidity better and it's not too wet. I'm going to be getting a tub for him with some heating pads tomorrow. :)

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His hot spot should remain a constant 90-92 degrees. You do not need to fluctuate it so he can digest. He will move back and forth from cool side to warm side on his own to thermoregulate. A heating pad with thermostat is essential.

If you need more assistance in getting him set up then post a few pics of his enclosure so we can further assist you. We are always here to help... :D

I've seen a hatchling at 27g and it is now thriving so it can happen, if you believe he is around 100g now Kayleigh perhaps try upping to the next prey size up (a small one) if he can manage it, they an take more than we give them credit for.

I also don't handle after eating, I leave for 48 hours, it certainly doesn't hurt me leaving them and it's safer for the animals in my opinion.

I also believe handling after feeding is something depending on the snake. Mine has no problem of being handled after eating. Usually he lurks around and if I open the box for him he sometimes wants to get out and has no problem of him climbing on my hands to be taken out if not he just goes to his hide and digest in peace.

Never regurgitated or anything. Eats normally. Just observe your snakes behavior, you'll see if it wants to be handled or not.

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Originally Posted by Naom9Anne

I've seen a hatchling at 27g and it is now thriving so it can happen, if you believe he is around 100g now Kayleigh perhaps try upping to the next prey size up (a small one) if he can manage it, they an take more than we give them credit for.

I also don't handle after eating, I leave for 48 hours, it certainly doesn't hurt me leaving them and it's safer for the animals in my opinion.

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Oh I know. I generally don't. But I wanted to get a weight after he ate, before putting him back into his cage. Took him out to feed just this once, because I didn't want him to swallow any aspen that got stuck to the pinkies. He likes to slobber all over his food.

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Originally Posted by KayleighBrown

Oh I know. I generally don't. But I wanted to get a weight after he ate, before putting him back into his cage. Took him out to feed just this once, because I didn't want him to swallow any aspen that got stuck to the pinkies. He likes to slobber all over his food.

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Hehe mine slobbers also. But it seems he has no problem with digesting the substrate also if it sticks onto his prey.

If your python balls or escapes then you shouldn't handle him. But if climbs onto your hand then i don't seen the problem as I've said. Mine sometimes just wants to roam around after his meal.

Oh no, Kayleigh! The not handling was not aimed at you! I was just saying what I do :)

You only "handled" for a very short period and no harm was done! Sorry communication over the internet is tough sometimes :)