Help with a feeding schedule...

Joe[spehine] is a 5.5', 10ish year old female BP weighing in at a whopping 1818g. Yes, you read that right. She's an underweight girl. What size and schedule would you recommend to bring her up to weight without causing gastrointestinal distress. She has been fed by her owner only twice since they arrived in Oregon in September. :( Bad snake mommy. I can't take it anymore. Please help. Here's the poor, skinny girl in question.

http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps28f41813.jpg

Once a week with appropriate size food should be good for her. Are you sure on the age of her?

Yup. My sister has had her for almost 10 years. She was 30" when she got her. She can eat large rats and did before she has lost so much weight.

So, weekly 180-200g rats?

Feed small-medium rat once a week.

All of my adults are on this schedule and continue to grow.

Please keep in mind that this is a 10 year old, 5.5', underweight female... While we are use to feeding a healthy, adult male I know this girl needs special consideration. She's spent a year in the wild a few years back and she does tend to go off feed. I don't want to a) stress her out or b) cause any health issues. Also, she is a live feeder only.

[QUOTE=WifeOfSlasher;2222093. She's spent a year in the wild a few years back and she does tend to go off feed.[/QUOTE]

Wow, I'm really interesting in hearing more about this...

It's a long and lucky story. Haha

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Originally Posted by WifeOfSlasher

Please keep in mind that this is a 10 year old, 5.5', underweight female... While we are use to feeding a healthy, adult male I know this girl needs special consideration. She's spent a year in the wild a few years back and she does tend to go off feed. I don't want to a) stress her out or b) cause any health issues. Also, she is a live feeder only.

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I agree with everyone else. Small or med rat once a week for now. If she starts gaining weight too fast or not gaining any at all we can adjust from there. Keep in mind that there is really no need for her to get HUGE, if shes not going to be a breeder (and it sounds like she probably shouldn't) theres no need to bulk her up too much. And at her age you may not really even get her to gain a ton of wait anyway.

She reminds me a lot of my girl Lucy. Lucy is a 17 year old SMALL female. Now that she's better cared for she eats great and maintains a healthy weight, but shes never really gotten all that much bigger then when I got her

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Originally Posted by WifeOfSlasher

It's a long and lucky story. Haha

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Let's hear:D

I care for a BP at a local nature center. Got them to get bigger f/t mice(yes mice), and he has begun to put on some weight cause he was underfed. He's estimated at 20 years old and eats 2-3 mice every 2 weeks when not on food strike. Granted he's eating mice, they are jumbo mice. Sometimes he'll eat a 4th.

I just hate to see her so thin. I don't want her to be HUGE but I would like to see her round back out instead of resembling a triangle. She's a foot longer and over twice our male's age and weighs less. One day I would love to breed her to our male. Both snakes sport some pretty light patterning for normals.

Off feeding has been her norm since being in the wild after her escape. Fortunately she hasn't snubbed either of her last two feeds and is in otherwise great health with a wonderfully docile and curious nature.

Agreed- I should add I agree with everyone else's advice.

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Originally Posted by Craigaria

Let's hear:D

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Okay... Haha. Joe escaped in Florida. My sister had considered him, well... her, gone when she couldn't find her. One day about a year later someone called in a snake in their yard. Animal control collected her. Since she's a BP and had a very docile nature they figured she was someone's lost pet and posted it in the paper and online. My sister just happen to see the post and contacted AC. She had to provide photos to prove that he was hers. I will never forget that phone call OR the one when she finally are after she got her back.

Definitely feed small-medium rats.

Feeding smaller more frequent meals will help your snake gain weight. And it is safer for the snake since you are feeding live.
Smaller and younger rats are less conscious to danger and less dangerous to your snake since they are unlikely to fight back and the snake can't be overwhelmed. Large live rats are inappropriate to feed. Also, I personally think the snake is more comfortable eating smaller meals than getting bloated from an overly large prey item.

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Originally Posted by WifeOfSlasher

Okay... Haha. Joe escaped in Florida. My sister had considered him, well... her, gone when she couldn't find her. One day about a year later someone called in a snake in their yard. Animal control collected her. Since she's a BP and had a very docile nature they figured she was someone's lost pet and posted it in the paper and online. My sister just happen to see the post and contacted AC. She had to provide photos to prove that he was hers. I will never forget that phone call OR the one when she finally are after she got her back.

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That has to be the coolest thing I've ever heard! Surprised your sister would get rid of her after that... great story:)

She technically hasn't gotten rid of her. I'm only suppose to be snake housing while they are getting settled. It's a long, sad story that I would rather not get into. It's pretty personal. She's basically abandoned her in my eyes. Maybe her care has always been like this? I don't know but it's a case of out of sight, out of mind. Snakes don't demand attention like a dog or a cat will.

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Originally Posted by WifeOfSlasher

I don't want to a) stress her out or b) cause any health issues.

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The absolute quickest way to do both those things is to feed her too large a meal. She's an adult, so the 10% rule of thumb is out the window. Feed her a medium rat, once a week.

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Originally Posted by WifeOfSlasher

She technically hasn't gotten rid of her. I'm only suppose to be snake housing while they are getting settled. It's a long, sad story that I would rather not get into. It's pretty personal. She's basically abandoned her in my eyes. Maybe her care has always been like this? I don't know but it's a case of out of sight, out of mind. Snakes don't demand attention like a dog or a cat will.

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It sounds like it is for the best. Maybe your sis will forget you have her. Amazing animal too!

She is a beautiful girl. From now on I promise to make sure that she is cared for as she should be. I really tried to give her the benefit of the doubt but it is what it is. Now we get her back as she should be. Nice a BP chunky, no more shed issues, and perfect heat.

By the way... I have forgotten how much I loathe aquariums! Ugh. Playing the light bulb game SUCKS. At least we have all of the equipment to make it work. It's just going to require some tinkering and a dimmer switch.

Those lights really mess with the humidity. If you aren't already, cover 3/4 of the top of the screen with wet paper towels and lay aluminum foil on top of that. If you re-wet the paper towels daily, it should hold the humidity decent.

I'm well versed in tanks. We did it for 3 years with our male BP and 1 1/2 years with my RTB. Hate them!!! Luckily our humidity isn't too much of a fight here so covering and misting every couple of days usually keeps it up.

I know how it is... I keep my firefly in a tank, but I think I'm going to set up a tub for him soon. Keeping the humidity right is a pain.

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Originally Posted by Craigaria

I know how it is... I keep my firefly in a tank, but I think I'm going to set up a tub for him soon. Keeping the humidity right is a pain.

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If she ends up becoming a permanent part of our family we'll be purchasing another proline and RHP adding her to our stack. For now we'll fight the humidity. She's technically not our snake and some people can be real turkeys when it comes to "their" animal's housing. The fight isn't worth it.