Feeding question...everyone chime in

I read in several places that a full grown adult bp only ever needs 1 sm rat once a week to be feed properly.

Anyone read this also?
Agree/disagree??

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Originally Posted by jotay

I read in several places that a full grown adult bp only ever needs 1 sm rat once a week to be feed properly.

Anyone read this also?
Agree/disagree??

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Disagree ... every snake is an individual and no one blanket statment can be made for all of them when it comes to feeding.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Disagree ... every snake is an individual and no one blanket statment can be made for all of them when it comes to feeding.

-adam

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So your belief and experience has shown you that two bp's of equal size and age may need two totally different feeding requirements to maintain a healty "lifestyle" ?
I was under that same impression also.
What the statement's I have read are trying to say is if you feed at least 1 sm rat once a week then you won't quote-unquote be starving them and they should survive just fine.

A full grown ball python will more than likely maintain their weight with the 1 small rat a week. but there are many other things to consider. males and females should be treated totally different when it comes to feeding. I have been feeding my big girls 2 rats a week getting them ready for breeding, they need to be fed right all year long, but a little extra before breeding translates into more good eggs, larger clutches and less stress on the females after they lay. these are just a few quick thoughts, you could write a book on feeding ball pythons. :)

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Originally Posted by ECLARK

A full grown ball python will more than likely maintain their weight with the 1 small rat a week. but there are many other things to consider. males and females should be treated totally different when it comes to feeding. I have been feeding my big girls 2 rats a week getting them ready for breeding, they need to be fed right all year long, but a little extra before breeding translates into more good eggs, larger clutches and less stress on the females after they lay. these are just a few quick thoughts, you could write a book on feeding ball pythons. :)

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See that is what I was always led to believe. Then I started to do a bit of research on feeding because my adult male eats 1 sm rat every week on Friday but he seems to be looking for more after downing the one. He recently just started eating rats again before that he would eat 3-4 mice every week so I was wondering if he was just conditioned to eating one and figuring another one was about to drop in.
I don't want to overfeed but then again I don't want to underfeed. Every year since I have had him he does go off feed in the winter for 4-5 mos. so I was thinking maybe he is like a bear and is loading up for the winter :) that is why he is trying to be a little piggy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jotay

What the statement's I have read are trying to say is if you feed at least 1 sm rat once a week then you won't quote-unquote be starving them and they should survive just fine.

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You could probably feed an adult ball python only 12 - 20 times a year and you won't be "starving them" ... cold blooded animals do not need anywhere near the amount of food that most people believe they do.

-adam

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Originally Posted by ECLARK

but a little extra before breeding translates into more good eggs, larger clutches and less stress on the females after they lay.

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Or, it could translate into slugs. ;)

-adam

Seems to be looking for more....


This is my wife thinks we need a lock on the fridge :) I'm an opportunistic feeder. If I get bored/watching TV I like to munch even when I don't need more.... I never know when my wife will lock the fridge, so I need to build up my stores just in case...


Joking aside, if you are feeding one a week to an adult male and he is maintaining weight, it seems like a good schedule.

Most of my ball pythons are just as you described... always looking for more... I feed my females 2 smalls and they are still looking for more...

As long as they are growing (subadults) or maintaining/rebuilding weight after laying, then I wouldn't worry too much .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ECLARK

A full grown ball python will more than likely maintain their weight with the 1 small rat a week. but there are many other things to consider. males and females should be treated totally different when it comes to feeding. I have been feeding my big girls 2 rats a week getting them ready for breeding, they need to be fed right all year long, but a little extra before breeding translates into more good eggs, larger clutches and less stress on the females after they lay. these are just a few quick thoughts, you could write a book on feeding ball pythons. :)

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Wouldn't it be better to just give them a slightly larger rat each week the entire year after laying/before breeding instead of giving them a burst at the end?

Just curious.

Yes, slugs are always a possibility, but a heavy female will be more likely to recover faster than a thin one.:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

You could probably feed an adult ball python only 12 - 20 times a year and you won't be "starving them" ... cold blooded animals do not need anywhere near the amount of food that most people believe they do.

-adam

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Man I wish I could do that. I am more like snakeysnake and just eat to keep from being bored :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ECLARK

Yes, slugs are always a possibility, but a heavy female will be more likely to recover faster than a thin one.:)

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I've stopped keeping my females "heavy" ... Over the last 4 or 5 years, I noticed a strong corrolation between heavier girls and clutches with slugs in them ... so after speaking with Tracy and a couple other people that I know keep strong records on their animals weights and breeding results, last season I decided to keep my girls less "heavy" and more "athletic" ... out of the 40 couple clutches that I produced, I only had 8 slugs total for the season ... and every single girl has recovered just fine.

Not being critical of how anyone chooses to feed or raise their animals for breeding, just sharing my experiences ... We'll see if the same happens for me this year ... lots more girls to collect data from. ;)

-adam

Snakeysnakesnake, you misunderstood. they are maintained all year long on the largest rat that im comfortable feeding them. 1 rat per week, I increase the amount of food about 5-6 months before breeding season, mainly because the females will take more food at that point and it benefits them greatly going into breeding season. This is how I do it. I know that others have their own ideas, this has always worked for me. :)

Adam, its always good to hear how different people attack the same subject. and thats how we all come up with new methods about doing things. :)

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Originally Posted by jotay

Man I wish I could do that. I am more like snakeysnake and just eat to keep from being bored :)

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Actually, as a warm blooded mammal, the constant intake of calories is required for your body to generate it's own heat ... ectotherms are very different ... they only need a minimum amount of calories for the most basic physiological functions ... beyond that, they only need to eat to fuel their own movement ... but even then, if food becomes scarce, they can slow their own metabolisms, become sedentary, and need even less.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

slow their own metabolisms, become sedentary, and need even less.

-adam

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makes me think of my hubby laying on the couch playing video games... he may need less... but he eats more LOL

:rofl:

Great thread guy's , to Ed and Adam great info it's good to read to side's to one common goal.