2 mice 2 many ???

I have a 3-4 month old Bp about 20-21 inches long and approx about 125-130 grams. Is two hoppers a week too many?:hungry:

It's hard to judge over the internet (my idea of a hopper and yours may or may not be the same ;) ), but most likely it's fine. You may even want to move up to a small adult mouse, if that is just a bit smaller than the widest part of your snake, instead of the two hoppers.

When my snake was young and a hatchling I started him on a hoppe rmouse, then after a month of feedings of feeding one adult hopper, I moved up to an adult mouse and that was when my boy was 18inches in length. When my snake started to want more food (around 24inches in legnth) I started ot feed larger prey. From weaned rat-small rats. When my snake was 30-36inches in length I started my snake on small rats, then when my snake wanted more, I fed two small rats and nothing more, because my snake is perfectly fine and capable of eating 2small rats. I dont want to over feed him. He is 5ft long and can probably take two medium rats, but he really doesnt need to eat too much. People say only feed the same girth or smaller food items for your snakes. But I think you should feed slightly bigger food or until you get to small rat size.

well the hoppers im getting seem the perfect size, just smaller then the widest girth and he/she is taking them fast

There is no problems with feeding multiple food items at one time. Try it one week and see how he does with two. Then you'll know.

well i just started two weeks ago one on monday or tuesday and one on friday

Its ok to feed a bit bigger than the thickest part of the body.

Really if they'll do it it's better to offer the food items one after the other on the same day.

why is that? i would think it would keep them comfortable throughout the week

Snakes have a slow digestive system, you wouldn't want them digesting constantly. Thus, the two prey items at one time, gives them time to digest by the time the next meal day comes around. :)

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Originally Posted by jdmls88

why is that? i would think it would keep them comfortable throughout the week

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Digesting meals is a very energy consuming process for snakes. Their hearts and other organs enlarge to compensate for the increased activity. Feeding once a week is more than adequate and allows their systems some 'down' time. This is what works for those who have kept bps for decades. I've found it to be true in my case as well. :gj: ;)

i did not know this thank you very much

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Originally Posted by Sapphire7

Its ok to feed a bit bigger than the thickest part of the body.

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I would disagree. If it is bigger than the thickest part of the snake, then it would leave a big lump and probably be too much food depending on the size/age of the snake.

Just because a snake might look hungry after an appropriate sized meal, doesnt mean you should up the size.

my snakes are around 20 inches, and i feed them each a hopper, and i do reccomend feeding prey slightly smaller than the girth

yup, once a week is best. set a schedule. snakes looove schedule. pick a day and feed that day every week. ;)

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Originally Posted by jdmls88

i did not know this thank you very much

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Your welcome. :colbert2:

Does anyone have that link to the scientific paper on snake digestion? I know it was linked from here to fauna. I just can't remember enough, of the key words, to do a good search. :sigh2: It was very enlightening. I'll see if I can try again later. :oops:

Do you mean this link Christie?

http://coloherp.org/cb-news/Vol-32/cbn-0509/index.php

I believe there's also a pdf format of this study at www.bio.uci.edu/public/press/2005/pythonsgrow.pdf

No, the one I am thinking of was a scanned scientific article. I may be wrong but iI believe it was primarily written about corn snakes.

I feed a bit bigger than the girth of the snake and no problems so far.

I also have heard about the slow digestion part- someone's vet recommended he only feed every 2 weeks for that reason. (Sorry I have no idea where I read that or even what forum).

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Originally Posted by SnakeySnakeSnake

I would disagree. If it is bigger than the thickest part of the snake, then it would leave a big lump and probably be too much food depending on the size/age of the snake.

Just because a snake might look hungry after an appropriate sized meal, doesnt mean you should up the size.

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I agree. :rockon: