Signs of underfeeding?

Was wondering what are some signs your underfeeding your snake, like the prey you feed is too small? My male is the reason I am asking. When I come in the room he pokes his head out of his head and looks around and then the time I am in here his head just rest right outside of the hole in the hide. I took the lid off the cage to see if maybe he just wanted attention and he came out of his hide pretty dag on quick and moved like he does when he smells prey in the tank. So I put the lid back on cause I didnt feel like being bit and he looked all over the cage like he does when I plop a mouse in there, didnt see one, and went back to his hide with his head poking out....I usually feed him a med mouse which I thought was good size for him, but maybe its too small. Also when I go over to his cage and look at him he comes out and stares me down, looks around the cage, then goes back in the hide?

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...yes01/head.jpg

Remember, the prey should be as round as the roundest part of the snake. When you choose a mouse to throw in the enclosure at dinner time, remember to kind of stretch it out to see the true girth of the rodent. It may look perfect when it is all hunched over but then you see it for what it really is and realize it is too small

Actually, you really don't need to feed larger than a small/small rat each week, even for full grown adults. Feeding the same size as their girth usually leads to fasts as they allow their bodies to "catch up" from all that food.


For a more consistently eating ball python, feed smaller meals weekly. Keep in mind that their wild cousins aren't eating prey the size of their girth once a week.

is it normal for him to be this aware of me? i mean, if i go over and look at him he comes out and stares at me and then when I walk away he goes back in his hide....I know they arent stupid, but its almost like he knows who I am..(his owner that is)

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Actually, you really don't need to feed larger than a small/small rat each week, even for full grown adults. Feeding the same size as their girth usually leads to fasts as they allow their bodies to "catch up" from all that food.


For a more consistently eating ball python, feed smaller meals weekly. Keep in mind that their wild cousins aren't eating prey the size of their girth once a week.

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He mentioned in the first post that he feeds mice. A medium mouse is more than likely a tad small for a 315g BP.

think I should try small rats? never done a rate before.... :confused: :confused:

Hi,


Well yeah that does look like feeding behaviour but there are a few things that have to be considered first.

While I always like seing pic's that one doesnt really give any answers on your snakes build.:)

Do you have a regular feeding day and how close was it to that at the time?

What size/weight/age is your little one?

Over feeding is often sited as a reason for ball pythons going on hungerstrike so while your snake might be feeling hungry that's not always a reason to feed more.:)

There are quite a few good threads on this if you have a go with the search to give you an idea on the most common opinions and discussions on feeder sizes/weights.

**edit**

Wow it took me so long to type this 5 posts sailed by - I think I need a secretary.

**/edit**


dr del

he eats ever 5 days, med mouse, about the size of his girth I would say, hes about 22 inches long, now 330g, and I just fed him on saturday, and I feed them (I feed both at the same time, my female gets a hopper mouse and she downs em no problems.) usually around 6:30pm. Not sure what my little one has to do with it, shes about a month and a half old now, maybe 13 inches long, 64g.

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Originally Posted by SnakeEyes

he eats ever 5 days, med mouse, about the size of his girth I would say, hes about 22 inches long, now 330g, and I just fed him on saturday, and I feed them (I feed both at the same time, my female gets a hopper mouse and she downs em no problems.) usually around 6:30pm. Not sure what my little one has to do with it, shes about a month and a half old now, maybe 13 inches long, 64g.

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The line about your little one was becuase I didn't read your sig and for some reason thought you only had one.:oops:

Nothing about that feeding routine sounds wrong to me but if you are determined to switch I would probably go for one slightly larger mouse (or two the size he's on possibly) every 7 days.


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Actually, you really don't need to feed larger than a small/small rat each week, even for full grown adults.

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I've heard this "small/small" thing a couple of times. What is a small/small rat? I know about smalls and mediums, but--uhh... huh? :confused:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

The line about your little one was becuase I didn't read your sig and for some reason thought you only had one.:oops:

Nothing about that feeding routine sounds wrong to me but if you are determined to switch I would probably go for one slightly larger mouse (or two the size he's on possibly) every 7 days.


dr del

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Oh, haha, gotcha, i wasnt being a smarta$$ when I was giving details about my female, figured if you asked then there is a reason behind it. I been getting med mouse, think Ill step it up to full adults and and see how he does, thanks for the input all.

And as for the pic, it was just to show how cute he is. :D

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Originally Posted by tmlowe5704

He mentioned in the first post that he feeds mice. A medium mouse is more than likely a tad small for a 315g BP.

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Sorry - that's what I get for replying in a hurry! :)

Medium is about the largest that I can get at my local pet store, and Kashmire will not take rats, only mice - and only one mouse at each feeding. He's still gaining weight and doing quite well with that "little" food each week.

However, my other mousers will take two at each feeding, so to the OP - you can try to feed two mice, once every seven days.

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Originally Posted by nebby3103

I've heard this "small/small" thing a couple of times. What is a small/small rat? I know about smalls and mediums, but--uhh... huh? :confused:

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A small/small rat might also be considered a rat pup. 40-60 grams, which for the rats I raise, translates to a 4-6 week old rat.

A well fed, well hydrated snake will be close to cylindrical in shape, have substantial weight for its size, good muscle tone, and skin that "fits."

If your ball ever becomes triangular in shape, feels unusually light in weight compared to its size, has poor muscle tone (prominant ribs and spine), or skin that looks or feels a size too large, you should become worried about the amount you are feeding.

Another thing you can look at on babies and young balls is their growth rate. If you feel that your snake just hasn't been growing at the rate it used to, bumping up your prey size or amount of prey will get it growing again.

I believe it is important to monitor physical appearance and growth rates of younger snakes as they are using most of their food intake for growth, as opposed to egg production or breeding.