Increased number of prey items...

Daisy is 1.5 years old, 350g, about 36" long, and about 2" in diameter across. Lately, one mouse doesn't seem to fill her. She used to eat one adult mouse, go into her hide, and not come out for two days. Now, she eats one, and is still "looking" for more. Sunday, I fed her two adult mice. She ate them both with no problem and was practically comatose for two days, which is, from what I understand, the desired result.

Did I make the right decision to increase the number of prey items? I don't want to endure a fast down the road...

Thanks,
Tony

350g at 1.5 years old seems pretty light (I have an '07 at 200 grams). I'm no expert, but I would think some more food might be good.

JonV

I agree with the previous statement. Try 2 ;)

Can you post a recent picture of this animal?

36" and 350 grams sounds beyond emaciated to me.

At her age, I would think she can eat 2 adult mice with no problem. Of course she may be very small.

I feed my youngins a weanling rat - small rat every week (thats 40-60 gram rat, approx. 2 adult mice I believe) and they take them just fine and haven't fasted yet.

If you can see a slight bulge in her belly, it's probably a good size for now.

She is not emaciated...quite the opposite actually. She looks very healthy (I will try to post pics soon). Maybe I'm weighing her wrong, or maybe the breeder was wrong with the hatch date...

I've been feeding 1 adult mouse to mine up to about 350g, then 2 adult mice thereafter. My breeding females are currently on 3 adult mice trying to bulk up for this winter.

1 adult mouse is approx. 25g, which is about half of a small adult rat. 1 small rat is what most breeders feed during the majority of the year, with an extra prey item presented to females in the weeks/months prior to breeding. I figure moving up from 2 to 3 mice is appropriate, and definitely not overfeeding for my girls...

maybe you can find jumbo mice and feed her one larger more appropriately sized prey item. if it is an option for you, you may want to try to switch her over to small rats?

Will your snake take rats? Id try a rat the right size once a week. I have all of mine eating rats now. I have 2 03 females same age,from same breeder. Only about 2 week apart in age. One eats rats and one just started eating rats. The one on rats is over 2100g. After laying a 7 egg clutch on 7/16/07. Now the other that would only take mice untill about 3 months ago is only 958g. Those weights are from last month and both have put on alot more size since them. But you can see how the one on rats is much bigger than the one that was on mice for so long. The one that was on mice for so long is nice and healthy just much smaller than what she should be. So try to switch it over to a small rat once a week and see how that works. For a few months if it will take them keep track of weights. 350g Is a bit under weight i have an 07 male pastel born on 6/25/07 and hes at 235g he takes a rat fuzzy every week.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ama1997

Will your snake take rats? Id try a rat the right size once a week. I have all of mine eating rats now. I have 2 03 females same age,from same breeder. Only about 2 week apart in age. One eats rats and one just started eating rats. The one on rats is over 2100g. After laying a 7 egg clutch on 7/16/07. Now the other that would only take mice untill about 3 months ago is only 958g. Those weights are from last month and both have put on alot more size since them. But you can see how the one on rats is much bigger than the one that was on mice for so long. The one that was on mice for so long is nice and healthy just much smaller than what she should be. So try to switch it over to a small rat once a week and see how that works. For a few months if it will take them keep track of weights. 350g Is a bit under weight i have an 07 male pastel born on 6/25/07 and hes at 235g he takes a rat fuzzy every week.

---

Were you feeding a single mouse per feeding, or multiples?

!,2 or sometimes 3 mice a week. Whenever she seamed like she wanted more. I fed every 5 days for the first year then went to every 7. She never went off feed unless she was sheding. Never missed a meal unless shedding. Now that shes on rats she has really grown. I just weighed her real quick and shes at 1236g but she just ate 2 small rats last night. So thats not empty. I tried to switch her over to rats before but would never take them. She was on rat pinkies when i got her. Stopped taking them. Would only take mice. She on rats now and growing like a weed now.

I would switch to rats as soon as possible. Its been my experience that rats put on size much faster than mice.