Those who's snakes eat more than one rodent....

Do you feed them two mice (or whatever) consecutively?

I offer first one, allow her to finish it then follow with a second. Shes never once refused the second mouse. We do this because we REFUSE to feed rats.

I feed rats, and I do the same thing. Offer the rat, wait until the snake is COMPLETELY done with it, swallowed and all.. then offer the second. Most times the snake eats the second one too.
I usually only feed a second rodent when #1 the rodents are smaller than the usual prey, or #2 when I have a leftover from one snake not eating for whatever reason, I'll offer the second to the biggest girls.
Hope this helped.

I have noticed when I have had to offer more than one prey that my balls will yawn after they have gotten the tail down. I usually wait for that as a sign to offer the second one.

:)

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Originally Posted by jeffnme

I have noticed when I have had to offer more than one prey that my balls will yawn after they have gotten the tail down. I usually wait for that as a sign to offer the second one.

:)

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I did the same thing before I converted my BP to rats. I just waited until they yawned, then put the second mouse in. Usually they are still in the 'hunt' mode and she never refused for me.

I asked because I fed my bp yesterday, and more or less immediately after finishing the mouse, he went cruising around the tank. It made me wonder if he was looking for another. Maybe I'll buy 2 mice next time and see if he'll take both.

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

....we REFUSE to feed rats.

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Why, if I might ask?

FYI, in case anyone didn't know... the "yawn" is the snake resetting its jaw.

When feeding consecutive mice to my bp (she's decided she likes albino mice over anything else, even though she could be eating medium rats), I try to offer the second one before she yawns. Yawn, as my understanding goes, is the signal that feeding time is done.

But I guess it's whatever works for you. I'm just happy when my stubborn girl eats!

I just wait 'til the first one is down and then throw the other in. Dakota generally eats them both. Only once did he decide not to eat the second one.

I usually just wait until the first meal is down and them offer the second. We've got several snakes at the zoo that have no problem taking 4-5 mice on feeding day.:)

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Originally Posted by worldcupkeeper

I usually just wait until the first meal is down and them offer the second. We've got several snakes at the zoo that have no problem taking 4-5 mice on feeding day.:)

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My male was on 5 mice a feeding until I coverted him to Large rats. now it takes him 3 times as long to get the meal down, so he doesnt care about eating again after.

I feed my corn snakes two large mice a week and they usually take it with little to no hesitation. I just wait until the jaw is reset and they are looking around and dangle the thawed mouse nearby. :)

My BP isn't quite up to two yet, she's still on a single jumbo mouse a week. And I hope she doesn't refuse this next one tomorrow like she did last week. :)

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Originally Posted by AshleyB

I We do this because we REFUSE to feed rats.

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I do not feed rats either (out of convience) are there any other reasons not to feed rats?

I don't feed rats for a couple reasons. One, I am a little too attached to rats as I have had some as pets for longer than I have snakes. :) that's the silly reason. Two, mice are cheaper around here. And three, rats are so much more defensive than mice when faced with a predator and I don't want the extra risk for my BP who eats live. Maybe if she ever switches over to FT, I would consider it.

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Originally Posted by paingod

I do not feed rats either (out of convience) are there any other reasons not to feed rats?

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There's no reason to not feed rats or mice or ASF's or whatever prey is appropriately sized and correct for your snake. Type of prey is a keeper's choice based on what they can get of top quality in a consistent manner and what their particular snake will take with a strong feeding response. For me that's regular rats and african soft furred rats.

As to the concept that rats are somehow more aggressive than mice, I'd have to disagree with that. Were that so then I'd have 26 chewed up snakes since they all, from the smallest milksnake or 07 BP to the largest boa or mature BP, eat live rats. Each snake is offered, however, a rat appropriate to that snake's size and hunting abilities.

This might mean that a larger but very shy hunter gets two rat pups rather than a single small adult rat or a snake that isn't doing well on regular rats is offered multiple ASF's instead. Whatever works for that specific snake, that's how we feed.

It is worthy to note that any live rodent, rat or mouse, if offered to the snake while it's in poor condition itself....stressed, hungry, thirsty, just out of an overcrowded feeder bin....could be difficult. Part of live feeding safely for Mike and I is ensuring that the live prey that we offer is in the best possible condition prior to being presented to the snake. Seems to work well for us, for the rats and for the snakes. :)