Growth diet vs maintenance diet?

Okay, just looking for a bit of clarification here.


What I see most often regarding feeding BPs is that you want prey that is no bigger around than their largest point.

That or people say to feed one that's around 10-15% of their body weight. (Which I think is a more accurate way of going about it)

But does this only apply to a growing snake? Because from what I've seen of big older BPs, if you went by either rule you'd be feeding big or jumbo rats in some cases. But that can't be right for an adult snake, can it? They should no longer need so much food.

I've heard of people who feed their adults nothing larger than a small rat- do you just get to the small rat size and feed that forever no matter what their girth or weight is? Or do you feed larger items when they're growing based on their girth or weight, and THEN cut back to small when they're full grown?

Sorry if that's a bit confusing. Thanks!

Im not quite sure but i think the 10-15 % rule is only for a growing snake.I read this when i was looking up how to feed my Python.

i go with 10 - 15% you gotta remember that these animals are "wild" its not going to harm them to feed them good sized meals. in the wild they can eat up to or over 50% of their body weight and live. i go with the bigger the meal the less often they feed.

While I am not sure what the majority does, but here is how I feed:

I will not feed any adult BP a rat larger than a medium, if it is F/T, or small, if it is live.

With babies/juveniles I go by the girth of the snake. I typically pick out a rat that is about the same diameter. I don't sweat the details, a little more or less is not a big deal to me.

The way I look at it is this, when the snake is done swallowing the rat I want to see at least a small noticeable bulge in their body. I don't want the snake to look as if they had not eaten at all after they are done.

As far as schedule is concerned, babies/juveniles and breeder adult females are fed weekly. Adult males are fed every two weeks.

I hope this helps.

John

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Originally Posted by andwhy6

i go with 10 - 15% you gotta remember that these animals are "wild" its not going to harm them to feed them good sized meals. in the wild they can eat up to or over 50% of their body weight and live. i go with the bigger the meal the less often they feed.

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In the wild a ball python survives.

You want them to thrive in your care!

Feeding larger than the largest point causes strain and stress on their internal organs and is usually uncomfortable.

Just because it's capable of eating something that large, doesn't mean it should.
You want your snake to live a long healthy life, that is not a way to go about it.


EDIT: John could you tell me why you feed your males every 2 weeks? I'm just curious. :]
Your method is very knowledgeable and wise. Rather be safe then sorry.

They get the first thing smaller than their girth that we have in the feeder rat bins. If it starts getting to the point that the prey is significantly smaller than a good meal then they get two. Babies get new born or 1 or 2 day old pups. If they don't start eating a couple of weeks after their first shed we move them to small hoppers and in some cases mouse pinkies just to get them started.

I personally classify maintenance feeding as every 8 to 10 days and growth feeding for sub Adults and up every 5 to 7 days. You learn to tell when they are hungry by the actions they are taking in the tub. Each one does things a little different, so you have to figure each one out as an individual.

Up until about a year old I feed every 5 days. Hatchlings and juvies get a prey item about as large around as the snake's girthiest (is that a word?) section. Adults get a large wean/small small every day with girls getting ready to breed sometimes getting doubles. Adult males eat every 10 days or so. All snakes get 1 or 2 feedings off every 2 months or so. Either refusing because of shed or me skipping feeding them to give them a break. When you have a lot of snakes you get a feel for feeding. I hope this all makes sense!

Jamie

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Adults get a large wean/small small every day with girls getting ready to breed sometimes getting doubles.

Jamie

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This should have read:

Adults get a large wean/small small every WEEK with girls getting ready to breed sometimes getting doubles.

That would really be some powerfeeding if I fed daily! :D

Hm. Well this is all useful info and I appreciate it, but I guess I didn't phrase my question quite right. ^_^; Though I see people seem to think more of 'time between feedings' vs the size of the prey, interesting...


Lemme put it another way. My snake is growing like a weed. Jumbo mice are quickly getting too small for him so in the next few months I figure I should start getting rats. But I'm just not sure what sizes to order in advance for when he grows more...

Basically, would it be best if I just get a lot of small rats and always feed that size, more or less frequently as he grows, or should I also order some mediums and larges?

I don't feed anything larger than a small rat. My rat eaters get smalls from the time they are about 700g to over 2,000g. Occationally if a big girl has been looking hungry for a few days she'll get 2, but still 2 smalls. Big girls can take medium rats, but most people seem to stick with smalls. I prefer to stay on the small end and offer more qty. I have 800g mousers that get 3-4 mice a week, because I keep prey items smaller than I could.

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Originally Posted by PythonWallace

I don't feed anything larger than a small rat. My rat eaters get smalls from the time they are about 700g to over 2,000g. Occationally if a big girl has been looking hungry for a few days she'll get 2, but still 2 smalls. Big girls can take medium rats, but most people seem to stick with smalls. I prefer to stay on the small end and offer more qty. I have 800g mousers that get 3-4 mice a week, because I keep prey items smaller than I could.

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Great post, Jake! :gj:

I was told recently and agree that if you feed more than one smaller prey in one feeding that equal a larger prey in weight, you'll give the snake a more comfortable full belly instead of a bulge they have to drag around. Also, they'll get more nutrients that promote growth. Then you'll have fast growing snake that's not obese.

If you think the snake can take a small rat, give it 2 weanlings, or possibly 3 pups in one feeding instead. Not sure on the nutritional value of pups compared to weanlings or smalls though. I'm currently giving this idea a try to see how it goes.

This info was given to me from a breeder who has studied how they eat in the wild and has used this knowledge with his own bps for many years.

I'm just giving up the info, you can take it or leave it. I know everyone has their own beliefs and habits. Good luck. :)

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

In the wild a ball python survives.
EDIT: John could you tell me why you feed your males every 2 weeks? I'm just curious. :]
Your method is very knowledgeable and wise. Rather be safe then sorry.

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Jess,

I feed my adult males every two weeks due to their significantly reduced need of nutrition when compared to an adult female that is building back up from laying eggs or that has gained her weight back but will be laying eggs in the near future. Also, by feeding my males every two weeks it is very easy to keep an eye on how their weight is progressing. I can always feed them on their "off" week if I feel that will be beneficial to them. I want my males to be healthy and constantly gaining weight, but I want them to be slim. Not skinny or starving, but just healthy. They have no need to be heavy, just like us. Their bodies do not go through the drastic fluctuations every year due to breeding, as do the females.

If I had any females that I was not planning on breeding, or only for a pet, I would put her on a similar diet. Taking the breeding process out of the equation, there is no adult female that needs to eat every week.

I could compare my methods to how ball pythons live in the wild, but in my house there is no comparison really. They get food when it is appropriate, which is not always the case in the wild, they eat when and what they can. They will, hopefully, breed every year, again not always the case in the wild, I am sure many females do not get the opportunity to breed every year considering how much weight they lose due to laying and incubating. They also get much less exercise in my house than in the wild, so it is much easier for any of my snakes to become obese, in stead of fit. With all these differences, I do not believe that I need to attempt to mimic their conditions in the wild when I can provide conditions that are much better for them.

I hope this helps. Please, if anyone disagrees with me, please speak up. I am always open to hearing other peoples opinion. One can never have to much information to base a decision on.

John

Well here is my .02 cents. (keep in mind i am new at BP's)

After talking to local breeders and researching on this site and many others, I have come up with my own feeding pattern

All my BP's eat on Wednesday Night(weigh day) and Saturday Afternoon(so kids can watch, i try to teach kids and adults that snakes are not bad, but good and great pets if handled properly)

1.0 Pastel(76g) gets 1 hopper on each feeding day
0.1 Normal(220g) gets 1 small mouse on each feeding day
0.1 Normal(260g) gets 1 small mouse on each feeding day
0.1 Normal(750g) gets 1 large mouse on each feeding day

I only feed live mice. This seems to make them stronger and replicates more of the "wild" for them. They also seem to be slimmer(more active) while adding weight.

Well like i said just my .2 cents


Casey

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Originally Posted by John Marker

I hope this helps. Please, if anyone disagrees with me, please speak up. I am always open to hearing other peoples opinion. One can never have to much information to base a decision on.

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Thanks for the info AND being open minded!:)

Ahh, so there does seem to be more support for feeding them multiple smaller prey items... That just always made sense to me.

All righty, I think I'll stick with small rats once he (or she, I actually don't know) really outgrows the jumbo mice- but if he's not into rats I'll just give him several mice per feeding. (He takes two currently, a big and a small) I just wonder when I'll know he/she is full grown so I can known when to cut back?

Thanks all!