feeding too much? too little?
so this is my bp... he is an october 08' male bee...
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...DSC_0075-1.jpg
he hatched really small with his yolk still attached, and he was fed up by the breeder at a slower, smaller rate because he didn't want to overwhelm his system...so he's on the small side, but that said, he eats like a champ every week... but i'm wondering if i'm feeding him enough or too much... i've only had him since april 25, but i've been feeding him two fuzzy mice every 7 days, which he slams with no issue.
any suggestions muchly appreciated... this being my first snake and all.
cheers!
tina
Re: feeding too much? too little?
A good rule of thumb is one prey item the size of the widest part of the snake, once every 5-7 days for young growing BPs.
He should definitely be able to take something bigger than fuzzy mice. Without knowing how big your hand is, it is hard to be sure from the pic, but I'd think he could take a small adult mouse.
Re: feeding too much? too little?
From what I have been told , I agree with the above statement, and he is sooo cute!
Re: feeding too much? too little?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kc261
Without knowing how big your hand is, it is hard to be sure from the pic, but I'd think he could take a small adult mouse.
my hand is only 6" from heel to the tip of my middle finger (wee girl hands...LOL)
his neck is just so skinny... its almost the thickness of my middle finger when viewed from above... the fuzzy mice seem yes, a bit small, but he still has a big gulp with them. maybe i will try rat fuzzies instead...
Re: feeding too much? too little?
I don't know- but he is a beauty!
Re: feeding too much? too little?
Re: feeding too much? too little?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
iCandiBallPythons
What is his weight?
i just fed him :weirdface so i'll have to get back to you with a weight in a day or so. sorry :( i know that's more helpful than a picture.
Re: feeding too much? too little?
Re: feeding too much? too little?
I would agree that you definately need to up the size to a medium sized mouse at least. I would be very surprised if he couldn't handle a normal adult mouse.
I have read that they get a whole lot more nutrition out of older mice then pinky's and fuzzies. (Don't quote me though because I don't know where I read it.)
Re: feeding too much? too little?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tina_t
my hand is only 6" from heel to the tip of my middle finger (wee girl hands...LOL)
his neck is just so skinny... its almost the thickness of my middle finger when viewed from above... the fuzzy mice seem yes, a bit small, but he still has a big gulp with them. maybe i will try rat fuzzies instead...
Don't worry about how skinny his neck is... it can stretch a lot! The important part is how big the biggest part of his body is.
Re: feeding too much? too little?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Cavanaugh
I would agree that you definately need to up the size to a medium sized mouse at least. I would be very surprised if he couldn't handle a normal adult mouse.
I have read that they get a whole lot more nutrition out of older mice then pinky's and fuzzies. (Don't quote me though because I don't know where I read it.)
as i quote you, lol.
I've been told that pinkie mice are basically sticks of butter nutritionally, which i guess makes sense. The more "formed" a rodent is the more nutritional value it has to your snake or something of that sort. I can't find a written reference for this though.
Re: feeding too much? too little?
Take the widest part of the snake, add another half and thats your prey item. I keep him on mice for a while, but try to make the switch to rats, it'll be easier and more cost effectve in the long run.
Re: feeding too much? too little?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bleepr
Take the widest part of the snake, add another half and thats your prey item. I keep him on mice for a while, but try to make the switch to rats, it'll be easier and more cost effectve in the long run.
normally I would disagree with this and say it should not be 1 1/2 times the diameter of the snake, it should be equal to the size of the fattest part of the snake.... But because this snake is so small, I would have to agree.
Re: feeding too much? too little?
I would go with rats. Personally I believe that feeding 1 appropriately sized rat is better than multiple mice in a snake that size. A rat the width of an adult mouse usually has more body length than the mouse. If you want him/her to start growing, feed 1 rat a tiny bit wider than the fattest part of the pythons body every 7 days.
