Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 666

0 members and 666 guests
No Members online
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,905
Threads: 249,104
Posts: 2,572,098
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, Pattyhud

Feeding Frequency

Printable View

  • 07-31-2009, 09:34 PM
    mrshawt
    Feeding Frequency
    I've received so much conflicting info here about how much to feed older bp's. My girl is 1400g. I feed her medium rats (on average 150g). Do I feed her every week or every two weeks?

    I know more people are in the same boat and I'm sure they'd like to know the answer too.

    Thanks. :)
  • 07-31-2009, 09:43 PM
    Neal
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    I would stay feed her every week. The bigger snakes that get like rabbits for food, go 2 weeks.
  • 07-31-2009, 10:29 PM
    Patricia
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Neal View Post
    The bigger snakes that get like rabbits for food, go 2 weeks.

    I've read that here too re. bigger snakes eating bigger meals not needing to eat as often as BPs. What I don't understand is that both meals are sized in proportion to the snakes, so why the difference in frequency? Unless big snakes simply digest/metabolize slower than BPs?
  • 07-31-2009, 10:32 PM
    mrshawt
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    Well, she doesn't seem to be complaining eating every week. :rolleyes:
    She snapped at this one tonight like crazy.
  • 07-31-2009, 10:36 PM
    BigLu
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    I feed every monday no matter what. i dont get why big snakes are fed at different rates either? my guess is they just have much more fat retained from the years that it would give em time to muscle up. Id feed every week though if the snake doesnt take it then its obviously no hungry so try again the next week or wat ever gives u better piece of mind
  • 07-31-2009, 10:39 PM
    DM1975
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    I feed every Monday as well, besides for my babies, they get fed every 5 days.
  • 07-31-2009, 10:40 PM
    mrshawt
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by BigLu View Post
    I feed every monday no matter what. i dont get why big snakes are fed at different rates either? my guess is they just have much more fat retained from the years that it would give em time to muscle up. Id feed every week though if the snake doesnt take it then its obviously no hungry so try again the next week or wat ever gives u better piece of mind

    True.

    I thought about it as adult snakes don't need food as often because they're not growing as quickly. But, if adult bp's should be feed every week, I guess you're just limiting the prey size in keeping it at a medium sized rat.
  • 07-31-2009, 11:05 PM
    BigLu
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mrshawt View Post
    True.

    I thought about it as adult snakes don't need food as often because they're not growing as quickly. But, if adult bp's should be feed every week, I guess you're just limiting the prey size in keeping it at a medium sized rat.

    thats for sure unless shes a big ole heffer :popcorn: then she get another mid week or so
  • 07-31-2009, 11:27 PM
    DM1975
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    I have heard that bigger snakes have a slower metabolism than smaller snakes do. Hence the difference in feeding schedules.
  • 07-31-2009, 11:31 PM
    Kaorte
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    I would say 10 days. Obesity can be a problem with ball pythons. You can slow down feeding when the snake is that large.
  • 07-31-2009, 11:39 PM
    mrshawt
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    1400g large?
  • 08-01-2009, 12:01 AM
    mrshawt
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    This is why I keep getting confused... :(
    The majority says 7 days, and Kaorte says 10.

    Oh poo.
  • 08-01-2009, 12:08 AM
    WingedWolfPsion
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    Keep her on 7 days until she is 3 years old, would be my advice. At that point, re-evaluate. You no longer want her to be growing like a hatchling anymore, as she won't grow larger quickly--she'll start to get fat. So, 10 to 14 days for an ADULT snake.

    At 1400 grams, your snake could be nearly adulthood, or it could be almost 2/3 of the way to being a big 2000 + gram snake. It depends on the age.

    There is more observation and less of a formula involved in this. You can tell your snake is getting too fat when you start to see skin between the scales. They will also eventually develop a noticeable bulge by the vent, before the tail begins--the tail doesn't get fat. This is a sign of a very obese snake.
  • 08-01-2009, 12:12 AM
    mrshawt
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    Cool. I've had her for a year and a half now, but I have no idea how old she was when I got her (stupid Petco :)). I'd assume it would have to be in that range within a couple of months.

    I will be on the lookout for the chubs haha.
  • 08-01-2009, 12:23 AM
    JLC
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mrshawt View Post
    This is why I keep getting confused... :(
    The majority says 7 days, and Kaorte says 10.

    Oh poo.

    If you're looking for a set answer without any contradictions....you're gonna be awfully disappointed. And that's for ANY aspect of keeping them, not just feeding schedules. :P

    When it comes down to some of these nitty-gritty details about what size rodent and how often, exactly, to feed...you have to apply a bit of common sense and personal observation and what works for you. If the snake consistently pounds the medium rat each and every week....nothing wrong with continuing that schedule. A female at 1400g still has plenty of growing to do and it won't hurt her at all. If the snake starts slowing down and skipping meals...then you can consider reducing the prey size to a small rat each week...or increasing the time between feedings.

    What works for one person doesn't always work for someone else. And what works for one snake doesn't always work for the other snake in the same home.
  • 08-01-2009, 12:35 AM
    Neal
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    The reason larger snakes is because of the size, and age. Like others stated, the older/bigger a snake the metabolism slows down, except maybe retics, I would feed them a bit sooner then every 2 weeks.
  • 08-02-2009, 11:18 PM
    eclipsesmommy
    Re: Feeding Frequency
    my ball is soooo underweight it makes me sad when i handle him ):
    im working a 3 large- every 6 days thing until he reaches appropriate weight. what ive learned is if he/she isnt hungry and doesnt need or want the mouse it wont take it so i just follow my bps lead
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1