Never doubt a hungry python

[Lizardlicks]

I wanted to feed Riddle today since I didn’t know when the last time he ate was. Breeder said he was still on live (expected) so I figured I’d do my usual thing of feeding live until the next shed cycle then switching to f/t. Well I went to get a feeder today…

And every. Single. Store. That sells live did not have hopper sized mice. That’s at least three stores I checked, and there was nothing. So I got him a small adult mouse and crossed my fingers. Even picking out the tiniest one they had, when I got it home and set it down in the tub, it still looked huge. Riddle apparently did not care. He hit that mouse like a bullet, dispatched it quick and clean and then proceeded to cram this mouse that was definitely thicker than him down his gullet. He’s now rather football shaped and proud of it. Was even cruising and tongue flicking for more right after. I don’t think eating is going to be a problem for him lol.

[Nitewolfie]

Uh-oh, sounds like the pet stores around me, they kept running out of rats and mice, and recently stopped selling them live(which is what most of my snakes eat).

[Lizardlicks]

Nah, I know mine won't stop selling live. One IS a reptile store that's just starting to expand their stock to include live rodents, and the other two are technically feed/pet/lawn and garden combination stores that are locally owned and thus not beholden to any corporate demands, and have been operating for decades. It was just poor timing. All their breeding females are pregnant and about ready to pop, and they have plenty of adults from smalls on up, it's just the little critters they were sold out of.

[Reinz]

Good to know that he is off to a great start, congrats!

[Ax01]

nice! good job Riddle!

it's amazing how much they can swallow.

[BMorrison]

They'll eat twice the size of their thickest part! Amazing animals! I'd keep feeding that size!

[Lizardlicks]

If it was f/t I'd take that advise, but with the live stuff, mice that big can do some nasty damage if a strike goes bad. I'll see if I can find some rat pups that size in a week though, those will probably be more his speed and less likely to give me a heart attack lol. Once he hits his next shed cycle (which I imagine will be soon if he shovels the next couple down like he did this one) then I'll do my usual of skip a meal then offer f/t. So far that technique has been fool proof for me, and he's got a really good feeding response, so I don't think he'll have any problem switching.