Feed Two or Bigger?

[mischiefneko]

Loki is a three year old male ball python. The breeder told me that he'd been feeding him small rats, so that's what I've been feeding him. But I notice that he kinda keeps looking around, as if he's still hungry? I just finished the pack of small rats, so I'm torn between getting more small or getting a pack of medium. I know the rule of thumb is food the size of the fattest part of their body, but Loki is very skinny. Not underweight, no hanging skin or anything, just very thin. So I wonder if a medium would help him fatten up just a little? On the flip side, I've read controversy about feeding two rats in one feeding.
What should I do?

[JodanOrNoDan]

Loki is a three year old male ball python. The breeder told me that he'd been feeding him small rats, so that's what I've been feeding him. But I notice that he kinda keeps looking around, as if he's still hungry? I just finished the pack of small rats, so I'm torn between getting more small or getting a pack of medium. I know the rule of thumb is food the size of the fattest part of their body, but Loki is very skinny. Not underweight, no hanging skin or anything, just very thin. So I wonder if a medium would help him fatten up just a little? On the flip side, I've read controversy about feeding two rats in one feeding.
What should I do?

I can't vote. I don't think either is right. How long is he and how much does he weigh? It would be very unusual for a male to ever need more than a single small weekly. Even with that many will go off food for up to six months out of the year.

[Bogertophis]

I'm not voting for the same reason, both answers are "wrong" IMO. What I'd likely do is keep feeding smalls, but a little closer together. How often are
you feeding??? Snakes "can" often digest 2 prey items, but some barf it up, and that's a set-back, as then you have to wait longer to feed a snake that's
already on the thin side (so they have time to replenish their digestive enzymes). After feeding smalls at a slightly faster pace (as long as he's digesting
well), only then I'd size up to mediums and lengthen the time between so he has time to digest well.

Also, I'm not seeing your snake...I size the prey fed so it's a little smaller in diameter than the snake is at it's widest part...so that determines what size
I'd use right now & in the foreseeable future if I were you.

[Sonny1318]

Yeah, I can’t agree in good faith either. All mine are mousers. I have two 1600 gram plus 4 year olds males (all I have is males).I just give them a jumbo mouse every 5 to 7 days. If I stick to the 7 days around September I’ll occasionally give two. To many overfed snakes. They never encounter the amount some people offer in the wild. Just my 2 cents.

[JodanOrNoDan]

Yeah, I can’t agree in good faith either. All mine are mousers. I have two 1600 gram plus 4 year olds males (all I have is males).I just give them a jumbo mouse every 5 to 7 days. If I stick to the 7 days around September I’ll occasionally give two. To many overfed snakes. They never encounter the amount some people offer in the wild. Just my 2 cents.

Out of curiosity how long are they fasting if at all?

[Sonny1318]

Out of curiosity how long are they fasting if at all?

No problem I keep decent records. My two that were born in 14’ started fasting the last two winters for just about six months each, with one grabbing a least one feeding during that time. Another guy born in 15” took four months this year. I just weighed them for the first time all year, 1580gms, 1449gms and 1085grams. About this time of year, they get fed roughly every 5 to 7 days, then around late September I occasionally offer doubles. Always just jumbo mice. Even when I had my Boa collection and I tried to never go larger then medium rats (again I had nothing but males). I just don’t believe they get that much food in the wild. But that’s just me. Hope I answered your question.

[JodanOrNoDan]

No problem I keep decent records. My two that were born in 14’ started fasting the last two winters for just about six months each, with one grabbing a least one feeding during that time. Another guy born in 15” took four months this year. I just weighed them for the first time all year, 1580gms, 1449gms and 1085grams. About this time of year, they get fed roughly every 5 to 7 days, then around late September I occasionally offer doubles. Always just jumbo mice. Even when I had my Boa collection and I tried to never go larger then medium rats (again I had nothing but males). I just don’t believe they get that much food in the wild. But that’s just me. Hope I answered your question.

Good info to have. Backs my data. I have been decreasing my males food with no negative side affects other than they grow slower. My adult boys are now on small rats every other week until right before breeding, then I try to get them to eat every week until they fast.

[Skyrivers]

I have one male and 1 female. They are both right at a year old. Both born same month last year. The girl eats 1 medium rat every 14 days and 1 small rat every 14 days on alternating schedule now. She is almost 800g. Why do I change it up for her? Is what she prefers and works for her. I was doing small rats every week and she was always hungry. She doesn't need a medium every week and when she does eat a medium she will not go 14 days between feedings. It works for her. Took some doing to figure this all out. My male is 575g and eats 1 small rat every week. The girl is slightly longer and slightly larger around. Neither of them are to fat or under weight. Keep in mind I am not an expert but took time while treating them as independent personalities to make them happy. Their growth has been slow and steady. Never refused food and eat pre-killed just fine.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

It's a male if you want to keep him healthy and feeding with consistency (so you don't end up complaining that your snake won't eat) feed small rat weekly.

Those animals have a slow metabolism and need to be fed accordingly to metabolism, sex and size even the largest males do not require more than a 75 grams rat weekly which still falls in the small category some people will even feed males every 10 days.

Over feeding is a real issue so is the increase of fatty liver issue in BP.

A male is supposed to be lean it's not a female.

[MasonC2K]

All my males get smalls. Females get according to size. Generally speaking though, if the situation called for it I would feed multiple smaller items that equaled the normal larger item. I have never done this with rats though except for my boa. With Balls it's been 3-4 mice vs a small rat when I still had mousers.