feeding problem

[mr~python]

today i fed both of my snakes, ive decided to feed them once every week on wednesday(because i read here that its best to have one feeding day that you always feed on). my female ate because i feed her every week anyway, but this was the first time i'd fed him after 7 days(i usually feed him every 10). anyway he did not eat it! he's only not at'n his rat once and it was because i tried to feed him after nine days, and the day after that he ate the rat because then it had been 10 days.

i was wondering: why do you guys think he didnt eat? im thinkin it was one of these;
1-i tried to feed him on the 7th instead of the 10th and hes just not ready
2-hes just doing a regular fast because hes controlling his weight by himself
3-he was stressed at the moment(my friend was over and wanted too see him eat, although i tried it a few more times without him in the room)

also: how long should he be fasting before i should be getting concerned.

any good info would be appreciated, thanks

[Adam_Wysocki]

Wait til next wednesday and try again .. he just has to learn his new routine.

-adam

[mr~python]

ok, thanks adam. also i was wondering before i decided to switch him to every 7 days he had just started on medium rats. should i stick to big small rats because i will be feeding more often?

when i try to breed i dont want to have a overweight male

[Adam_Wysocki]

ok, thanks adam. also i was wondering before i decided to switch him to every 7 days he had just started on medium rats. should i stick to big small rats because i will be feeding more often?

You're asking the wrong person ... most of my males eat either adult mice or small small rats (40-50 grams) once a week.

-adam

[mr~python]

even your big females?

[Adam_Wysocki]

even your big females?

you must have missed the "most of my males" part of the sentence ... my big females get 1 40-50 gram rat per week most of the year (except for the few that are mousers) ... in preperation for breeding season, they might get a little more, but only for a short period of time and never EVER anything bigger than a "small small" rat.

-adam

[mr~python]

oooh, ok. sorry i did miss that part i think i have it all down now.

P.S. can anyone tell me what i should do with the rat that zulu didnt eat? right now its in a cardboard box with some water and dogfood.

[SatanicIntention]

Put it in something a little more sturdy, or you won't have a rat for much longer

[mr~python]

LOL, i thought so. but i dont want the rat. what should i do with it?

[kavmon]

take the rat back to the store for a credit? ever since i started keeping records on my feedings and sheds it has helped me to see patterns in feedings and shed cycles, some snakes get a little picky around a shed some don't, even the week before or after a shed! some will eat right through a shed! they are all different.


vaughn