Typical feeding night

[EL-Ziggy]

I fed a few snakes tonight. Some had meals, some had snacks.

meals:
2013 female bullsnake- (1) large rat & (1) small chick; last ate (1) jumbo rat 8/14

2014 male coastal carpet python- (1) large rat; last ate (1) jumbo rat 8/8

2015 male Bredli- (2) jumbo mice; last ate (1) jumbo mouse 8/16

2017 male scrub python- (1) large rat; last ate (1) small chick 8/16

snacks:
2017 male BI- (1) jumbo mouse; last ate (1) medium rat 8/13

2018 female BCO- (1) small chick; last ate (1) medium rat 8/13

[dakski]

I bet your food bill isn't too cheap Ziggy!

Thankfully, two of the Boas are still pretty small and eat small rats and the corn snakes are easy - adult mice. Cheap!

The bills keep going up, but they are worth it. Of course, as Yafe (CP) and Behira (BI) stop growing as fast, they won't eat as often if they need bigger meals.

Thank you for the post.

[EL-Ziggy]

I bet your food bill isn't too cheap Ziggy!

Thankfully, two of the Boas are still pretty small and eat small rats and the corn snakes are easy - adult mice. Cheap!

The bills keep going up, but they are worth it. Of course, as Yafe (CP) and Behira (BI) stop growing as fast, they won't eat as often if they need bigger meals.

Thank you for the post.

Compared to my one dog the snakes are pretty inexpensive to feed. They all eat medium to jumbo rats, except my mouser Bredli. I buy more mice and chicks as snacks to vary their diet a bit. I just reviewed my invoices and I spend about $800 over a 12 month period feeding (11) medium-large size snakes. A few of them fast for most of the winter and the ones that do eat during the winter do so far less often.

[Snagrio]

I do wonder how it works with thawing several prey items at the same time for multiple snakes, especially if it's during a period where some may be fasting. Which begs the question, if you have snakes that you know probably aren't going to eat, do you thaw out what is meant to be their meal first? That way if they refuse it can just be tossed to a reliable eater?

The way it goes for me is that it takes roughly 2 1/2 hours from removal from the freezer to getting grabbed for consumption to ensure proper thawing. And the way I've figured it, when I eventually have more than one serpent and fasting periods inevitably happen (my current snake is a BP, it's going to happen, which is why I want to get a "feeding companion" for him someday that will reliably take those refusals to prevent waste since refreezing is generally discouraged), I'll have to figure out a more efficient method so I don't have to set aside an entire day of my time just thawing rodent carcasses.

[EL-Ziggy]

I do wonder how it works with thawing several prey items at the same time for multiple snakes, especially if it's during a period where some may be fasting. Which begs the question, if you have snakes that you know probably aren't going to eat, do you thaw out what is meant to be their meal first? That way if they refuse it can just be tossed to a reliable eater?

The way it goes for me is that it takes roughly 2 1/2 hours from removal from the freezer to getting grabbed for consumption to ensure proper thawing. And the way I've figured it, when I eventually have more than one serpent and fasting periods inevitably happen (my current snake is a BP, it's going to happen, which is why I want to get a "feeding companion" for him someday that will reliably take those refusals to prevent waste since refreezing is generally discouraged), I'll have to figure out a more efficient method so I don't have to set aside an entire day of my time just thawing rodent carcasses.

You’re spot on Snagrio. All of my snakes are very reliable eaters. Even the ones that take winter fasts eat any other time. For the winter breaks I offer food two weeks after a first refusal. I know if refuse twice they’re typically shut down for a few months. I’ll still offer them food every 4-6 weeks and one of them will eat occasionally. When they don’t eat it goes to whoever’s next in line so nothing goes to waste. I’ve got a pretty good system going and there’s always hungry snakes since they only eat every 2-4 weeks.

It takes 5-6 hours from the time I start defrosting the rodents until I feed the snakes. I like to make sure the larger prey items are thoroughly thawed. Once they know it’s feeding time all the hungry snakes are at the front of their enclosures.