another feeding question (sorry) *pics*

[CeeLee]

rush ate a full grown mouse on monday, then on wensday he was showing signs of hunger so i fed him again and then on thursday he was actually out of his hide searching so i fed him another full grown mouse. i weighed him on thursday before he ate and he was about 7ounces. he hasn't had a BM for a couple of weeks. tonight he is out searching again should i feed him again? it seems like a lot to me. can i overfeed him? oh, and he's around a year old.

that's what he looked like when i got him at the end of febuary
[IMG][/IMG]

this is him a few days ago
[IMG][/IMG]

i know he's still skinny but he is growing really fast and looking healthier every day. he was so sickly when i first got him

[cecilbturtle]

youre feeding him way too often. they need a few days, at least 5 when they are babies, to digest their food. if you think he needs more food feed him larger meals but they definitely need to be spread out more than a day.

[cecilbturtle]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

here, this will help.

good luck

[CeeLee]

youre feeding him way too often. they need a few days, at least 5 when they are babies, to digest their food. if you think he needs more food feed him larger meals but they definitely need to be spread out more than a day.

yah i though i was too. he doesn't act like this every week though, usually he's ok with about once a week.

[Homegrownscales]

You should be waiting at least 4 days I'd go 5 so you have him on a good healthy schedule. Feed bugger meals and he won't be showing he's hungry. Do you really know that's it's hunger? Some are really aggressive feeders and will snatch up anything in front of them. But it doesn't Mean it's good for them.

[Kymberli]

Feeding every 1-2 days seems way too often, even for a young BP. Be sure you're feeding large enough meals, and then I'd suggest double-checking your husbandry. I know, everything goes back to husbandry. He may not be searching for food though, he may be stressed or possibly just be an active, young BP searching for an escape. I'd keep him on a 5 day feeding schedule, feeding meals whose girth is slightly larger than that of the widest part of your snake. I'm no expert though, so take what I say with a grain of salt and hopefully some more knowledgeable keepers can contribute here!

Edit: Thought I should add, BPs are naturally opportunistic feeders. So, yes, if you offer the meal, he'll most likely take it whether he's actually hungry or not.

[Anya]

I too was wondering this a little today...I just fed Axel again today (last time he ate was 4 days ago...) I could feel myself getting attatched to his mouse, and he was getting excited from the scent, so I let him have it. It's just taught me, don't buy the mouse till you're ready to feed...

heh, I really appreciate the info given here.

[Highline Reptiles South]

I'd try to get him onto rats as soon as possible. As folks have said...every 5 days seems to be the consensus for juveniles...