BHB's Feeding Experiment

[MasonC2K]

Did any of you see the results for BHB's feeding experiment?

The results were (in order of best performance) and correct me if I misheard:

1) 1 bigger than normal meal once a week
2) Standard meal with vitamins once a week.(This really surprised Brian)
3) Standard meal once per week (Control)
4) Smaller than normal meal twice a week

The difference between the largest and smallest snakes that were the same age was stunning.

I believe it was last weeks video so check it out if you haven't yet.

Now this was done on colubrids but I was wondering if pythons and other snake species would work that same way.

What do you guys think?

[zach_24_90]

from what ive seen (with my bps at least) is either one larger than avg once a week or one medium sized meal twice a week. but the less than avg or one normal a week justtt doesnt cut it haha

[purplemuffin]

I've generally found the same thing to be true. Maru hasn't been accepting his regular sized prey, so I switched to multiple smaller items and he definitely lost some weight and struggles to keep it on, despite eating more food than he normally would have since he isn't refusing meals

[TheSnakeEye]

I saw this video. The size difference was incredible. I would love to see the larger prey items with vitamins. I wonder the difference there. Also do you know what vitamins he used?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

[el8ch]

Yeah, I saw that too Chris... I think the results speak for themselves and would translate similar to ball pythons. I have never fed with vitamins, but aside from that my feeding experience has yielded the same results. Bigger prey items per week resulted in increased wight gain. Standard meals controlled weight and allowed for a steady gain in weight. Smaller items twice a week has only been used here and there on problem feeders in my collection and only in that situation.

[kitedemon]

I saw it too I know Brian is concerned with rapid weigh gain but I am not a professional breeder I wonder which is healthier? It is likely more complex than it seems on the surface. I don't have any more answers than any one else, just questions. I have been thinking about using a vitamin before (F/T debate) I am now a bit more interested in that.

[mpkeelee]

This probably only works with young snakes that are growing fast. Once an animal slows down they may become fat and unhealthy. Nobody likes a fat snake. I'm gonna stick with appropriately sized prey but this is just my opinion.

[aldebono]

Link to video?

[aldebono]

NVM I obviously can't read for myself

[Skiploder]

Did any of you see the results for BHB's feeding experiment?

The results were (in order of best performance) and correct me if I misheard:

1) 1 bigger than normal meal once a week
2) Standard meal with vitamins once a week.(This really surprised Brian)
3) Standard meal once per week (Control)
4) Smaller than normal meal twice a week

The difference between the largest and smallest snakes that were the same age was stunning.

I believe it was last weeks video so check it out if you haven't yet.

Now this was done on colubrids but I was wondering if pythons and other snake species would work that same way.

What do you guys think?

Many species of colubrid do not do well when fed large meals. They do very poorly in fact.

For example, various pituophis are notorious for being unable to handle bigger meals and do better on multiple small prey items.