A question or two about healthy eating

[Riv]

Okay, I got Pakul(My male Normal) 2/1/11. I was really worried for some time because the little guy just didnt want to eat. I had him in a tub that I used only when attempting to feed, but for the first 3 months I had him the little guy just wouldnt take a meal. He just kept on trying to escape from his tub XD. Eventually we just set him on the floor and tried again and he took the mouse immediately. I know its not a typical feeding method but it seems to be the only way he'll eat. Is this frowned upon?

Number two, I'll say it little pakul isnt very good at being a snake yet. All pinkies because he has had so much trouble learning to manuver the mouse into a position that he can swallow easily. (The first few meals his bit the mouse exactly at its midpoint giving him a hard time) He's made a lot of progress, as far as biting where hes supposed to and manuvering effectively, but im still feeding him pinkies when he should be eating fuzzies simply because im worried he wont be able to get a bigger one down easily and Im afraid he'll give up. Should I continue on pinkies until he gets better at eating and just feed him more frequently? or do I give him some fuzzies and hope for the best?

Number three. Because he's been eating pinkies ive been trying to feed him more often. He's been taking one meal a week, occasionally two if he'll take it. But I am worried about over feeding. Granted to Would love for him to grow quickly, I just dont want to over do it you know? And If I graduate to fozzies would I still feed him at the same frequency or should I chill out a little?

[decensored]

He's way too old to be eating pinkies. How much does he weigh? My guy is around the same age and he's 500 grams now, and eats small adult rats. Depending on his size (which Im assuming he's a little small - I would by-pass the fuzzie stage and get him on rat pups ASAP. At his age you couldn't over feed him with pinkies.

Sometimes BP just are not very good at getting headshots, and swallowing their food isn't a fast and easy process. It can take my guy in excess of ten minutes to swallow his rat but as long as your feeding him around the thickness of his belly or 10 - 15% of his body weight, he'll get it in. Its what snakes do.

As for feeding location, feed where he'll take. I feed right in his enclosure. I know some people are against it for various reasons but I have never had a problem and he's never refused a meal that was inside his terrarium, and he always refuses when we try the feed box.

In conclusion, feed him bigger meals. He will eat it - you just have to leave him alone for a bit and he will swallow it. At his age he should be at least 450grams.

[Riv]

Dear god I didnt realize how far behind he was.. Granted he is probably a little small, but I still cant believe He grown as much as he has with how little he's eaten grand total. Im afraid I dont have a scale (Something I regrettably didnt think to buy @_@) But Ill get one as soon as I can and make sure he's at least close to his goal weight. Im not sure How well you'll be able to gauge just on a picture, but maybe this will help you get an idea.

[Vypyrz]

I agree with Decensored. Mouse pinkies are way too small. I would at least bump him up to mouse hoppers or rat fuzzies. The only way he is going to learn how to position and swallow larger prey is for you to feed him larger prey. I would also advise to start feeding him in his enclosure. You definitely don't want a mouse or rat getting away from you and making a run for freedom in your house...

[Riv]

You mean Live feed him? Ive always heard that was really dangerous. He's taken to frozen mice fairy well though. I mean hes at least consistently feeding that is. Ill look into live feed, but im not inclined simply because im afraid he'll get hurt..

[decensored]

hey,

yeah he's kinda skinny. Not as bad as I expected but I would have him on rat pups for sure. he's getting pretty long though which is a good sign! Don't feel too bad - I rescued a 2 year old a few months ago that was about his size and he did really well once he was being offered proper meals. He appears healthy in the photos, just a little small .

Here's a photo of our guy who was born around the same time.



Hope this helps.
Cheers.

[decensored]

You mean Live feed him? Ive always heard that was really dangerous. He's taken to frozen mice fairy well though. I mean hes at least consistently feeding that is. Ill look into live feed, but im not inclined simply because im afraid he'll get hurt..

If you have him on F/T don't switch! When all is said there are more pros for F/T than cons. I feed live but the only reason I do that is because they won't take to F/T LOL - Live is only dangerous if the owner doesn't watch with feeding tongs at the ready. I have never had a BP get seriously injured by a live rodent.

[Vypyrz]

You mean Live feed him? Ive always heard that was really dangerous. He's taken to frozen mice fairy well though. I mean hes at least consistently feeding that is. Ill look into live feed, but im not inclined simply because im afraid he'll get hurt..

If you already have him on F/T, then no, don't switch. Something that you might try is using a blow dryer to heat the prey up right before offering it, and concentrate the heat on the head so that it is where most of the heat signature is. That may help him with positioning...

[Skittles1101]

He's way too old to be eating pinkies. How much does he weigh? My guy is around the same age and he's 500 grams now, and eats small adult rats. Depending on his size (which Im assuming he's a little small - I would by-pass the fuzzie stage and get him on rat pups ASAP. At his age you couldn't over feed him with pinkies.

Sometimes BP just are not very good at getting headshots, and swallowing their food isn't a fast and easy process. It can take my guy in excess of ten minutes to swallow his rat but as long as your feeding him around the thickness of his belly or 10 - 15% of his body weight, he'll get it in. Its what snakes do.

As for feeding location, feed where he'll take. I feed right in his enclosure. I know some people are against it for various reasons but I have never had a problem and he's never refused a meal that was inside his terrarium, and he always refuses when we try the feed box.

In conclusion, feed him bigger meals. He will eat it - you just have to leave him alone for a bit and he will swallow it. At his age he should be at least 450grams.

+10000

I have a male normal who I got around the same time as you and he's 800 grams and eating small rats, which is larger than weaned, larger than pups, larger than fuzzies, much much larger than pinkies.

They don't always get head shots, out of all of mine I get maybe 1 per feeding night that actually hits it perfectly. The rest are all rejects and takes then 20 minutes to find the head after striking.

I'd try feeding right in his enclosure, feeding on the floor might not make a huge difference or maybe it does...but he may feel more comfortable and secure eating in his own home. He may eat better for you if he knows he's not going to get removed, get it dangled in his face on a wide open floor, then picked up and put back. I feed all of mine in their enclosures without any issue.

[Riv]

Wow! I cant believe I didnt think to use a blow dryer before XDD

And im INCREDIBLY happy that he isnt horribly underfed I felt horribly all last night. Im definitely switching to rat pups from now on though. And Im getting a scale asap so I can track his growth. Do you guys have any particular brands in mind? Ps that rescue snake is so fricken cute. youre right, he's a little meatyer than pakul is. But I think he"ll catch up before too long = P