Eating Habits

[Unstable3lement]

This may seem like a silly question, but can BPs get used to being fed one size of rat...and then when you decrease they seem hungry two days later?

I am feeding my BP medium rats once a week but switched to more of a two week schedule and every since then by the second day after he eats when I walk up to the tub he is looking around like he is starving.

Anyone have any experience with this and suggestions as to the best way to approach this? I switched to a every two week feeding schedule because my rat supplier isn't "next door" and I don't have the freezer space to accommodate rats for a weekly feeding of 8 snakes.

Advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

[Flikky]

Of course they get 'used' to it. It mostly isn't about being used to it, it's about being hungry. If you decrease food, then your snake will be looking for more maybe because yes he is used to having a certain amount but also-mostly- because he was satisfied with the amount he had and now he's hungry. I personally would not feed every 2 weeks.

[Unstable3lement]

Of course they get 'used' to it. It mostly isn't about being used to it, it's about being hungry. If you decrease food, then your snake will be looking for more maybe because yes he is used to having a certain amount but also-mostly- because he was satisfied with the amount he had and now he's hungry. I personally would not feed every 2 weeks.

I have heard varying opinions on feeding. I have heard people say they feed a small rat once a week and the snake would be satisfied. I am not sure I would agree with that because the snake would get larger and want more food I would think. I try to go with the theory that I would want the rat as large as the width of the snake...in other words see a "bump".

I think I am going to go back to a 1 week cycle and just have to try and work something out with my supplier.

[Flikky]

Yes that's how i measure a feeder for my snakes too but they get fed once a week. It's good if your bp wants to eat a lot!! Because of how they will go off of feed I say feed 'em while they'll take it. But that's just me

[BHReptiles]

If you feed live, you can always have a rat tank with some food and water to "hold" your rats until the next week. I have one set up in my room for my "leftovers" that don't get fed. Currently, I am keeping 2 weaned rats in there for my two who refused to eat because they are in shed.