Hatchling Weight Gain - Am I missing something?

[MrLang]

I figured this was best placed in Breeding since it's something you don't get hands on with until you hatch snakes. This is a long winded description with all relevant details, scroll down for the synopsis.

I'm wondering if I did / am doing something wrong or if there is a lot of 'internet expert' opinion floating around that is leading me to think this is strange. I hatched out 6 babies on 7/13 and they all came out between 60 - 61g. I waited for them to shed and offered their first meals a few days after. They are in 6qt tubs with a hide and on aspen because I was nervous about them refusing food. I wanted them to eat something moving to stimulate a feeding response so I gave them rat crawlers with fur and eyes just barely cracking open. These probably weighed 18-22g (complete estimate). That's 1/3 of their body weight. The snakes all ate within minutes and while they did have somewhat noticeable lumps, I would not say they were in danger of 'bursting' or anything like that. 5 days later I offered the same group of rats that were then 5 days older and probably closer to 22-25g. They all ate again within minutes and again, showed a lump but not excessive. Third meal, same thing... same pups, this time they are around 25 grams a pop (I picked the smallest ones I had). These weights are just estimates but by the third feeding these rats were the size of adult mice with their eyes fully open and fully mobile, which may even be pushing 30 grams. Now all 6 snakes have started their 2nd shed and I thought it was a good time to check weights again. The snakes that shed out and pooped big healthy poops weigh between 125-130g already.


TL;DR - My hatchlings are barely a month old and more than doubled in weight in 3 feedings (empty) from 60 - 125+g.

Why are people selling snakes that are months old, many feedings, and still weigh under 100 grams? Why do people start their snakes on such small meals? My most important question: has anyone directly (not "I heard X can happen) had an experience where they fed a large prey item to a hatchling and it ended poorly? Did I do something wrong or do people severely underfeed hatchlings? Would a snake size up a meal that is too large and have complications from it (have you experienced this DIRECTLY - no offense but your opinion is not helpful here)?

Thanks for the input!

[hypersomniacjoo]

i don't increase the size of the rat pups for at least a month, if they take a rat pup right away, and they usually won't start for me unless i give them hopper mice, which have considerably less meat on them. you are so lucky yours ate immediately, and on rat pups!

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Lots of people start off thier BPs on rat fuzzies (I'm not sure why - but they do). And so, after 4 meals or so, of rat fuzzies, the BPs dont gain much weight.

ps. Lets see some updated photos!

[Kaorte]

This is interesting. I'm curious as to what other people think about this. I feed my hatchlings (all still around 100g, 2 months old) weaned ASFs. Some of them were a little slower to start than others, but they are all gaining weight and pooping.

I have a bunch of rat fuzzies in my freezer I want to try feeding, but I am worried they are too big! They are way thicker than the thickness of the hatchlings.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

This is interesting. I'm curious as to what other people think about this. I feed my hatchlings (all still around 100g, 2 months old) weaned ASFs. Some of them were a little slower to start than others, but they are all gaining weight and pooping.

I have a bunch of rat fuzzies in my freezer I want to try feeding, but I am worried they are too big! They are way thicker than the thickness of the hatchlings.

I would say Rat fuzzies are too small. All my hatchlings start on pups.

[Kaorte]

I would say Rat fuzzies are too small. All my hatchlings start on pups.

Maybe I am unclear about what the difference between a pup and a fuzzy is? I breed ASF, not rats, so I don't have the best understanding of rat sizing XD

The rats I have in my freezer are between 20-30g. They just seem so big next to my tiny hatchlings!

[collrak]

Some people start their hatchlings on live mouse hoppers because it's the fastest (and cheapest) way to get them feeding. Hoppers only weigh ~10g, so after 3 meals the hatchling will retain ~20-25g, which could still put them under 100g. Rat pups are not too large for the average hatchling. I prefer to and have started mine on rat pups and haven't had any problems. I pick the smaller rat pups (20-25g).

[MrLang]

Lets see some updated photos!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...84#post2130584

[MrLang]

Maybe I am unclear about what the difference between a pup and a fuzzy is? I breed ASF, not rats, so I don't have the best understanding of rat sizing XD

The rats I have in my freezer are between 20-30g. They just seem so big next to my tiny hatchlings!

A fuzzy would be like a pinky with pattern and peach fuzz with eyes totally shut. A pup would have mobility and maybe the eyes cracking open and also called a crawler - they kind of wobble around when they move or 'make a break for it' and then tucker out and collapse. A hopper would have the eyes open and be able to move freely.

IMO feed the 20-30g that's what I gave mine at 60g and they gobbled them up. Then again, I made this thread to see if anyone was going to tell me a good reason NOT to do that.

[bcr229]

Maybe I am unclear about what the difference between a pup and a fuzzy is?

A fuzzy is the size between a pinkie and a pup, so named because the hair on it looks like peach fuzz.