Why feeding multiple smaller prey is better than 1 large

[Tigergenesis]

My vet explained this to me once, but I could never quite put it into words and remember his explaination as to why it is better to feed say 2 smaller prey items versus 1 larger item in a single feeding. Below is a link to an interesting discussion on another forum - it starts out kind of talking about something else but ends up with the reasoning behind this method. I do this now with my snakes....it initially started because I had a lot of smaller prey to use up before buying something larger. But now I think I'll continue the method with most of my snakes (the good eaters) and perhaps combine with the 'variety' method - alternating between different aged prey.

I was wondering if anyone else feeds multiple smaller prey instead of a single large item - on purpose that is.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showt...threadid=45445

[JLC]

Thanks for posting that, Tiger. I've been like you...wanting to say much of what is expressed there, but not quite sure how, since I don't have the education or training to put words to a gut theory. (Pun unintentional, but left on purpose...LOL)

[Smulkin]

I'd like to see that pursued more empirically - like with represented predetermined wieghts being equalled and recorded. 3 mice vs say a huge rat for snakeX - would you actually wind up with more fur (from greater combined surface area) and other nondigestibles/non-nutrients? Interesting . . . I don't know - this will be one to watch.

[Tigergenesis]

Oh I long for the day when so much research has been done that all of our questions on herps are answered....hope I'm not too old and grey by then.

[Smulkin]

Ditto! Especially given the life expectancy of our pythons!

[Marla]

We just have to all breed herpetologists so we can get the studies done that *we* want done. I'd be interested in seeing the outcomes of a good study on this, too, as well as a study regarding the outcome of feeding low-calcium, low-protein, high-fat pinkies and fuzzies versus hoppers and adults.

[JamminJonah]

Haha - hopefully someday I'll get to retire and when I do I'm gonna research the heck out of herps. and hopefully do some studies! A bit in the future though as I am currently 22 yrs old. lol.

[Eddie_Z]

I feed Hissy two or three smaller mice at a feeding at this time. This is because I was advised initially to feed her small mice when I first got her. I was not informed on the benefits of rats. Recently though (her last two feedings) even when I put three mice in her tank, she only eats one. She is healthy as all get out. She has good muscle tone. She has gained a significant amount of weight since I got her. (When I got her she was underweight) She sheds perfectly & she has calmed an unbelievable amount since I got her. (The whole post shed issue has been laid to rest because we had a pleasant father/daughter handling session last nite) She sheds perfectly as well. I dunno, I mean, she seems incredibly happy & healthy. I am getting some rats, so I think that i will probably take a look at the size of the rats & maybe give her a variety of foods between the mice & the rats. We shall see, it should be interesting.

[RobertCoombs]

Ok I have been mulling over this subject for a while now seeing as it seems to come up here quite a bit , Personally over the years I have seen many more problems with animals fed smaller multiple food items IE intestinal blockage,regurge and so on . I keep seeing the mice better than rats or vise versa comeing up and which is better than which and really I believe as long as you can feed a single food item that has enough mass for good healthy growth there shouldent be an issue .... after all neither rats or mice are on the ball pythons natural menue selection especially the fat and happy spoiled rats and mice found in most pet shops or breeding colonys today. I go on body weight of the snake purely and feed a food item that = 10% of the animals body weight which means as young snakes they get a good mix of rat pups and mice weanlings plenty of calcuim fat and protein ....