Feeding Frequency

[mrshawt]

I've received so much conflicting info here about how much to feed older bp's. My girl is 1400g. I feed her medium rats (on average 150g). Do I feed her every week or every two weeks?

I know more people are in the same boat and I'm sure they'd like to know the answer too.

Thanks.

[Neal]

I would stay feed her every week. The bigger snakes that get like rabbits for food, go 2 weeks.

[Patricia]

The bigger snakes that get like rabbits for food, go 2 weeks.

I've read that here too re. bigger snakes eating bigger meals not needing to eat as often as BPs. What I don't understand is that both meals are sized in proportion to the snakes, so why the difference in frequency? Unless big snakes simply digest/metabolize slower than BPs?

[mrshawt]

Well, she doesn't seem to be complaining eating every week.
She snapped at this one tonight like crazy.

[BigLu]

I feed every monday no matter what. i dont get why big snakes are fed at different rates either? my guess is they just have much more fat retained from the years that it would give em time to muscle up. Id feed every week though if the snake doesnt take it then its obviously no hungry so try again the next week or wat ever gives u better piece of mind

[DM1975]

I feed every Monday as well, besides for my babies, they get fed every 5 days.

[mrshawt]

I feed every monday no matter what. i dont get why big snakes are fed at different rates either? my guess is they just have much more fat retained from the years that it would give em time to muscle up. Id feed every week though if the snake doesnt take it then its obviously no hungry so try again the next week or wat ever gives u better piece of mind

True.

I thought about it as adult snakes don't need food as often because they're not growing as quickly. But, if adult bp's should be feed every week, I guess you're just limiting the prey size in keeping it at a medium sized rat.

[BigLu]

True.

I thought about it as adult snakes don't need food as often because they're not growing as quickly. But, if adult bp's should be feed every week, I guess you're just limiting the prey size in keeping it at a medium sized rat.

thats for sure unless shes a big ole heffer then she get another mid week or so

[DM1975]

I have heard that bigger snakes have a slower metabolism than smaller snakes do. Hence the difference in feeding schedules.

[Kaorte]

I would say 10 days. Obesity can be a problem with ball pythons. You can slow down feeding when the snake is that large.