"Power feeding" BG's perspective.

[Kaoslb]

So I have fed my two ball pythons on a 4-5 day feeding schedule and between 15-20% of their body weight each feeding. The male was an august baby and the female is a september baby. They are both at 300 grams now. I have never "forced" a feeding to either snake. They have yet to refuse a prey item. However, now the female is showing skin between her scales. In another thread I posted, it was stated that skin showing between scales is a sign of obesity. BG/others what are your thoughts on this? How do you guys define "nice and plump"?

[AMPearce]

Big Gunns would like to point this out. BG is not saying that if you feed your snake 24/7 it will be fine. All BG is saying is that in his experience he hasn't seen anyone really have any problems with heavy feed schedules....although BG thinks there may be some effects later in life for the animals.


If an animals dies, who's to say it died from heavy feeding anyway. BG has had boas with cancer that were not fed heavy. It's kinda hard to prove what caused an animal to die.

To be safe though, BG thinks it's probably best for the animal not to feed it more than a couple times a week at most.

BG you're right to question weather power feading can cause anything bad.

It would be really hard to prove that power-feeding is the cause of sick (or whatever) snakes. Scientificly it's hard to prove that anything causes anything. If power-fed snakes are less healthy then others that would only show a correlation between the two events. Thats would still be hard because every other factor would have to be constant between the snakes. You can prove that the cause of you boas' death's were cancer but you cannot prove what caused the cancer.

Its like all these people that always go around saying things cause cancer. Scientificly you can't prove that anything causes cancer...well you could but it's illegal.

Sorry to be nit-picky, I just really enjoy science.

[Big Gunns]

So I have fed my two ball pythons on a 4-5 day feeding schedule and between 15-20% of their body weight each feeding. The male was an august baby and the female is a september baby. They are both at 300 grams now. I have never "forced" a feeding to either snake. They have yet to refuse a prey item. However, now the female is showing skin between her scales. In another thread I posted, it was stated that skin showing between scales is a sign of obesity. BG/others what are your thoughts on this? How do you guys define "nice and plump"?

If there is skin showing between her scales all the time, then she is kinda fat. "Nice and plump" is hard to define, but BG knows it when he sees it. Just use your best judgment on your snake. It does sound like it might be a leeetle "plump" though if you can see skin all the time.

A Ball Python can easily gain 100 grams a month and not be too fat in BG's opinion.

[Southernshooter]

Since Big Gunns started this topic, In honor of him, Southernshooter shall speak 3rd person

Southernshooter thinks that one should remember is snakes can be fed and be kept healthy by feeding a lot more than owners do. Southernshooter says keep in mind snakes have a metabolisim system just like people. If you feed them every day they will start to want food every day and if you feed them every 2 or 3 days they will want it every 2 or 3 days. Don't give the snake weird feeding schedules like everyday for 3 or 4 days and then all of a sudden drop them back to once a week, then start back every 2 or 3 days.
Southernshooter also says to use your own judgement if you can feed every 2 or 3 days and your snake doesn't get so fat she can't move, Then go for it.

[harm286]

Now this doesn't mean you should slam every single thing your snake will eat down it's throat 24/7. All BG is pointing out is that they seem to eat a whole lot more than you would think they do in the wild. Big Gunns is sure that females are up to breeding size within 18 months in the wild.


24/7 lmao

[harm286]

BG you're right to question weather power feading can cause anything bad.

It would be really hard to prove that power-feeding is the cause of sick (or whatever) snakes. Scientificly it's hard to prove that anything causes anything. If power-fed snakes are less healthy then others that would only show a correlation between the two events. Thats would still be hard because every other factor would have to be constant between the snakes. You can prove that the cause of you boas' death's were cancer but you cannot prove what caused the cancer.

Its like all these people that always go around saying things cause cancer. Scientificly you can't prove that anything causes cancer...well you could but it's illegal.

Sorry to be nit-picky, I just really enjoy science.

I found out peanutbutter causes cancer

[Skiploder]

Bleating Goat has brought up a subject that is often referred to but never discussed in any significant detail.

Over the years I have found that snakes often do best when fed at the rate they chose, not some scheduled interval rigidly adhered to by the keeper.

Some species of boids will readily eat every 4 or so days when they are young. Some young colubrids will eat more frequently. A lot of my colubrids will eat like the blazes for their first 14 to 16 months, then taper down - on their own.

If you keep accurate records, you can see the feeding patterns and plan accordingly. My antaresia males eat like clockwork from February to September - bulking up for the mating season. Around late August they taper down, taking a medium sized meal every two weeks or so until they stop altogether.

My aspidities follow a similar pattern - wherein the males "power feed" themselves from July through October, then will eat once every three weeks or so until mid January.

During the heavy feeding period, my large black headed male and my woma males will eat large meals every 6 to 8 days.

Young colubrids, notably clelia and drymarchon, are constantly hungry. However, once sated, they will stop. It is not uncommon to have young drys eat several small items, poop two days later and be on the prowl for more food the following day.

Now, there are a lot of species I don't keep, and these guidelines may not apply. It seems to me that if given the opportunity, most snakes will chose a schedule that works right for them.

[SlitherinSisters]

I don't have a problem with power feeding either. I've done it with my babies to bulk them up. My power feeding schedule is every 3-4 days.

I DO have a problem with people who have 1 year old females that are over 1,000 grams and have white bulging between their scales. I don't understand why anyone would think it's a good idea to breed a 1 year old girl that is terribly obese

[Vypyrz]

Instead of starting a new thread about this, I figured I would just resurrect this one since what I found seems to apply here. Basically, it is an ad I found on KS, and to protect the identity of the poster, I will only post the pic and text of the ad. I'm not trying to criticise the poster, I just think it may be a good example of power feeding for the sake of breeding. Honestly, I wasn't aware that a 5 month old, 600g male was ready to breed. Maybe some of the breeders could put out some opinions on this...

Rob

This is a male super pastel yellow belly, hatched five months ago, eating like a monster! He just started to breed a bumble bee female this week! Already over 600 grams and still eating well, just ate today! Amazing color! Pics are not even close to how intense his purple and yellow is in person! Amazing genetic potential as well. You will not find many of these around let alone for sale.

[Danounet]

Males can start breeding breeding very young, within the year, if they are up for it. I am not sure about the weight at that age though...