I what eles can i do ?

[ryssa]

Ok well I am getting info from all over not sure who is right
I just gave him 3 pikies and he eat all 3 .
Sorry yal I am just trying get him healthy and everyone has what they think is right so I am trying it all .
When do yal think that I should feed him again becuse he had such a big
meal ?? She said to keep giving him 3 until he gets a little bigger then move him up to a bigger size prey.

[WingedWolfPsion]

3 pinky rats is WAY more food than a fuzzy rat.
If you want to take the advice of your friend (of unknown qualifications) over that of an entire forum full of breeders and long-term keepers, that is your choice to make, but why?

You should feed him again in 5 days.

[ryssa]

I am not trying to make anyone mad . This women has kept snakes for 10 yrs and I thought she was good source of info and she saw him first hand .
Sorry

[Kaorte]

I am a little confused, are you feeding pinky MICE or pinky RATS?

Did you feed him 3 of the prey items shown in the picture you posted?

Here is my best advice for you. get a gram kitchen scale from target or walmart and weigh your snake. Feed your snake 10-15% of its body weight every 5 days. Ideally you want to feed one prey item per sitting, not 3. Especially not 3 pinkies. If he can eat three pinkies then he can eat a larger prey size.


I don't want to tell you that your friend doesn't know what she is talking about but in this particular matter, I don't think she does.

[ryssa]

I feed him 3 mice pinkies , The one in the pic was a fuzzy . The pinkies I fed him were MUCH smaller the that .

[Kaorte]

I feed him 3 mice pinkies , The one in the pic was a fuzzy . The pinkies I fed him were MUCH smaller the that .

Ah I see. I would just start him on the fuzzies next feeding day (5 days). Give him one fuzzy for 2-3 feedings and then move to hoppers or small mice. Just stop feeding the pinkies.

[Vypyrz]

We aren't trying to get you frustrated or confused. We are just telling you what has consistently worked for us. When I got my first BP, on feeding day I would go to the pet store and ask for a feeder mouse and they would always give me a little hopper mouse. Once I found out that it was better to keep track of my snakes weight and feed according to weight for at least the first year I went and bought a digital food scale and I've been taking it to the pet store to weigh my feeders ever since. The first time I bought a mouse that was 15% of my snakes weight and saw the size difference, I figured there was absolutely no way he was going to get it down. I figured wrong.







He got it down quite easily, and after a few feedings like that, he had a growth spurt and started putting on weight, size, and length.

[tonyaltn]

It looks like a good size, but I think he could take a size up (a hopper).

I agree...there is no way that is to big for your BP.

[angllady2]

Please listen to us hon, we only want what is best for your snake. And just because your friend has had snakes for 10 years doesn't make her an expert.

I've been cooking for 20 years, does that mean I could run a gourmet restaurant? I don't think so!

Trust us, that snake can eat bigger prey. Do me a favor. Hold out your hand, spread your fingers wide. Take a close look at your pinky finger. Imagine a baby snake the SAME size as your pinky finger. Now, you would think a snake that small would need very small prey, like a pinky mouse. WRONG. He can and does eat hopper mice, which are every bit as big or bigger than the mouse in your photo.

Please trust me, your baby can eat something a lot bigger than you think, and if you don't help him out by giving him the correct food he needs, it might stunt his growth. I myself and the others here only want to help you and your baby.

Since he just ate, wait 5 days then offer him a hopper mouse, or if you can get one, a fuzzy rat. He won't have any trouble getting it down, I promise. Once he's eaten 3 or 4 hoppers or fuzzy rats, move him up to the next size.

I wish you and your baby all the best.

Gale

[ryssa]

I guess I was just estimating my little guys mouth and his ability to get one of the fuzzys down.
Like the tiny pinkies I could see him being able to swallow them cause they were so small So I just thought ok He needs more so three pinkies made since cause he could do one at a time get them down easier and then one big huge (IMO) fuzzy .
So in 5 days I will try the bigger prey , But if he is having a hard time how can I tell ?? I mean how long is too long for him to get it down ? What if he can't ? I know I sound like I am just freaking out over nothing but I REALLY do have his best interest at hart !!!
I" AM" asking for help and your opinions And if I did not follow them it was not to offend or to throw your advise back in your faces it was just that I took her seeing him and all that she has done and was right about so far as this was also good advise and he has been hunkered down now no more roaming and her advise about some changes to set up diff substrate location of hides ect.. and he seems happy and content now .
So thank u for your ideas and I do agree that I need to a least "TRY" the bigger prey next time. I was just like I said underestimating His mouths ability to get the bigger one down .

Thanks again
Maryssa