I guess I don't understand why a study would need to be done about what the nutritional requirements of snakes is. In my opinion, that study has already been done by nature. Malnourished snakes would not survive. Simply observing what each species of snake eats in their native environment should be all the study needed. Coming from a background in dogs, I firmly believe that the best diet for an animal is one which it would be eating if it were in a native environment, and that variety should be provided.

When I was feeding my dogs a prey model diet, they rarely got whole prey, but I always tried to keep variety in protein and organ sources for them, and in approximate proper percentages. I watched my dogs and knew when they needed more bone/organ/fat/protein, and did my best to provide that for them in the form of "frankenprey" aka, a mishmash of different sources that provide roughly the right amounts of each. As a result, my dogs were very healthy and robust, with good energy (not hyper uncontrolled energy, but focused energy and an off switch so they could relax). There were no problems with parasites, smelly skin/coat, chewing/licking... Their coats were shiny and their breath was fresh (for a dog, lol)

I would be interested in gathering more information about what ball pythons would eat in their native environment, and in what the availability (on average) would be for those prey animals. How does a ball python, in their native environment, hunt for food? Do they wait for the prey to come to them, or do they actively hunt? If they actively hunt for prey, do they range far to find prey?

Anyone have any of this information? I will be researching as well, but the more information that can be gathered, the better informed choices I can make for my BP

Thanks in advance.....
Michelle