Is feeding twice a week to much ?

[Pollux]

hey Josh, I was watching at the same vid just before I visited this thread!
lookin at Brian's experiment, its best to feed larger meals once a week, but he did it on corns. not sure if this will apply to BPs as well, I sure hope it does.
i've been feeding my baby bp large prey once a week, almost as big as the thickest girth, she seems to be doing well.
but from what i read feeding large preys may cause them to go off-feed, is that true?

[CapeFearConstrictors]

You won't be able to feed them large prey twice a week, but as long as it's not too big, once a week shouldn't be a problem. I've at times fed my snakes meals that were probably too big, and they looked a bit uncomfortable for a few days, but they ate again a week later.

[frost0214]

I feed my hatchlings more frequently than I do my yearlings and adults. I have concerns that many of us are over feeding our animals and while you might get quicker results to get to breeding weight - to what end?

Fat is not good for any creature. I have chosen to slow grow my animals, I like them muscular and lean. I do feed up my females a few months heading into breeding season, but when not breeding, I don't feed aggressively.

I was speaking with someone recently who is now adopting a similar philosophy to me after having an animal just die and necropsied - it died of fatty liver disease from being over fed.

Thanks a lot! this is very helpful... i am just so excited to get them to the right size..

[frost0214]

One thing I want to point out.

It's NOT just the size with females, age matters too. An 18 month old female who makes 1500 grams is not likely to take, despite being the ideal size. Most females need to be at least two years old and 1500 grams to breed with good success. Many breeders say 1500 grams OR in her third winter. Younger females are just not ready to have eggs. They may breed, may even build follicles, but then 9 times out of 10 they re-absorb. Even if they do lay, they almost always have smaller clutches of two or three eggs, instead of the 6 to 10 eggs a more mature female will lay.

For me, the extra time spent waiting for the female to grow and mature is well worth it. I'd much rather give her an extra year to grow and get 10 big healthy hatchlings out of her, than push her too young and end up with only 3 little hatchlings or none at all. And I've heard it said by some of the bigger breeders that breeding a female young can cause her to have small clutches all her life.

You of course must ultimately decide what is best for you and your animals, but for me and my stock, we'll be patient.

Gale

whew! this is really good information, most guides say 1500g and that is it. I am very new to the hobby and want to get babies as soon as possible. thanks for the tip! i do not want to jeopardize the health of my girl by rushing breeding... ;0

[BallsUnlimited]

depends on the snake. some will only eat one rat a week where others will eat up to 5 if you let them. my breeder males\females get fed twice a week with the females generally eating two rats each sitting.

[angllady2]

whew! this is really good information, most guides say 1500g and that is it. I am very new to the hobby and want to get babies as soon as possible. thanks for the tip! i do not want to jeopardize the health of my girl by rushing breeding... ;0

You are welcome!

Believe me, being patient is not always easy. I've been waiting on my het pied females to grow up. One should have been ready last season, but she went off feed for a while, and as badly as I want a pied, I refused to push things. Let me tell you, seeing all the pictures of baby pieds hatching here about made me crazy!

But, patience is a virtue. This season both of my girls are big enough and old enough and with a little good fortune on my side, in a few months I'll finally get to post pictures of my own pieds.

Gale

[frost0214]

You are welcome!

Believe me, being patient is not always easy. I've been waiting on my het pied females to grow up. One should have been ready last season, but she went off feed for a while, and as badly as I want a pied, I refused to push things. Let me tell you, seeing all the pictures of baby pieds hatching here about made me crazy!

But, patience is a virtue. This season both of my girls are big enough and old enough and with a little good fortune on my side, in a few months I'll finally get to post pictures of my own pieds.

Gale

whew! well said Gale! well said... i am a long way to go, since i only have 4 female normals 3 potentially will breed this year... but hey, i gotta start somewhere right.. gudluck on your pieds! and YES it is really addicting loong at pictures, and watching videos or successful breeding..