Is the prey too small?

[Bellatrix_LeSnake]

We have now had our BP for two weeks and have been feeding her every 4 days because she seems to start cruising around a lot on evening 3 looking for food. She's been gobbling the food like a fat kid with cake, especially this morning when she was trying to strike so fast she was hovering upside down and then tried to swallow the prey via the midsection. She wasn't successful in doing this, but straightened it out and gulped it down in a few minutes anyway. She has gained about 24 g since we got her, but still only weighs about 126g so we have been feeding her rat pups.

The rat pup we fed her this morning was 14g, so well within the 10-15% body weight rule. The next prey size we can buy advertises its 15-30g, so I'm worried this would be too large if they happened to send us a pack full of 25-30g rodents. Should we move up or keep feeding her as we have been until she hits 150-175g or so? I'd like to start feeding her every 5-6 days since that is what most guides seem to recommend.

[Don]

I would stick with the smaller rodents for a little longer. She is a little girl and it is better to provide smaller rather than larger food.

[KMG]

When she starts being active day three after feeding, is it night? If so, and its just alittle bit then back in a hide it is normal. My BP becomes active after day three too. Each night she moves around for about an hour then goes back in. My GTP becomes active after day four and is active all night every night.

Feeding by body weight is just a guide. Just make sure the feeder is around the same size as the largest section of your snake. Even a hair larger will be fine. If it leaves just a little bulge that is good. If you feed in this manner you can feed every 7 days. Being that you seem to have a great eater is wonderful but being that your snake is not really that active in a captive lifestyle it can easily become overweight with overfeeding.

Trying to swallow its food sideways, backwards, forward is all normal. Mine will often have to go at it from a different direction. It is no indicator that your snake is starving, its not. They can go weeks and even months without food.

[DooLittle]

I would stick with the smaller ones every 5 days. She will be fine. You don't want to go with to big of a prey item, as they either may not eat it, or could regurgitate it.

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[Bellatrix_LeSnake]

Thanks guys! We will stick with the current size for now and not freak out when she tries to swallow her food in strange ways!