Obese Young'in?

[DooLittle]

She looks great. I wouldn't call her obese, not at all. I didn't realize she was that young, lol. Other pics you've posted she looked bigger. Pictures can be deceiving, haha. I think most people stick with 5 day feedings until about 500 grams. And I don't think a slightly larger meal once will hurt her at all.

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[ballpythonluvr]

She looks great! Nice and healthy. Pretty little girl for sure.

[TJ_Burton]

Your ball looks thick, and even a little pudgy, but for her size/age that is relatively normal. She is going to slim down as she gains length, and your current feeding schedule isn't going to stop that from happening. Personally I do not feed my balls or boas any more than once every 7 days, and even keep a sloppy schedule so that every third week is more like 10 days. I do not like to "power feed" my boids, I find they maintain a better appetite and healthy weight without trying to blow them up as fast as possible.

My hogs on the other hand eat smaller meals every 3 to 4 days (I swear they would eat every day if I gave them the chance!)

[RoseyReps]

Your ball looks thick, and even a little pudgy, but for her size/age that is relatively normal. She is going to slim down as she gains length, and your current feeding schedule isn't going to stop that from happening. Personally I do not feed my balls or boas any more than once every 7 days, and even keep a sloppy schedule so that every third week is more like 10 days. I do not like to "power feed" my boids, I find they maintain a better appetite and healthy weight without trying to blow them up as fast as possible.

My hogs on the other hand eat smaller meals every 3 to 4 days (I swear they would eat every day if I gave them the chance!)

Thanks everyone!

Tj, is a 5 day schedule power feeding? I thought the 5 day was good up until she was around 500g then the 7-10 day. I ask because I know I've read that power feeding can damage / hurt the snakes in the long run, I don't want to do that to my babies.

I just want to do right by them.

Again, thanks all for the kind words she is my baby!

[snakesRkewl]

power feeding is NOT feeding more than once a week

We try to offer all of our younger snakes twice a week, and none are obese or over weight, just bigger than people's snakes who only get fed once a week

OP: your snake looks in excellent shape weight wise.

[TJ_Burton]

Thanks everyone!

Tj, is a 5 day schedule power feeding? I thought the 5 day was good up until she was around 500g then the 7-10 day. I ask because I know I've read that power feeding can damage / hurt the snakes in the long run, I don't want to do that to my babies.

I just want to do right by them.

Again, thanks all for the kind words she is my baby!

Not at all, but it is more often than necessary.
To be fair, I feed the first 3 meals a hatchling gets 5 days apart.

[RoseyReps]

Thanks TJ, I'm sure I will change things up the longer I have my babies / get more, to see what jives with them and me. I'm just happy that they are all fat n happy


Side note...I never realized how awesome paper towels can be. You *KNOW* when there has been a deification! No picking up hides or checking behind stuff to see. The whole dang tub fogs up Handy! (all my others are on aspen, I was testing out the papertowel thing )

[satomi325]

Power feeding is forcing your snake to eat rat after rat.
(i.e shoving a secondary rat right behind the first one as it's being eaten.)

I feed my snakes under 500 grams a rat of appropriate size every 4-5 days. Then they're bumped up to a 7-10 day schedule once they hit 500 grams.
My snakes regulate their feeding really well. If I tried offering food too often, they will refuse the meal.

[RoseyReps]

Power feeding is forcing your snake to eat rat after rat.
(i.e shoving a secondary rat right behind the first one as it's being eaten.)

I feed my snakes under 500 grams a rat of appropriate size every 4-5 days. Then they're bumped up to a 7-10 day schedule once they hit 500 grams.
My snakes regulate their feeding really well. If I tried offering food too often, they will refuse the meal.

Oh my gosh. How could someone do that?? Jeez louise...

[TJ_Burton]

Power feeding is forcing your snake to eat rat after rat.
(i.e shoving a secondary rat right behind the first one as it's being eaten.)

I feed my snakes under 500 grams a rat of appropriate size every 4-5 days. Then they're bumped up to a 7-10 day schedule once they hit 500 grams.
My snakes regulate their feeding really well. If I tried offering food too often, they will refuse the meal.

"Power Feeding" is a term to describe the practice of feeding a snake (or other animal) more than necessary in order to try and accelerate the animal’s growth in order to reach a particular size as fast as possible. This practice is both unhealthy and inhumane, and can lead to various health issues.

How a person achieves this can vary quite a bit; you described a single method of power feeding. There is also the simple method of feeding oversized food items - this can also lead to regurge, but many times does not. Some snakes are fed as often as they are willing to eat which can also become an unintentional "power feeding" scenario.

I follow the "slow and steady wins the race" line of thought when it comes to feeding my animals.