Feeder Size?

[valhalha30]

I have a young Lucy Rat, he's less than a year old and he's 20 inches long, about as wide as a pinkie finger at his widest point.
He eats 4-5 pinkies a week, should I be feeding him 2 fuzzies instead?

I think he can handle it, he's nearly as wide as a small fuzzie.... and his mouth is certainly big enough to take one in.
I would just be fearful that his prey item might be too big, maybe that's an irrational fear, but maybe I just need reassurance...

Also, I have a female (Quintuplet Hybrid) who is identical in size who eats 4-5 pinkies also, so just with her and him eating so many at one sitting, I am almost certain that they'll need fuzzies.
I just want to confirm my thinking here, should I step up to fuzzies? Maybe a mix of small, medium, and large ones to see what they can handle?

I'm sure this is going to be a case where if I ask, then maybe I already know the answer lol
Ever since I lost my MBK, I just don't have as much confidence in myself as a mother to my scale-babies... I know it wasn't my fault, but I can't help thinking that I should've been more helpful to him.
I guess that's making me question everything I do anymore, so with that... Any advice or guidance would be extremely appreciated!!

[Neal]

General rule of thumb is no bigger than the biggest part of the snake, but sometimes with nothing else available I have fed something very slightly bigger than the thickest part of my girl. May take it a bit longer to eat, but mainly if it's too big the snake won't eat it. Still, people compare sizes differently so you saying he's nearly as wide as a small fuzzie and me saying it could be quite different. One good thing to go by is the weight of a prey item if you have a scale.

[valhalha30]

Still, people compare sizes differently so you saying he's nearly as wide as a small fuzzie and me saying it could be quite different. One good thing to go by is the weight of a prey item if you have a scale.

Ok, so would I take 5 pinkies out, weigh them, and find a slightly larger prey item that has the same weight?
Or....?
I've never heard of that method..... I only heard of upgrading prey sizes when needed... so excuse me if that question sounded dumb

[Neal]

No, I meant like my definition of a small fuzzie may be 5g and you're definition of a small fuzzie may be 10g, but that 10g size I may consider a medium, but you consider it a small. So when people talk about size without comparing it to something, I go by weight.


Mice Fuzzies

6-13 days

3-6 grams

1-1.5"

Rat Pinkie

^^ That was taken from a place you can order frozen thawed. A fuzzie from the 6th day is going to be smaller then one that's 13 days. That's all I meant by weight.

[valhalha30]

Ohhhh. I get it. And that makes obvious sense. Thank you.

I would say that my girl could eat 2 6-day old fuzzies and my lucy could eat 2 10-day old fuzzies.

I would guess you could say that a 6 day old would be "small" and a 10 day old would be "medium", right?

[Neal]

Ohhhh. I get it. And that makes obvious sense. Thank you.

I would say that my girl could eat 2 6-day old fuzzies and my lucy could eat 2 10-day old fuzzies.

I would guess you could say that a 6 day old would be "small" and a 10 day old would be "medium", right?

Right, I just use that as a comparison because our definition of small may be different. I would try to find as close to two small fuzzies as you can to feed him since you believe he can handle them and that it's about the same width. A snake really won't try to eat something bigger than it feels comfortable, but I think you should be fine. Also instead of feeding him two per feeding, maybe think about going on a 5 day cycle.

[valhalha30]

Yeah, that makes sense.
I think jumping the gun by giving him medium fuzzies is probably not the route to go.
I'll start by giving my youngest two small fuzzies, and maybe a mix of small/medium rat pinkies (to get them used to the taste of rats at a young age) and then gradually increase the size of the prey as they start to grow and need either more of them or need bigger prey, whichever comes first lol.
I was pretty sure it was time to upgrade, and I'm glad I asked and sought advice cuz it confirmed my thinking and reassured that I'm being a good mother lol.
I'll try the 5 day cycle, but he doesn't "show" that he is hungry until the day I feed him, which is about every sunday (feeding day). But I'll give it a shot and see if that would work for him (and her)

Thank you for the advice and pointers Neal, I'll apply what you told me and tomorrow I'll pick up some small fuzzies and then feed the two when I get home. I'm sure then I'll be heading in the right direction

[valhalha30]

Both ate one small live fuzzie each. Looks lke they can do it