Feeding Question

[Mephibosheth1]

So, finally weighed Mycroft today...been trying to get a more definative answer for what size of rat/mouse I should be feeding him.


He weighs 563 grams...

I'd like to know what size rat I should be feeding him, and how often. He was born in 2011.


thanks so much...I look forward to getting some answers

[Mike41793]

Rats that are about the same size as his fattest part. By weight like a 60-80g rat once a week is good.

[Mephibosheth1]

He seems to gobble up the rats I'm giving him....I gave him a "small adult" one the other day, and he just about knocked the little cage I feed him in over.

He's been growing quite a bit since I got him too...he's shed once a month for the last 2 months like clockwork, but the previous owner said he hadn't been shedding that frequently for him ("I never could get him to grow" were his exact words)

The other lady at the pet shop (I respect her opinion, but she thinks she knows everything) says that if he's wanting to eat more often I should just feed him....??

(Sorry to sound like a noob, but I'm still trying to get this all figured out)

[Anya]

Some snakes are just little piggies, and will always eat more. Lean healthy snake is far healthier than a fat snake. Small rat is just right, and should be just right for as long as he lives. As long as he's pooping, growing, and shedding, don't sweat it. Feeding snakes is not rocket science.

Edit: why do you feed him outside his tank? You know there's no point, right?

[Mephibosheth1]

The only reason I wonder is that his head seems so....tiny.....compared to the rest of his body.

That lady at the pet shop said (once again, sounds fishy, but not sure) that if I don't feed the appropriate size animal that his head will stay small


^^^^is the above statement true?? (nobody has been able to say yes or no that I've asked in person lol)


And for the feeding, I started feeding under the impression that feeding in his cage would make him cage aggressive. That was 2 weeks before I joined the forum. I've heard there is no point, but old habits die hard. If I end up getting more than one, maybe I will start feeding in the cage, but it doesnt make a difference now I think.

[MootWorm]

I've got one almost that size exactly and I feed small rats or fat ASF Sometimes I'll feed her a couple smaller ones if someone else doesn't eat.

[MsMissy]

Rats that are about the same size as his fattest part. By weight like a 60-80g rat once a week is good.

Yup yup.... As for the lady at the petstore and the size of his head, that should be added to the list of bs stuff we hear at pet stores. My boy is about the same size as yours <a year younger though> and he eats a nice fat juicy small rat once a week. I need a new scale though, my girl has turned into a pig so wondering about the exact weight of these adult mice, no way she could take down a rat yet and I don't have access to weanlings.

[Mephibosheth1]

Ok thanks


Do some snakes just keep a tiny head?? There's a big huge BP at the pet shop....about as big around as a tennis ball and its head is almost the size of a playing card (but thicker lol)\

I think that one is only 5 years old...

[Anya]

Snakes are very variable. :-) it's like some cats have big heads, some have tiny heads.

If you really wanted to, you could feed him multiple mice. It's not about size, it's about what the weight adds up to.

[Mike41793]

A small rat once a week is enough for an adult male. Lean males, especially if you're gunna be breeding him, are better imo. They aren't like females that need a lot of fat deposits. If he isn't breeding for you then splurge and feed him a bit more often if you want. What the hell lol.

Feed him in his enclosure. Cage aggression is a myth