Quote Originally Posted by MrLang View Post
I figured this was best placed in Breeding since it's something you don't get hands on with until you hatch snakes. This is a long winded description with all relevant details, scroll down for the synopsis.

I'm wondering if I did / am doing something wrong or if there is a lot of 'internet expert' opinion floating around that is leading me to think this is strange. I hatched out 6 babies on 7/13 and they all came out between 60 - 61g. I waited for them to shed and offered their first meals a few days after. They are in 6qt tubs with a hide and on aspen because I was nervous about them refusing food. I wanted them to eat something moving to stimulate a feeding response so I gave them rat crawlers with fur and eyes just barely cracking open. These probably weighed 18-22g (complete estimate). That's 1/3 of their body weight. The snakes all ate within minutes and while they did have somewhat noticeable lumps, I would not say they were in danger of 'bursting' or anything like that. 5 days later I offered the same group of rats that were then 5 days older and probably closer to 22-25g. They all ate again within minutes and again, showed a lump but not excessive. Third meal, same thing... same pups, this time they are around 25 grams a pop (I picked the smallest ones I had). These weights are just estimates but by the third feeding these rats were the size of adult mice with their eyes fully open and fully mobile, which may even be pushing 30 grams. Now all 6 snakes have started their 2nd shed and I thought it was a good time to check weights again. The snakes that shed out and pooped big healthy poops weigh between 125-130g already.


TL;DR - My hatchlings are barely a month old and more than doubled in weight in 3 feedings (empty) from 60 - 125+g.

Why are people selling snakes that are months old, many feedings, and still weigh under 100 grams? Why do people start their snakes on such small meals? My most important question: has anyone directly (not "I heard X can happen) had an experience where they fed a large prey item to a hatchling and it ended poorly? Did I do something wrong or do people severely underfeed hatchlings? Would a snake size up a meal that is too large and have complications from it (have you experienced this DIRECTLY - no offense but your opinion is not helpful here)?

Thanks for the input!
My take...

"Why are people selling snakes that are months old, many feedings, and still weigh under 100 grams?" - Most likely, because they are lying about the feed shedule and have been "maintenance" feeding the babies until they can sell them...less feedings = less $$$ = more profit!

"Why do people start their snakes on such small meals?" - Because they don't realize they can take larger meals.

"has anyone directly (not "I heard X can happen) had an experience where they fed a large prey item to a hatchling and it ended poorly?" - Nope. I've had some feedings that I thought may have been pushing it, but all went fine...

"Did I do something wrong or do people severely underfeed hatchlings?" - No, and sometimes.

"Would a snake size up a meal that is too large and have complications from it (have you experienced this DIRECTLY - no offense but your opinion is not helpful here)?" - Not with hatchlings, but I've had adults try and eat a meal apparently too large. They just struggled for a while and gave up...rat never got more than halfway down. Fed the next day with no problems. Never had a regurge or anything like that though.

I start my hatchlings on f/t rat pups...if they don't take that they get mouse hoppers or small adult mice, and then back to trying rat pups after a few feedings of the mice...