Do snakes overeat?

[MontyAndMelissa]

Do snakes overheat?

No.

People oversees them.

Over EAT. Not overheat.

[MontyAndMelissa]

Do snakes overheat?

No.

People oversees them.

I know that snakes can overheat. I'm not a complete moron. My concern was that I had already fed my snake 5 mice over the course of 5 days and he was still acting aggressive. I had finally gotten a scale and weighed him and found out I was underfeeding him before, so I bumped him up to rats yesterday. He now has had one big happy meal, and he is doing better

[Skiploder]

I know that snakes can overheat. I'm not a complete moron. My concern was that I had already fed my snake 5 mice over the course of 5 days and he was still acting aggressive. I had finally gotten a scale and weighed him and found out I was underfeeding him before, so I bumped him up to rats yesterday. He now has had one big happy meal, and he is doing better

Why do you think you are under feeding him? Most snakes are overfed...

What is the caloric requirement of a largely inactive ball python living in captivity?

[MontyAndMelissa]

Why do you think you are under feeding him? Most snakes are overfed...

What is the caloric requirements of a largely inactive ball python living in captivity?

They are supposed to eat 10-15% of their bodyweight every 1 1/2 - 2 weeks. Monty was eating about 3%. I've corrected the problem and he is now eating a 100g rat every week and a half (still smaller than what he should be eating, but the next size up is 180g). He weighs approx. 1138g. He should be eating 113.8 - 160.0g.

[Skiploder]

They are supposed to eat 10-15% of their bodyweight every 1 1/2 - 2 weeks. Monty was eating about 3%. I've corrected the problem and he is now eating a 100g rat every week and a half (still smaller than what he should be eating, but the next size up is 180g). He weighs approx. 1138g. He should be eating 113.8 - 160.0g.

Ah.

Do they snakes know they are supposed to be eating 10 to 15% of their body weight?

Is this for all snake species?

Is it dependent on enclosure size?

Activity level?

I'd love to know how this percentage is calculated or how it was arrived at.

[MontyAndMelissa]

Ah.

Do they snakes know they are supposed to be eating 10 to 15% of their body weight?

Is this for all snake species?

Is it dependent on enclosure size?

Activity level?

I'd love to know how this percentage is calculated or how it was arrived at.

Less than 10-15% for a ball python (a generally inactive snake) can cause weight loss. To maintain body weight, a 10-15% intake is required. To add weight is 20% or more (for malnourished or baby snakes). The snake knows that if it doesn't eat at all, it will starve. If it eats less than what it should it will stay in hunting mode longer. So you're telling me that you have a ball python, and because it is inactive, you don't have to feed it? How do you calculate how much your snakes eat? What you believe is just enough to keep them going? Just like the AVERAGE caloric intake for a human is 2000 calories, some need more, some need less to survive. The difference between me and Monty is that when I feel hungry I can walk into the kitchen and open the fridge. He has no way to tell me he is hungry other than to strike.

[Mykuhl]

I'm new here but even I can tell that Skiploder is being facetious with his remarks lol.

[MontyAndMelissa]

I'm new here but even I can tell that Skiploder is being facetious with his remarks lol.

I'm well aware. If he wants to ask smartass questions he will get smartass answers.

[gameonpython]

Less than 10-15% for a ball python (a generally inactive snake) can cause weight loss. To maintain body weight, a 10-15% intake is required. To add weight is 20% or more (for malnourished or baby snakes). The snake knows that if it doesn't eat at all, it will starve. If it eats less than what it should it will stay in hunting mode longer. So you're telling me that you have a ball python, and because it is inactive, you don't have to feed it? How do you calculate how much your snakes eat? What you believe is just enough to keep them going? Just like the AVERAGE caloric intake for a human is 2000 calories, some need more, some need less to survive. The difference between me and Monty is that when I feel hungry I can walk into the kitchen and open the fridge. He has no way to tell me he is hungry other than to strike.

I'm not sure snakes do know that actually...

I was told that if they can't easily curl up in a tight ball, they are overweight.


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[Eric Alan]

Less than 10-15% for a ball python (a generally inactive snake) can cause weight loss. To maintain body weight, a 10-15% intake is required. To add weight is 20% or more (for malnourished or baby snakes). The snake knows that if it doesn't eat at all, it will starve.

More to the point, using your percentage rule, how do you explain wild-caught adult ball pythons that may go 12-24 months before taking their first meal in captivity that lose very little weight during this extended fast?