Over feeding questions

[littlemisskat]

Hey guys!

I just wanted to see if I'm feeding my babies too much.

I have 5 baby ball pythons, and 5 adults. My adults eat once a week and don't give me the "look" any other day but feeding day.

My babies however, give me the "look" almost everyday it seems. I've now fed all the babies two days in a row; and when I open their tubs they still proceed to give me the look.

I don't think it's a prey size issue (though I could be wrong). I feed them rat pups as the rat pups are just a little bigger than the widest part of the snakes.

Can feeding them too much cause any harm? Is it just because they're growing babies and I'm being overly paranoid? Should I feed them whenever they give me the "look"? Or make them wait until the next scheduled feeding day?

Just want to make sure all my snakes are happy and healthy.

Thank you!

[EL-Ziggy]

Like most animals, overfeeding can cause serious health issues in snakes. I definitely don't think you should feed them every time they "appear" hungry. When my kings and bulls were younger they would gladly eat every 2-3 days if I fed them. Feeding schedules don't have to be set in stone but guidelines are sometimes helpful. Determine a healthy meal size and feed appropriately. I usually feed hatchlings and juvies every 3-5 days. The yearlings and older snakes get fed every 7-10 days. If they have a smaller meal I feed them sooner. If they have a larger meal they have a longer wait between feedings. I don't keep BP's but I believe the same principles apply. I'm sure some of the more experienced keepers will chime in soon. Best wishes.

[bcr229]

Yes they should wait. One appropriately-size feeder every five days is fine.

BTW if they aren't on f/t feeders yet this is the ideal time in their lives to convert them.

[littlemisskat]

Yes they should wait. One appropriately-size feeder every five days is fine.

BTW if they aren't on f/t feeders yet this is the ideal time in their lives to convert them.

Yes they are all on f/t , I always try to switch them as soon as possible. thank you!

[Fireproof]

What is the "look"? How do you know that's from hunger and not stress or curiosity or something else?

Anyway - like others said - feeding every day or as much as they will eat is not good. Some will over eat. Snakes can become overweight in captivity.

They need time to digest between feedings and you as their keeper need to make sure they aren't being overfed. Every 4-5 days is fine for a small and growing young ball python. If prey size is small, sometimes you might feed 2 in a single feeding. (Not desirable, but it's done). Like El-ziggy above, I'll adjust based on prey size. I'll target 4-5 days between feedings, but it might be a bit sooner if I went with a smaller than typical one, or a bit later if a big one. Of course now, I'm on F/T bought from RodentPro online, so it's pretty consistent.

[littlemisskat]

What is the "look"? How do you know that's from hunger and not stress or curiosity or something else?

Anyway - like others said - feeding every day or as much as they will eat is not good. Some will over eat. Snakes can become overweight in captivity.

They need time to digest between feedings and you as their keeper need to make sure they aren't being overfed. Every 4-5 days is fine for a small and growing young ball python. If prey size is small, sometimes you might feed 2 in a single feeding. (Not desirable, but it's done). Like El-ziggy above, I'll adjust based on prey size. I'll target 4-5 days between feedings, but it might be a bit sooner if I went with a smaller than typical one, or a bit later if a big one. Of course now, I'm on F/T bought from RodentPro online, so it's pretty consistent.

I don't know for sure that it's hunger, you're absolutely right and it could just be curiosity (they did just recently get switched from tanks to tubs). I sincerely hope my babies aren't stressed. All their temps and humidity are spot on, and I never over handle them.

Some of them are rescues, and were severely underfed, could this be contributing to it? And in the case of an underfed snake, is waiting the 4-5 days still ideal? Sorry for so many questions, I just wanna make sure I do everything I possibly can do right.

[bcr229]

I don't know for sure that it's hunger, you're absolutely right and it could just be curiosity (they did just recently get switched from tanks to tubs). I sincerely hope my babies aren't stressed. All their temps and humidity are spot on, and I never over handle them.

My boas actually give me "the look" more often than my BP's. It's very obvious and usually followed by a strike at the glass.

Some of them are rescues, and were severely underfed, could this be contributing to it? And in the case of an underfed snake, is waiting the 4-5 days still ideal? Sorry for so many questions, I just wanna make sure I do everything I possibly can do right.

Yes, wait. Overfeeding can cause regurgitation which will set them back further. They didn't get into that condition overnight, and it will take a while to safely get them up to their correct weight.

[littlemisskat]

My boas actually give me "the look" more often than my BP's. It's very obvious and usually followed by a strike at the glass.


Yes, wait. Overfeeding can cause regurgitation which will set them back further. They didn't get into that condition overnight, and it will take a while to safely get them up to their correct weight.

Thank you so much for the advice. Today's day 4 so I'm gonna offer the babies food again. And whoever doesn't eat, will wait until next feeding day. But thank you again, always helps ease my mind to hear others opinions/experiences.