Does this seem excessive?

[RoyaLoveRay]

In this link, check out the paragraph under "How often should I feed my ball python?"

http://www.strictlyballs.ca/feedingfaq.htm

Doesn't this feeding routine seem excessive, even for power feeding?

[dr del]

No it seems fine to me - I don't even consider it power feeding.

[RoyaLoveRay]

So is it a problem if my snakes aren't willing to feed at this rate? I keep two in tanks in my bedroom, which I am thinking may not be ideal since the light and activity may bother them at nighttime. (And I hope it's not a problem that I use moonlite bulbs for supplemental heat). Is it generally better to keep royals in racks, or can conditions in tanks be optimized for vigorous feeding? Thanks again!

[Sauzo]

I fed my girl 10-20% every 3-4 days till she hit 433g, then I switched her to every 7 days. She is in a 30 gallon(36x18x12) tank since she was a little 102g 12" baby and now just over 3 months later, she is a 433g 30" eating machine. I use a CHE exclusively and just use room lighting as well as lights from my bearded dragon cage to throw ambient light on her. I'm kind of a night owl and watch tv late at night and the tv lighting doesn't bother her at all, she still comes out at night and cruises around I'm assuming looking for food as she LOVES to eat. Every snake will be different. As long as they look healthy and don't have loose skin hanging off them or their backbones sticking out, I probably wouldn't worry.

[Tsanford]

I feed anything under 250g every 5 days.

Sent using Tapatalk.

[200xth]

So is it a problem if my snakes aren't willing to feed at this rate?

If they're eating, growing, pooping, shedding, and are generally healthy, then no, it's not a problem. Feed them at whatever rate and size works for you.

Just out of curiousity, how big are your snakes and how often are you feeding them?

[RoyaLoveRay]

Just out of curiousity, how big are your snakes and how often are you feeding them?

I have a couple dozen f/t jumbo mice to go through, averaging about 30-35 grams. I've got an albino girl at 1100 grams, hatched 11/2/13, and a blue Lucy boy at 500 grams, hatched 8/6/14. I feed her every 1-3 days, depending on her appetite, and have even fed her twice in one night. I feed him every 2-3 days. Going by the guideline in that link, I calculate they should eat the mice I've got about once every 1.5 days, so I try to come close as possible. They are both healthy and happy!

Ive got a related question: some suggest that once a royal reaches adulthood at 1000g one should reduce the feeding frequency. Does this apply to males at the same weight, or is a male considered adult at a lower weight?

thanks again all...

[Sauzo]

You should try and switch your 1100g girl over to rats and move her to a once a week feeding of a single size appropriate meal, a small rat. Otherwise you are going to be feeding lots of mice and it will cost a lot more. I feed my 433g girl a weaned rat once a week and she does fine. Unless you are planning on breeding, I would just go with a small rat once a week for both. If your female turns out to be a big girl, maybe a small medium rat but your boy should be fine on small rats. I have never really seen an obese ball python. I have seen an obese boa as my BCI is kind of chunky so ive actually dropped her down to a medium rat every 2 weeks and shes 5-6ft long. Boas get fat easy though

[200xth]

I have a couple dozen f/t jumbo mice to go through, averaging about 30-35 grams. I've got an albino girl at 1100 grams, hatched 11/2/13, and a blue Lucy boy at 500 grams, hatched 8/6/14. I feed her every 1-3 days, depending on her appetite, and have even fed her twice in one night. I feed him every 2-3 days. Going by the guideline in that link, I calculate they should eat the mice I've got about once every 1.5 days, so I try to come close as possible. They are both healthy and happy!

Ive got a related question: some suggest that once a royal reaches adulthood at 1000g one should reduce the feeding frequency. Does this apply to males at the same weight, or is a male considered adult at a lower weight?

thanks again all...

I think I got confused.

You posted a link to site that says feed every 7 to 10 days, and asked if that was excessive. You then said you feed your snakes every 1 to 3 days.

I wouldn't feed them every day or every two days. Just feed them once a week. If you need to feed them two mice on that day.

[bcr229]

I wouldn't say it's an excessive schedule for breeders. Most of mine are pets, not breeders. Non-breeder females are on a 10-14 day schedules and males are on a 14 day schedule. The adult breeders all get offered a meal weekly, though they'll all refuse a meal periodically, especially if in shed.

All of the adult males typically don't eat more than every 3-4 weeks over the winter, and I have one that has fasted since Halloween.