Quote Originally Posted by bcr229 View Post
Once mine hit a year old they're on a ten day schedule, and at two years they go to a fourteen day schedule. My adults also don't get a prey item big enough to leave a lump, usually a 6-7 ounce rat or young rabbit is plenty.

Remember Dums prefer a lower temperature than ball pythons - 75*F to 85*F - and they have correspondingly slower metabolisms so they digest slowly and don't need to eat as often. Like BCI's they should also be square, not round, even though they are heavy-bodied.

Honestly I'm surprised they're not more popular with people who keep snakes as they're remarkably easy to maintain, have a nice food response, don't get insanely huge, and aren't difficult to handle (think lap snake).
Thanks!! Yeah, I'd say she is more chub than lean, this should help. And thanks about the temp reminder, it's hard not to get so wrapped up in the temps and include her with the balls. That must be why they are said to be slow growers, with the slow metabolism.

I had never heard of them until I went to my first expo. My husband was the one that noticed them. I loved her rosey pink with the dark. It amazes me how much she mellowed out, she tagged me a few times as a young one, haha.