Feeding My Sweetie

[scalrtn]

How much does your snake weigh? (if you don't have one, I'd suggest getting a small digital scale, e.g. available at Walmart) You say you feed all four at once? (that's likely the issue). Also, if some of the stools indicate mice aren't being totally digested, it's possible the snake doesn't have adequate heat in the enclosure (a temperature gradient is recommended - mine ranges from from 84 on the warm side to 69 - 75 (day/night) on the cool side. Kingsnakes need heat to digest properly.

As a point of departure, my Kingsnake is now approaching 250 grams, is a little over 30 inches, and gets 1 small mouse (aka "weanling") every four days. This is in keeping the Brian Hubbs book recommendation of twice-weekly feedings, with an appropriately-sized prey item or a pair of prey items. Weanling mice weigh about 13-19g each, so the snake gets roughly 15% of her body weight every 8 days. (I'm feeding her the smaller mice in my stock, and working up as she grows) She poops like clockwork, 3 days following the previous feed (knowing this, I can usually get her into a separate tub to take care of business, so I can minimize cage cleanings ) . So she always poops before getting the next meal in each 8 day cycle. So I'd suggest 2 feedings a week with 1-2 mice each, rather than 1 feeding with 4 mice, like you're now doing.

Others might have different approaches/ideas/methods, but this way has worked great for me. Hope that helps