Feeding- How often is too often.

[200xth]

If your snake is a problem feeder but otherwise healthy, you may not want to feed as often as possible.

Humans like feeding schedules. Once a week is convenient and easy to remember and follow...for humans. Snakes are less interested in calendars.

I had a few problem feeders a few years ago. I tried switching food, moving tubs, etc, etc. I was trying to get them to eat on schedule and gain weight like the other snakes.

Then I just listened to the snakes and quit trying to feed them so often. It took a little bit on some of them, but one by one they started eating more consistently, and started putting on weight slowly but surely with much less frustration on my part. They still skip occasional meals and like all BP's go on fasts at times, but some of them just prefer eating less frequently for the most part.

[George1994]

If your snake is a problem feeder but otherwise healthy, you may not want to feed as often as possible.

Humans like feeding schedules. Once a week is convenient and easy to remember and follow...for humans. Snakes are less interested in calendars.

I had a few problem feeders a few years ago. I tried switching food, moving tubs, etc, etc. I was trying to get them to eat on schedule and gain weight like the other snakes.

Then I just listened to the snakes and quit trying to feed them so often. It took a little bit on some of them, but one by one they started eating more consistently, and started putting on weight slowly but surely with much less frustration on my part. They still skip occasional meals and like all BP's go on fasts at times, but some of them just prefer eating less frequently for the most part.

Thank you for the input. She hasn't had a regimented feeding schedule like my male has. She gets fed more often, but I never really set out a day for her. Just when I could get different prey, different things to scent the prey with etc. Same with the Multis, got 'em Monday, she got fed one that night.

I am just worried due to her size. 300g's for a 2014, that seems really small for me. But like I said, she looks healthy. And with a couple meals she might start packing on some weight. I just worry that she is too small and not healthy due to it.

[200xth]

I am just worried due to her size. 300g's for a 2014, that seems really small for me. But like I said, she looks healthy. And with a couple meals she might start packing on some weight. I just worry that she is too small and not healthy due to it.

300g is a little on the small side, but some of them just eat less and grow slower. If her overall condition and health are good she's doing okay.

If she was mine, I would just start offering food every 14 days. See how she does on that for a few months. She'll gain slowly but she'll gain steadily and after 5 or 6 consecutive feedings you can look at bumping up her schedule if you want.

[George1994]

300g is a little on the small side, but some of them just eat less and grow slower. If her overall condition and health are good she's doing okay.

If she was mine, I would just start offering food every 14 days. See how she does on that for a few months. She'll gain slowly but she'll gain steadily and after 5 or 6 consecutive feedings you can look at bumping up her schedule if you want.

Thanks for all this info, I have tried giving her some extended breaks off of food and just leaving her alone, she has had mixed success with it. But that is better than no success. I guess they are like people. If for her whole life she has struggled eating, she will be smaller than most. Same with humans. Even if she did eat well she could be smaller than one born the same day and fed exactly the same. Just how it goes I guess.

I was just worried about the size of her. Needed some reassuring words haha!

[OodlesOfNoodles]

My bumblebee was exactly the same - shy eater, eating sporadically and who would only eat one mouse (wouldn't take multiples) and nearly made me go bald lol. He has only just started to eat more consistently this year since switching over to multis.

Ball pythons grow really well on multis and have a great feeding response to them! But as you know being from the UK too they're not the cheapest feeders over here.