Newbie Feeding Questions

[Magick]

Being new to snakes, I've been reading (and learning) alot on the forum. I'm hoping one of you wised snake wizards can help me with a couple of feeding questins.

I'm feeding my babies (Kali (F) ~20" & Tarzan (M) ~24") live adult mice. I'm not sure that the meal actually fills them up... they always seem ready for another... so (please be kind) I have fed them twice in the past week (Sun night & tonight - Wed). Am I over feeding? I've read alot about BPs "hunger strikes", but seems I have the opposite situation here.

I would also like to move them over to F/T, but they are eating so well I'm kind of nervous about it... should I try F/K first? Or just jump in with both feet to the thawed?

Any suggestions?

[gen]

Don't be nervous about switching to f/t. There's nothing to lose! Personally, I tried fresh killed first, then frozen. My ball took both without any convincing. Try it!

[TONYDM41684]

I don't think that you are over feeding. I feed my BP every four days or so, Just because she just looks hungry. I left her unfed for a week and she was striking at my fingers, and at anyone who walked by. I figure that if they are going to eat good, why not feed them? I am going to feed them before they start going on hunger stikes like everyone elses' BP. Don't trip. Its cool.

[Cody]

I'd think feeding every 4 days would be stressful on their digestive tracts maybe. I mean by the time they get the one prey item digested, they'd have another to digest again. I feed mine once a week. Every friday she gets one appropriately sized f/t rodent. That way I can give her the weekend to digest, then I have monday till friday to handle her and get some bonding time in. It's just my opinion, and what I've learned in my short experiences with my bp.

[BallPythonBabe448]

yea I feed apropriate sized items once a week, on fridays so they have the weekend to digest just like he said... and I hold Cupid 3 times a week for an hour or an hour and a half.

[kavmon]

one rodent just as thick or slightly larger than the thickest part of your snake weekly is plenty for growth and well being. sometimes i only feed my adult snakes every 2 weeks. when they are full grown they don't need as much (just like us) lol

thanks

vaughn

[RAZORBLADES&BANDAIDS]

Hi there, I would have to say that you should be feeding once a week. You dont want to over feed and as for feeding live mice/rats I would definately switch to frozen. As your snake gets older the prey gets bigger if a large rat gets cornered and fights back you may have a vet bill on your hands. The earlier you start feeding frozen/thawed the easier it will be in the future. My ball is 2 1/2 and he eats every two weeks, when he was yonge he was only eating once a week. There digestive system is very slow. I thaw the rat in a ziplock in a dish of warm water that way when the snake goes for it its body temp is warm. Also, one other suggestion, not sure how you are feeding but I do not feed my snakes in there tanks. I take them outta there tanks and put them in a big rubbermaid. They are at the point now that when they are in the rubbermaid they know its feeding time, because that is the only reason they go in there. It also prevents them from mistaking your hand for food if you reach in there tank for whatever reason.
Good luck
RAZORBLADES&BANDAIDS

[led4urhead]

Magick ... you can try jumping in both feet first. I would definitely make sure that the mouse/rat is super warm and you might have to do the mousie dance. Its definitely worth it in my opinon though. You might want to give these threads a read. They could provide some good info for you:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/index.ph...ewtopic&t=4266
http://www.ball-pythons.net/index.ph...ewtopic&t=3341
http://www.ball-pythons.net/index.ph...ewtopic&t=4824