Is it time for bigger food

[Reinz]

In my experience of only seven snakes I find feeding pretty much individualized. I highly encourage experimentation with a common sense approach. That's how we learn and add to our and everyone's knowledge base. You have to remember that these snakes are living creatures, thus everything is not written in stone.

While I do believe that the smallest or adequate meal spread over longer periods is best, this does not hold true for all snakes. I want to make it clear that my snakes are pets and handled at various times. I believe that adds to the feeding equation. For example if you only handle at cage cleaning time and or infrequently you don't care if the snake is in feed mode more often and tracks you. On the other hand, when mine start acting this way I feed them right away even though it is early, or I feed larger meals. This way I can handle them in a few days without fear of being bitten. Like most folks here, I keep a detailed log on feeding.

Now of course you need to factor in the sex of the snake, is it still visibly growing, time of year, and breeding.

My small boa, 5.5 -6 feet has the girth of a Coke can at her largest part. I was feeding her 2 mediums every two weeks. Then she started started tracking and getting food aggressive. I went to a large every 3-4 weeks which worked for a while at preventing aggression. But then I had to go to a Jumbo Rat every 3-4 weeks which works fantastic! But the last 2-3 feedings I backed her down to a large to see if it would suffice and it did!

Elenore, the small girl tracking me.

To show that I am not nuts, My big Boa, 7ft and the girth of a 1/2 gal of milk, and square shaped, was being fed 2 Jumbos every 1-2 wks before I got him. I immediately cut that meal in half and doubled the time between feedings. He has not shown any aggression in almost a year.

Punch, the big'un getting some exercise.

My adult BP was at just one Med a month. Then she got insanely cage aggressive. I've fed her as much as 4 mediums, to a large and medium, all the way to Jumbo! Yes, a Jumbo is considered hieracy by the community, but that keeps her calm. She won't get overfed because she goes on feeding strike each winter AND always has.

Elvira nice and calm on bigger meals spread out.


Dkatz4, if your snake were mine, a pet that is handled frequently, I would try a medium rat or two smalls and see if that changes his behavior. Of course spread the time between feedings as well. At 2.33 years old, he is still growing moderately, and the nutrition will be used. If he refuses or regurges (which I doubt), then you know that he not ready yet.

Also, if his tail starts to get flabby and losing shape, then back off.