Quote Originally Posted by Aedryan Methyus View Post
I will finally be receiving my new pair of 25% Kalatoa Super Dwarf Retics tomorrow morning and I asked the breeder what size prey they're currently eating. He said they are currently eating rat pups or small mice and these guys will be 1 year old in April and May and I can tell from the photos he sent me that they are very skinny. I want to try to keep their sizes manageable, but at the same time I don't want them to be skinny and I really don't want it to take 4 more years to get them up to breeding size, so i'm definitely going to have to be making some prey size and feeding schedule decisions...
Hmm.. I'd say they should probably be on the same feeding routine as their mainland cousins, just smaller prey (similar in width to body girth). I think young retics typically eat every 5-7 days.

I think many of the people breeding SD/ D retics under-feed to keep them smaller longer. I know there are some people that say to do the same with mainlands. IMO, that is just cruelty when done to keep the snake smaller in size. Plus, many retics will push and ruin their faces when not fed properly.

I hope you can get them well-started and on a correct feeding schedule. I'd also be interested in asking the breeder why he is under-feeding. :/ I think with my CA motley male boa, he was underfed to use less food / $$ and be kept in a smaller tub size until sold.