Obese or No-bese?

[Avsha531]

Hi all, wanted a public opinion. This is Fabio, he is a gorgeous bumblebee. My first BP with Spider in it, the corkscrewing threw me for a loop lol. He's super cute, a bit shy, but absolutely stunning. Pics do not do him justice.

I adopted from a member of this forum who is moving out of the country, he is a really great guy who clearly cares very much for his animals. He told me that Fabio was around 4 years old, and that he was feeding him large rats weekly.

Now, Fabio is a BIG boy, weighed over 1700g yesterday (not empty, 3 days after a 115g rat). He does not feel mushy at all. I have seen the feeding guide that goes around where it suggests that typical adult males don't need anything larger than a small rat weekly, and decided based on his size to be feeding him mediums weekly.

My questions are, based on these pics, does he look to be overweight, or is he just a big boy? And next, should I keep him on a diet of Medium rats weekly (which is smaller size than what he was eating) or should I switch up the size/frequency? I appreciate the advice and experience

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[JodanOrNoDan]

Nice snake. He does appear to be built a little like a girl so I would check to be sure, but the founding sire of my large lines is also built like a solid female. He wants to be bigger than he already is but I have tapered him off a bit, small rat every two weeks, and he is still growing.

As long as yours is solid I don't think you have anything to worry about, but he could probably be safely bumped back a bit.

[skydnay]

Wow, that's a real big boy! He's gorgeous!

I don't think he looks obese, but does look good and chunky. I'm hesitant to say you SHOULD switch to medium rats.. but doing so may get him to lose a little weight. For frequency, I'm not sure when adults start to slow down on their meals. My three year old boy eats small rats weekly and hasn't refused one yet. From what I've been seeing, it seems that you should judge how often to offer food by how the snake reacts. If he's taking meals weekly, then I see no reason you shouldn't offer weekly. If he starts refusing, then it may be time to cut back to every 10-14 days.

[Craiga 01453]

He is a good-looking boy!!

I wouldn't say obese, but he's definitely a big boy. I see no reason a medium every 10 days or so wouldn't satisfy him.

[JodanOrNoDan]

He is a good-looking boy!!

I wouldn't say obese, but he's definitely a big boy. I see no reason a medium every 10 days or so wouldn't satisfy him.

Craig, you will turn that boy into an anaconda feeding him like that, but if the OP is wanting a big snake that would do it because if that is really a boy he has the genetics to be quite large.

[Bogertophis]

Very handsome snake! I would feed either a 'small' weekly or a 'medium' every 10+ days. My take is same as other posts, not obese but would be better
off if food is tapered back some now, before it gets to that point.

[Craiga 01453]

Craig, you will turn that boy into an anaconda feeding him like that, but if the OP is wanting a big snake that would do it because if that is really a boy he has the genetics to be quite large.

Really? I figured at 1700+ grams and currently getting a large weekly that would be a nice cut back. But, I've never had a BP that large, so I could definitely be wrong.

[JodanOrNoDan]

Really? I figured at 1700+ grams and currently getting a large weekly that would be a nice cut back. But, I've never had a BP that large, so I could definitely be wrong.

That is definitely a cut back, but I have not met the boy that needs even a medium yet. A small per week max, and even then most will go on an extended fast. I'm going to weigh my big boy tonight, I have not in two years. He is now on a small every two weeks and still flipping growing. Every once in awhile if I have an extra medium from the girls he will get it, but it would be a few weeks before I feed him more. He would eat though. He's a flipping pig and so are the majority of his offspring. All of my clutches other than the Highway one were sired by a son and grandson of his. He is in at least temporary retirement due to my line breeding efforts.

Zena has the largest male I have ever seen. A large yellow belly that I have been trying to get a hold of. He is long and lean. May be interesting to hear what she feeds him. I don't remember her saying.

[Craiga 01453]

That is definitely a cut back, but I have not met the boy that needs even a medium yet. A small per week max, and even then most will go on an extended fast. I'm going to weigh my big boy tonight, I have not in two years. He is now on a small every two weeks and still flipping growing. Every once in awhile if I have an extra medium from the girls he will get it, but it would be a few weeks before I feed him more. He would eat though. He's a flipping pig and so are the majority of his offspring. All of my clutches other than the Highway one were sired by a son and grandson of his. He is in at least temporary retirement due to my line breeding efforts.

Zena has the largest male I have ever seen. A large yellow belly that I have been trying to get a hold of. He is long and lean. May be interesting to hear what she feeds him. I don't remember her saying.

Ah, ok. Thanks!

...and I know Zina's big guy that you speak of. He's impressive.

[Avsha531]

Lol thanks for the feedback guys. I guess next plan of action is to determine if he actually is a boy. I've never actually learned how to pop snakes other than watching videos and I don't wanna screw it up. Anyone in NY/NJ area open to teaching me?

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