Changing Prey

[rlditmars]

In reading through the thread, you say you have fed adult mice. That being the case, your guy should be able to take pups no problem. If he gets big enough to switch to weanlings, then you can finish up the pups by offering him multiple animals at a single feeding or feed him at shorter intervals like every 5 days instead of once a week until the pups are gone. I usually do not switch to weanlings until they are about 350 grams.

[Nutriaitch]

In reading through the thread, you say you have fed adult mice. That being the case, your guy should be able to take pups no problem.

the "adult" mice I've found have been similarly sized to the "fuzzy" rats I've found.

how much larger is a "pup" compared to a fuzzy?

note: snake is roughly 200g as of about a week ago.

[rlditmars]

At Big Cheese Rodent Factory they show the average size of rat pups is between 19 and 29 grams. They would be perfect for a 200 gram snake and they would have more fur, thus more scent, than a rat fuzzy. A pack of 25 is $40 plus $29 for shipping. I have used them for years and they have been very good.

[Nutriaitch]

At Big Cheese Rodent Factory they show the average size of rat pups is between 19 and 29 grams. They would be perfect for a 200 gram snake and they would have more fur, thus more scent, than a rat fuzzy. A pack of 25 is $40 plus $29 for shipping. I have used them for years and they have been very good.

I'm going to weigh him again in a day or so (letting him finish digesting first) to confirm his weight since he went 3 weeks without a meal.

From there, I'll probably order some online somewhere.
there is another local guy here that breeds them live, but doesn't sell them frozen, and is only available on certain days due to his work schedule.

may have to get my 10 gallon tank out of mothballs and just keep one or two alive for a couple-few days or so, then kill it right before feeding.

[Nutriaitch]

They would be perfect for a 200 gram snake

so i think i need a new scale.

weighed him 3 times today.
132g
172g
158g

all 3 times he was pretty still and in a semi coil, so it wasn’t because of him moving.

so unless he had a 40g swing during the course of today (a 70g drop from about a week ago), my scale is junk

[Malum Argenteum]

Some scales don't like off-center loads. Bag or cup the snake securely before weighing, and make sure it is centered.

[rlditmars]

You may also try changing the batteries in your scale if you haven't in a while.

[Bogertophis]

And make sure it's sitting level- maybe a corner pad underneath has come off, etc.

[Nutriaitch]

I will try again a few times today using y'all suggestions.
will update later with results.

[Nutriaitch]

I will try again a few times today using y'all suggestions.
will update later with results.

put him in a big cup and tried again.
got 5 consecutive reading between 184g and 187g

so now i’m going to say that’s probably about where he is.

he looks healthy and growing.
but he was severely underfed by the pet store (and by me before i properly educated myself).
hopefully i didn’t stunt his growth too much and he can end up being as big as he can!