Prey size...

[CntrlF8]

Ok, so I'm still having issues with the whole prey size issue...

I know most everyone here, at the largest, feeds small rats. At what size would you consider it OK to be feeding smalls? My smallest, at 26" and 260g ate a small with little if any difficulty, and didn't have a visible bulge once he got it past his neck. Would you say that's ok?

Also, all but my large female is on F/T. I'm working on switching her, but she's proving to be difficult having ate live for the last 6 years...

[juddb]

Ok, so I'm still having issues with the whole prey size issue...

I know most everyone here, at the largest, feeds small rats. At what size would you consider it OK to be feeding smalls? My smallest, at 26" and 260g ate a small with little if any difficulty, and didn't have a visible bulge once he got it past his neck. Would you say that's ok?

Also, all but my large female is on F/T. I'm working on switching her, but she's proving to be difficult having ate live for the last 6 years...

The prey item should be about the same size as the thickest part on the snakes body!!!

[CntrlF8]

The prey item should be about the same size as the thickest part on the snakes body!!!

hey, for some people that's a difficult thing to judge!

Besides, if I were to stick to that, I'd be feeding medium/large rats to my adults, and I KNOW that's not what most successful breeders do.

My little guy though, I wanna stuff him as full as I can 'cause he needs to put on some weight before the winter...

[Kagez28]

i feed my 300g ball 2 adult mice every 7 days....

hope that helps

[SnakieMom]

I've wondered about this two. My female is around 600-650 grams (haven't been able to weigh her in a while), and she eats a small rat a week, with no problems.

My two adult males, around 1400g and 1300g both eat small rats.
I've wondered if I should bump them up to mediums, since they have no problems with small ones.
Is there anything wrong with feeding medium rats?

[SatanicIntention]

Just so you are aware, if your setup is correct, your snake shouldn't fast through the winter. Breeding males might fast for a few months bcause their mind is set on other things, but a baby shouldn't fast.

I would just stick with one medium adult mouse until the snake reaches 300g or so, then you can try bigger mice or two medium mice per week. They don't need to be stuffed full, and if they get stuffed, they will fast to catch up.

All of mine, with the exception of Amani(who is a turd), ate throughout the winter, even the males.

As they age, their metabolism slows even further, so this is why a 3000g female doesn't need a jumbo sized rat. They grow just as well on smaller meals fed more frequently.

[CntrlF8]

Just so you are aware, if your setup is correct, your snake shouldn't fast through the winter. Breeding males might fast for a few months bcause their mind is set on other things, but a baby shouldn't fast.

That's kinda my point in this. I'm hoping he'll be breedable this winter, but need to get him up to a healthy weight first...

[Stewart_Reptiles]

hey, for some people that's a difficult thing to judge!

Besides, if I were to stick to that, I'd be feeding medium/large rats to my adults, and I KNOW that's not what most successful breeders do.

This is why when people ask I tell them to feed a prey slightly smaller than the girth size (widest part of the BP's body) and nothing ever larger than a small rat (4 weeks old - 45/65 grams)

[SnakieMom]

Can someone please explain to me why a medium rat is not a good idea?

[CntrlF8]

Can someone please explain to me why a medium rat is not a good idea?

Not that it's NOT a good idea, but in captivity we feed our animals much more frequently than they eat in the wild. In the wild, they'll be lucky to get 12 meals a year, and for our peace of mind we're asking them to eat 52 instead. Smaller meals are better if they're eating as often as we feed.

If you feed mediums eventually they'll go off feed to let their bodies catch up.