when to switch prey

[Skullkid]

my bp is alittle ove 20" inches and weighs about 170 grams (6oz) and eats one small adult mouse every 5 days. First, i was concerned that shes in bad shape because she was treated very poorly before i bought her, and she seems alittle skinny for her length. The main reason for this post was so someone could tell me when its time to switch to larger prey as the snake grows (such as when the snake weighs x grams switch to a rat or mouse of a certain size). ne help appreciated thnx

[2kdime]

Just keep the widest part of the prey item (girth) as big as the widest part (girth) of your snake or smaller. Up until you get to about a small rat. Then stick with that for its life time.

If you stay on mice it may be advised to feed 2 every feeding. Only in the reason that mice are smaller than rats. Seems everybody shoots for a 40 to 50 gram meal each week as adults.

Hope this helps

[joannarea]

Prey = about the biggest round of your BP, is my vets formula, and works good with my BP. I feed rats, not mice. Don't know if there is a nutrition reason, but logically your BP will get to eating something bigger then a grown mouse, so go to rats. You can get a varity of size from what your using in mice now, on up to her need. Plus a little cheaper than 2 mice. Has your BP been treated for parasites? If it has them, they could keep its weight down and taking nutrition from it. I feed my BP once a week, and watch his growth according to he never gets so round his head looks to small for him, but his body is full, filled out and feels sound. Good luck. Joannarea

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Ideally you want to feed a prey slightly smaller than your BP girth size once a week. It can be rat it can be mouse it is up to your BP and to you.

Bottom line feed what works and is convenient for you because one prey is not better than the other.

You do not want to overfeed your BP either (a common mistake), which sooner or later lead to fast.

[Skullkid]

i measured his weight and two weeks ago he was 150, and hes gained weight, but im just worried that she's alittle underweight for her length. and i know she doesnt have parasites because she was housed with other bp's who are all healthy and tested negative for parasites, as has she.

[Nikki0326]

i measured his weight and two weeks ago he was 150, and hes gained weight, but im just worried that she's alittle underweight for her length. and i know she doesnt have parasites because she was housed with other bp's who are all healthy and tested negative for parasites, as has she.

If by housed together you mean all in the same cage she may not have been eating very well due to the stress of the environment. As long as they are gaining weight I wouldn't be too worried, but if you think its a health issue the best advice is to take em to the vet.

[frankykeno]

It takes time to regain condition if a snake's been housed or fed improperly. For that weight I'd think you are fine on one mouse every 5 days then one every 7 days once it's hit 200 grams or so. When the snake is a bit bigger 2 every 7 days would likely be the next logical step. If at some point you want to move to rats, that's your choice but I wouldn't mess around with anything right now in case it triggers a refusal. If the snake is eating, stick with what is working, worry about changes in prey type later. Healthy weight is weight gained regularily over time by feeding top quality prey.