Slow growers

[muddoc]

Tim, I must respectfully disagree.

The OP just got the snake and wants information on putting girth and size on it quickly.

Being a new snake keeper, this course of action will invariably lead to either regurg or vomiting (depending on where in the digestion process the rodent is when the action happens.) Already being impatient, the most likely scenario is that the new snake keeper will not wait weeks to feed it a smaller prey, but will just carry forth with trying to put as much into the snake as possible.

As I'm sure you know, compounding the issue of regurg or vomiting is the real danger and probability of the gastric fluids going into the glottis and causing RI's.

Also, it is well documented that obese snakes are shorter lived snakes; having death come earlier due to power feeding by their keepers.

I believe that we all have a responsibility to these animals to spread correct husbandry and feeding procedures to new snake owners and existing snake owners; especially those smart enough to be asking questions, as in the case of the OP.

Lastly, you left out he rest of my post. Here is the whole thing:
NO.
Do not power feed your snake or your snake will die.
Snakes grow at their own pace.
Feed appropriately sized prey every 7 days.

I feel that this post is still correct.

First off, I would like to apologize to the OP for slightly derailing the thread.

Starmom. I understand your disagreement, regarding the issue as it concerns a new and unexperienced keeper. I stated that in my post. I do not want to get into what may be deemed "correct power feeding", as I believe that is a topic for advanced husbandry. However, I do believe it has a place.

I will agree that if done improperly, regurgitation can occur. I have not heard of an RI caused by gastric fluids, but I am not staing that i can't happen.

As for leaving out the rest of your thread, I fully agree with what I left out, and did not need to comment on it. I only captured the part of your original thread that I disagreed with.

Each of us is entilitled to an opinion, and I agree that you are giving a new owner the best possible advice.

Respectfully,