Slow growers

[PhillyBoyInTN]

Power feeding is feeding prey to big or just plain over feeding the snake to get size quickly. Not a healthy thing to do for your snake.

Isn't powerfeeding when your snake is eating a prey item and when its starting to be swallowed you put another one in their mouth so their forced to swallow that one too?!?!?!

[Sonya610]

Isn't powerfeeding when your snake is eating a prey item and when its starting to be swallowed you put another one in their mouth so their forced to swallow that one too?!?!?!

Yeah thats what I though too, a form of force feeding.

[camb]

dont want no rat but the snake does LOL

oh rats r awesome pets i loved mine so much, but they have a short lifespan. but i love snakes even more.

[frankykeno]

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.

McKinsey, this post I have issues with.

#1 You are assuming that this person is power feeding or contemplating doing so. Purely from what they typed, making that assumption is not fair to the OP.

#2 Nor is telling them "your snake will die". Their snake might die, it might not. It might keel over tomorrow for some other reason or it might live 30 more years. Again, you can't assume a result from an assumed action. Saying "your snake will die" (my underline) is a statement of fact. You don't know this for a fact any more than you know this person is intending or is in fact powerfeeding.

#3 It's been stated by more than one person that they feed young snakes every 5 days. None of them is powerfeeding. When giving advice to newcomers I find it best to offer them options and explain in full why these options make sense so they understand why something is suggested. Scaring them into acceptance teaches nothing.

[Freakie_frog]

I have to agree with Jo I have three or four animals that were fed every 5 days from the time they were babys till they hit 1000 grams or showed signs of slowing down I.E skipping every other meal. Now I feed nothing larger than a smal rat and they get weaned rats till they get to be 800+ grams And all of them are healthy and feed every week with out fail. I wouldn't suggest it to everyone but its the way I do things. They are not fat nore are they over fed they ate because they could handle it. Then I have two animals that were fed every 7 days and they are some of the worst eaters I have.

Now with that said Power Feeding can have advers affects if over done. But for some one that knows thir snakes then feeding every 5 days or even every three is not a problem.

in the end its what you KNOW not feel your animals can handle.

[dr del]

Isn't powerfeeding when your snake is eating a prey item and when its starting to be swallowed you put another one in their mouth so their forced to swallow that one too?!?!?!

Hi,

I've always heard this called either "following on" or "chain feeding".


dr del

[jglass38]

Jo, I agree! I also have learned that on this site (and it may have Judy who said this) that it is best with someone who has JUST purchased their snake to give them the basic tried and true husbandry advice so that they can have the very best results from the starting line. This is what I was attempting to do; apparently with poor results. However, I did my best in the moment of the action.

I fully realize that books and research papers that I have and have read are only the jumping off place when it comes to dealing with issues 'real time'. I also fully realize that I have only 13 ball pythons and that does not compare, and will never compare, to a keeper having hundreds. However, even caring for one ball python ought to allow for an exchange of information and knowledge and experience. I am thankful that on this forum it does.

I also fully realize that there are so many different methodologies one can employ to keep these snakes successfully; from environments to feeding to breeding; I think that John (Jas) was a really good teacher for that. However, and again, we've been asked to give the tried and true methods to a new snake keeper who is also new to ball pythons.

As for Tim's response, it was explanatory and thoughtful and I completely understood what he was saying. I appreciate discussion with an exchange of information and void of harsh stances and emotional and belittling outbursts. I felt that Tim's response was excellent and certainly followed implied rules of intellectual discussion and sharing.

As for Variable 1 leading always to Variable 2, I am fully aware of that fallacy. I have had experiences with my own snakes that back that folly up But again, a new owner stating impatience of growth rate and wanting to know if it's okay to feed 2x a week suggests power feeding to me and that can lead to disastrous results with keepers who have just gotten their very first snake. Again, I was trying to follow the rules for advice to new snake keepers.

I really don't know what more to say. I guess I will just end this with the assurance that I always always always try my hardest to give the best possible advice to new snake owners and I keep it on a tried and true basis. I also always always always listen to the advice and discussions of the more advanced herpers on this forum. From that point, I distill the information, learn from my snakes, employ independent thought, and go forward...

Maybe sometimes it's better to just sit back and let others with hands on experience with a larger number of animals give advice rather than regurgitating information from a book you've read. Give advice when you have personal experience on the subject. That's how everyone learns and grows.

[rabernet]

Isn't powerfeeding when your snake is eating a prey item and when its starting to be swallowed you put another one in their mouth so their forced to swallow that one too?!?!?!

Yes, that's what I know powerfeeding to be as well. Feeding twice a week is not considered powerfeeding. If the snake isn't hungry, it won't eat when offered the second time that week.

[bigballs]

i consider power feeding any method of feeding in which the keeper's intentions are to grow their animals as big and as quickly as possible.

many snakes will easily eat twice or three times a week if allowed but most dont need to. if we know our animals then we know which ones should get more or less food. maybe young ones need to eat every five days but if they are nice and plump and healthy eating every seven then thats fine as well. maybe an adult female who just laid a clutch of eggs begs to be fed twice or three times a week and you allow it just cuz you know its whats best for her or maybe not.

so to answer the OPs question i would say feed one appropriate sized rodent once a week. thats what i was taught and i learned from there. there are always exceptions and with time and experience you will learn what those exceptions are for each indivdual animal under your care.

and dont take it only from me, look at all theses experienced people who you can learn from! youll get all types of answers so be a little educated on the topic so you can weed out what you dont need.