Growth diet vs maintenance diet?

[Ivyna J Spyder]

Okay, just looking for a bit of clarification here.


What I see most often regarding feeding BPs is that you want prey that is no bigger around than their largest point.

That or people say to feed one that's around 10-15% of their body weight. (Which I think is a more accurate way of going about it)

But does this only apply to a growing snake? Because from what I've seen of big older BPs, if you went by either rule you'd be feeding big or jumbo rats in some cases. But that can't be right for an adult snake, can it? They should no longer need so much food.

I've heard of people who feed their adults nothing larger than a small rat- do you just get to the small rat size and feed that forever no matter what their girth or weight is? Or do you feed larger items when they're growing based on their girth or weight, and THEN cut back to small when they're full grown?

Sorry if that's a bit confusing. Thanks!

[Chuck1289]

Im not quite sure but i think the 10-15 % rule is only for a growing snake.I read this when i was looking up how to feed my Python.

[andwhy6]

i go with 10 - 15% you gotta remember that these animals are "wild" its not going to harm them to feed them good sized meals. in the wild they can eat up to or over 50% of their body weight and live. i go with the bigger the meal the less often they feed.

[John Marker]

While I am not sure what the majority does, but here is how I feed:

I will not feed any adult BP a rat larger than a medium, if it is F/T, or small, if it is live.

With babies/juveniles I go by the girth of the snake. I typically pick out a rat that is about the same diameter. I don't sweat the details, a little more or less is not a big deal to me.

The way I look at it is this, when the snake is done swallowing the rat I want to see at least a small noticeable bulge in their body. I don't want the snake to look as if they had not eaten at all after they are done.

As far as schedule is concerned, babies/juveniles and breeder adult females are fed weekly. Adult males are fed every two weeks.

I hope this helps.

John

[blackcrystal22]

i go with 10 - 15% you gotta remember that these animals are "wild" its not going to harm them to feed them good sized meals. in the wild they can eat up to or over 50% of their body weight and live. i go with the bigger the meal the less often they feed.

In the wild a ball python survives.

You want them to thrive in your care!

Feeding larger than the largest point causes strain and stress on their internal organs and is usually uncomfortable.

Just because it's capable of eating something that large, doesn't mean it should.
You want your snake to live a long healthy life, that is not a way to go about it.


EDIT: John could you tell me why you feed your males every 2 weeks? I'm just curious. :]
Your method is very knowledgeable and wise. Rather be safe then sorry.

[Gloryhound]

They get the first thing smaller than their girth that we have in the feeder rat bins. If it starts getting to the point that the prey is significantly smaller than a good meal then they get two. Babies get new born or 1 or 2 day old pups. If they don't start eating a couple of weeks after their first shed we move them to small hoppers and in some cases mouse pinkies just to get them started.

I personally classify maintenance feeding as every 8 to 10 days and growth feeding for sub Adults and up every 5 to 7 days. You learn to tell when they are hungry by the actions they are taking in the tub. Each one does things a little different, so you have to figure each one out as an individual.

[jglass38]

Up until about a year old I feed every 5 days. Hatchlings and juvies get a prey item about as large around as the snake's girthiest (is that a word?) section. Adults get a large wean/small small every day with girls getting ready to breed sometimes getting doubles. Adult males eat every 10 days or so. All snakes get 1 or 2 feedings off every 2 months or so. Either refusing because of shed or me skipping feeding them to give them a break. When you have a lot of snakes you get a feel for feeding. I hope this all makes sense!

Jamie

[jglass38]

Adults get a large wean/small small every day with girls getting ready to breed sometimes getting doubles.

Jamie

This should have read:

Adults get a large wean/small small every WEEK with girls getting ready to breed sometimes getting doubles.

That would really be some powerfeeding if I fed daily!

[Ivyna J Spyder]

Hm. Well this is all useful info and I appreciate it, but I guess I didn't phrase my question quite right. ^_^; Though I see people seem to think more of 'time between feedings' vs the size of the prey, interesting...


Lemme put it another way. My snake is growing like a weed. Jumbo mice are quickly getting too small for him so in the next few months I figure I should start getting rats. But I'm just not sure what sizes to order in advance for when he grows more...

Basically, would it be best if I just get a lot of small rats and always feed that size, more or less frequently as he grows, or should I also order some mediums and larges?

[PythonWallace]

I don't feed anything larger than a small rat. My rat eaters get smalls from the time they are about 700g to over 2,000g. Occationally if a big girl has been looking hungry for a few days she'll get 2, but still 2 smalls. Big girls can take medium rats, but most people seem to stick with smalls. I prefer to stay on the small end and offer more qty. I have 800g mousers that get 3-4 mice a week, because I keep prey items smaller than I could.