Powerfeeding

[Typical_08]

Opinions...

I have heard a lot of different opinions from a lot of different people. So if I missed something please let me know.

[Sebrina]

It depends, I feed my hatchlings every 5 days and I seriously doubt their lifespan will be reduced by doing so. There are alot of myths about powerfeeding. Of couse that doesn't mean you should feed every 2 days but getting the snake on a constant schedule and sticking to it you'd probably be fine.

[FatBoy]

I think every 5 days for hatchlings would be concidered more of a normal schedule, not power feeding. When I think of power feeding I think of feeding a sub adult more than one rat every 2-3 days trying to get it to breeding weight. That is not healthy.

[Beardedragon]

I find people who power feed, are in it only for the money, do not care for the snakes health, and just want it closer to breeding weight to get more offspring. Its unhealthy and not only can it shorten their life span, but why? Must fat females will lay slugs, and fat males make lazy breeders. It can shut their system down and personally, if I find out that a breeder power feeds ANY of their snakes I WILL NOT buy from them.

[Typical_08]

I find people who power feed, are in it only for the money, do not care for the snakes health, and just want it closer to breeding weight to get more offspring. Its unhealthy and not only can it shorten their life span, but why? Must fat females will lay slugs, and fat males make lazy breeders. It can shut their system down and personally, if I find out that a breeder power feeds ANY of their snakes I WILL NOT buy from them.

That is what I have heard.

[771subliminal]

i think that this post says alot....

Since I guess I kind of fueled the fire resulting in the creation of this thread, I will post up my take on Power Feeding.

I saw a bit ago on another thread, that someone was asking; What is Power Feeding. I don't know that there is a definition, and I don't know exactly how I would put it into words. However, I guess power feeding can be described as feeding more than the usual or recommended food items.

With that said, I have been/am guilty of feeding more than the norm. I feed some (I say some, becasue not all, and certainly not any snake that I intend to sell) of my hatchlings every three days. This is mostly done to "important" (it's in the eye of the beholder) males that I would like to breed at 6-8 months of age. Once that animal gets to 500 grams, or once it stops taking 2 meals a week, I discontinue the increased feed rate. Many of the males that I attempt this with, will quit taking the secon meal a week near the 300 gram mark.
An explanation of why I think this is not harmful, and some input from other sources I have spoken with is as follows. I believe (and this has been reaffirmed by other breeders large and small) that evolution has programmed these animals to grow as fast as possible soon after hatching. This only makes sense, as a large snake has fewer predators than a small hatchling Ball Python. I believe that these snakes may actually have a higher metabolism at an early age that allows them to take in more food and grow faster when they are small. I have been wanting to take a closer look at this theory, but have yet to do so. I think that hatchling Ball Pythons may actually be slightly warmer, and spend more time on the hot end of the tank, in an attempt to digest slightly faster. I may have to take some temps with the temp gun this year in an attempt to put some numbers to this theory. Also, I believe this is happening in the wild, as every year, imported wild caught balls that are believed to be less than 8 months old come in with some pretty astounding weights.

I do know of a couple of people that have fed hatchlings as often as every other day without any adverse effects. I am not saying that I condone, or have ever tried this, and I certainly do not recommend it. However, I wanted to relay something that I have seen and heard of in the past. I do believe that the act of "overfeeding" can be dangerous to yearling and older animals, and would never try it. However, I have yet to see an obese Ball that is under 6 months of age. Please feel free to question anything that I have written, and I always love a good discussion. I merely wanted to see this in the Advanced Husbandry section, as I do believe it has a place, and someone with a good bit of experience may want to try it and need a little guidance.

Regards,

[Wh00h0069]

I agree with Mark Bailey on this topic. I have "power-feed" important males. By that, I mean fed every three days as opposed to five days for hatchling. I did this to get them up to breeding size at 5 or 6 months old. If I thought that it would hurt them then I would not have done so. I have also offered a second meal to females that I am trying to gain some weight before breeding season. I also do not feel that this hurts them in any way. In my opinion, if they do not want to eat then they won't.

I do not understand where people get the idea that power-feeding will shorten their life span. I do not think that any of us has been in this hobby long enough to come to that conclusion. Ball pythons can live to be 50+ years old. Does anyone know of any accounts of ball pythons that have died due to power-feeding? I don't.

I understand how people that think that power-feeding is detrimental to ball python's health would think that someone that power feeds is just in it for the money, but I disagree. I do not think that power-feeding hurts the snakes. If a ball python does not want to eat, then it will not. If it does, then it will. If someone wants a female to gain a few hundred grams by breeding season by feeding her every five days, then I do not see the problem.

[Beardedragon]

I agree with Mark Bailey on this topic. I have "power-feed" important males. By that, I mean fed every three days as opposed to five days for hatchling. I did this to get them up to breeding size at 5 or 6 months old. If I thought that it would hurt them then I would not have done so. I have also offered a second meal to females that I am trying to gain some weight before breeding season. I also do not feel that this hurts them in any way. In my opinion, if they do not want to eat then they won't.

I do not understand where people get the idea that power-feeding will shorten their life span. Does anyone know of any accounts of ball pythons that have died due to power-feeding? I don't.

I understand how people that think that power-feeding is detrimental to ball python's health would think that someone that power feeds is just in it for the money, but I disagree. I do not think that power-feeding hurts the snakes. If a ball python does not want to eat, then it will not. If it does, then it will. If someone wants a female to gain a few hundred grams by breeding season by feeding her every five days, then I do not see the problem.

You have the wrong idea of what power feeding is, feeding a ball once every three days until it is breeding size can be unhealthy according to how you do it. If the snake becomes 100% fat with no muscle then yes, that would be extream power feeding. But if it keeps a steady weight because it can handle/ gains from it then no it is not what I would can power feeding. Power feeding isnt only feeding alot, people watch the snake eat and then once they start to get to the end they start to shove p/k or f/t in its mouth so it will eat that one as well, and sometimes they do it again after that! Its not about how much the ball will eat, its how many rats they can shove down it befor it pukes it up.

I do not think that any of us has been in this hobby long enough to come to that conclusion. Ball pythons can live to be 50+ years old.

well... we know because the snake that just died at the age of 5 that should be reaching 50. When you cut it open( Have you ever seen the inside of an powerfed snake? Its not pretty... the fat puts alot of stress on its organs) there are just layers of pure fat.

[rabernet]

I agree with Mark Bailey on this topic..

Tim Bailey, actually!

Since talking to Tim about this myself, I do feed my hatchlings more frequently, and as many breeders do - starting in August, I offer my females 2 rats per feeding vs. one that they get during the rest of the year to get them additional resouces for carrying eggs.

I also do not believe that ball pythons can be power fed - they are well known for going on extended fasts to "catch up" when they've been over-fed.

[twh]

i find it interesting that not only in this thread but in others that talk about "power feeding" there is little or no mention of prey size,of equal importance is not only frequency but prey size.just a thought.have fun!