Posted by:
Phil Peak
at Sat Jul 26 17:25:00 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Phil Peak ]
One thought that goes into this conversation is exactly how do you define power feeding? Pits are good sized snakes with a relatively high metabolism. The feeding regimen for a Pit should be different than that of a less active snake with a lower metabololic rate. From what I have seen many keepers under feed their Pits. The result are snakes that never reach their genetic potential for growth and are slow to mature. I prefer to feed my Pits heavily for the first two years of life. Some breeders are driven by getting their snakes to maturity in the shortest amount of time possible so that they can cash in on the hatchlings. This is something that I would recommend against, and regardless of size I wait until the snakes are at least three years of age and often four to breed them for the first time. Once adult, I adjust the feeding schedule accordingly. Adult males usually go through a seasonal fast anyhow during the breeding season so there is generally little issue with them over eating. Egg laying takes its toll on the females and I especially like to feed them heavily afterwards to get them back in top condition. These methods have worked well for me and my adult snakes are large and impressive and I generally expect 100% hatch rate on any clutch that is laid. I have seen some of the Pits that were being raised by the "I prefer to grow them slow" crowd and their specimens usually reflect this mentality. Yearlings that look like hatchlings and adults that are overly thin and sickly looking. Field studies have shown that wild Pits are usually reproductively active in their third year. This with a winter dormancy that can last from several months to more than half of the year. These snakes are eating large meals and often. On the same topic as growth, I keep my hatchlings up through their first winter and continue feeding. Unless a baby Pit goes off food there is no reason to cool it down the first year. Like any snake feeding responses will vary from one individual to the next. I like to see my yearlings at 4'. Some will be larger than this and others will be smaller. I like to provide adequate feeding opportunities to enable this to happen though. If at all possible I avoid mice from the onset. I start my hatchlings on pink rats and move up to crawlers and then to pups. By one year of age they are on small rats and medium rats by the second year.
Pits are high maintenance snakes. They eat a lot, defecate a lot and require attention. The rewards are great though and they are easily my favorite snakes.
This has worked well for me with pines and bulls. Someone else could probably give you some insights on the gophers and Mexican Pits.
Phil
[ Hide Replies ]
|
RE: power feeding questions...... - Phil Peak, Sat Jul 26 17:25:00 2008