Very interesting subject.



Obesity is very much a horrible thing to deal with, as it is very hard to have snakes reduce their weight once they get fat. The health issues go up then.



And in captivity, the chance of them becoming obese at a quick pace is higher than out in the field. Throwing food in anytime the owner " thinks " they need to be fed, instead of examining the situations as a whole, from a nutritional/weight standpoint, may not be the healthiest route to go. Reptile vets I know have shaken their head in disgust over what is seen representing " advice " on internet snake forums, as they tire of dealing with clients coming in with fat snakes.



Nature: Unlimited ways for exercise and thermoregulation. Captivity: A Box, and limited ways to keep the snakes.



Each snake is different. Some can eat more and stay lean, some can't. While I do have a feeding schedule so to say, it is not set in stone. If I see a snake that needs less food, skip a feeding. Needs more food, feed him more.



Obesity does and will lead to egg-binding. It really does pay for females to be given as much space as possible, in terms of exercise and egg laying, coupled with a big cage. The bigger the cage, the better.



You do not see fat snakes in nature. You see fat snakes at shows and in captivity.



So, in all, leaner is better, but a healthy weight is the goal. If you have to skip a feeding here and there, so the snake can be at an ideal, lean, and non-obese weight, do so. If you need to feed more to get that snake up to a heavier weight that would be ideal, do so. The goal is a healthy weight.












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Genesis 1:1

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