Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just curious to know how much I should be feeding a 4'7" black rat. I have been feeding 2 mice once a week or 1 small rat once a week. I am wondering if maybe I should feed more like 1 mouse on Monday and a rat on Friday or 2 mice Monday and 2 on Friday or if my schedule is alright. Thanks for your time!

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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

As we say in Missouri, "I ain't goin back to Missouri!"

If you feed him and he is actuvely hunting just 4 days later, than you probably need to feed him a bigger meal. This can be a single item of bigger size or two items - mass is the point to consider. If you feed him and he seems content for about a week, than your plan is fine. IN the natural world, he wouldn't usually get to pick and choose the meal size and he would still do fine.

I'm going to agree with that one. Once you learn your animals, they start letting YOU know what is enough, too much, not quite enough etc. I offer most of mine a prey item weekly. Those who are hungry eat. If I thawed out too much (if several didn't eat what I offered) then some pig/garbage disposal of a snake will usually eat the leftovers. There is seldom wasted food in my snake room, but I also try not to overfeed. I feed 'em and don't really worry about it too much. Duffy

I agree on the animals letting you know. But I have only had her for about 2 weeks. So we are still "getting to know" one another. BTW I have never had a missed feeding with any of my snakes. They are all "garbage disposals"
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

As we say in Missouri, "I ain't goin back to Missouri!"

Never a missed feeding??? Wow! I have some that feed when "blue" and some that usually don't. Some males that go off feed for awhile in the spring and several that stop feeding altogether when the days get short. I have a few that were given to me as "problem feeders" or even "non-feeders" ... one of which was at death's door as a hatchling. Some of these skip a random meal here and there. One corn that was given to me as a problem feeder is one of my garbage disposals now. And I don't know WHAT the hell my baird's was eating during the 8 months that he was gone (Sept - April)... But MAN did he GROW!

Good luck with the new black rat. I'm sure you will get to know each other very well very soon. Duffy

I agree. I am just trying to guage her. She ate a small rat yesterday and it hardly left a lump. I am sure 2 rats is too much but was wondering if 1 rat was a little inadequate. I will watch her and see when she becomes more active again. Thanks for the tips.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

As we say in Missouri, "I ain't goin back to Missouri!"