Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a question concerning feeding. I’ve read many posts about how often to feed, how many prey items to feed, and so on. I’ve noticed that many newbie’s tend to underfeed, and to be honest I was once one of those newbie’s. I have a Florida Kingsnake and I was encouraged by folks on this forum to give him larger prey items, which I did. It made a tremendous difference in his growth. As time wore on I began to become better accustomed to the behavior of my snake. I could tell by his behavior when he was hungry/hunting. I’ve read many accounts of when to feed – after they have pooped is a common answer.

My Florida eats like a hog! I mean this guy is an eating machine! And growing! When I bought him last July he was around 17”. He’s now pushing 40”! It used to take him 4 to 5 days between feedings to poop and start hunting, but now he’s ready to go in 3 days, sometimes 2! I have been feeding him of late every three days. He does this for about three to four weeks at a time, then stops to shed. After shedding, he’s eating non stop again!

Am I feeding him too much? He appears to be healthy, not fat and sluggish. I recently increased his food to about 45 grams per meal, thinking this would slow himdown, but he digests that as fast and is ready to eat in no time. I’m prepared to have a large snake, no doubt. He’s in a 55 gallon setup and seems quite content (as far as I can tell). It’s not a problem for me to feed him this much, I just don’t want it to be a problem for him. I know that Florida’s are aggressive eaters. Any other Floridian owners out there want to share with me your experiences, I’d sure appreciate it!

Thanks!
Ray.

just wait until you have a pregnant female (if you ever do). you want an eating machine now. florida's are garbage disposals for sure. they get whatever my other snakes don't eat.

40 inches is pretty much an adult. i wouldn't feed him any more than once a week, if not every 10-14 days now that he's bigger. just because it can eat doesn't mean it should eat. on the eating schedule you have it on now it'll be fat before you know it. cut back a little and you should be fine. my adult male gets 3-4 adult mice every week or so; sometimes longer. and of course my pregnant female was getting 3 adults every 2-3 days, but has since stopped eating to prepare for egg laying.

Thanks, I think I will start feeding at longer in between intervals. I've read that snakes grow in spurts, and he has hit two noticable growth spurts in the last year, but I think he's leveling out now. Might be time to slow his feeding down before he gets fat. Thanks!

heheheh, I think you hit the magic button. Sounds like you have an optimal thermal gradient and a super aggressive feeder. Not too much, they are garbage cans! My little hypo floridana was eating 2 pinks at the same time when I first got her and she is pounding fuzzies now, I think I may be under feeding her. My goini are doing the same and catching up. Go for it! These aren't speckled kings by a long shot!
Todd hughes

Thanks Todd,
I am 'going for it.' I am going to be careful not to overfeed, but I'm happy to have things just right so this snake can really fourish!

Looks like I'm underfeeding lol and mine are eating a fuzzy every couple days. Man that one might get huge if you keep him on that scedule. Which is an awesome thing. My brooksi are also very aggressive feeders. I've had to carry my hypo male around on my thumb for a few minutes because he missed the mark a bit. When he lets go he eats the mouse anyways.
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-J.Hill

Ouch, carry him around on your thumb! LOL!
This guy hasn't tagged me - yet! If he's hungry (when isn't he?) all I have to do is open the lid of the cage and out he comes!