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Feeding Time: what/when/how much?

saikyan Jan 08, 2009 11:46 AM

This is just an open question. I'm curious about everyones feeding schedules and amounts, and also mice vs rats.

I feed an adult mouse once a week to a 1 1/2 year old female, but I feel like she could handle more. She is around 36", not sure on weight but she looks healthy and is active. I suppose my options are... every 5 days, two a week, or switch to rats.

I've read that many BPs are overweight due to overfeeding, which is interesting. Since it's a heavy-bodied snake, how can you tell? I'm not worried about this, it's just a curiosity.

Replies (5)

brianlovescheese Jan 08, 2009 11:58 AM

Well I'll just tell you the way I feed mine. I offer three meals a week, from 150grams-400 grams it's adult mice or slightly smaller than adult mice. From roughly 400grams-1000 I offer small rats going to mediums. Then around 1100 I offer two large rats, not jumbos. Yours sounds like it should be close to 1000-1300 if it's 36' just assuming because mine are around that. It never hurts to try mice three time a week, I've got an adult male thats just my pet and he only eats mice, but he will eat five a week if I let him. It's up to you, just don't maintence feed to only keep him alive. Anyway thats my opinon.
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toshamc Jan 08, 2009 12:31 PM

An adult mouse is a meal for a hatchling not an adult female -- you can feed her about 15% of her body weight once a week -- if she won't take rats try giving her 3-4 big mice once a week. To feed multiple mice wait until she is done (pushed it down into her belly) with the first one and then introduce the next one and when she is done with that one the next one. If you can get her to take rats - start out with a small rat and work your way up - you want to aim at a rat that is slightly bigger around than your snake at her fattest point.

Good luck.
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saikyan Jan 08, 2009 04:23 PM

Well, good thing I asked. Here I am contemplating 2 per week and you're saying more like 3-4. Thanks for the advice guys.

I'll try rats when I run out of frozen mice.

amador7872 Jan 08, 2009 11:30 PM

Hey i have a Female the same age of yours, i give her a small to med Rat anywhere from 115G to 150G a week.

jyohe Jan 09, 2009 04:51 PM

you COULD use a medium rat....small rats....a couple few mice at a time....even 2 mice every 4 days would work...depends if you want once a week or small meal twice a week....if you buy rodents use bigger once a week to save money...

...I feed my stuff when I have time and I know they need it...or when I want to or want to get rid of stuff...

the big balls have been fed 4 times in one week already...but it's not a big meal...it might just be one huge mouse at a time...or a hopper rat.....even at 4 feedings a week they could eat double or more what I actually feed....I don't blow up my snakes anymore....not even balls......

...try one small rat or 3 mice once a week....for starters.
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