Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm just wondering what thoughts are on wether you can overfeed a kingsnake. I have a 3 year old blotched king whose around 4 feet in length. I've been told she was a little chubby sometime last year and to keep her on an adult mouse a week. I've been doing this and she seems perfectly heathy, strong and active but she ALWAYS seems hungry. Even after I've fed her and I'm moving to feed the other snakes I have she follows me around her tank hoping for food. Every now and then she gets a bit more to eat if my younger Dumeril doesn't eat her smal rat and it doesn't even slow her down.

I'm just wondering if I should move up to jumbo mice, small rats or keep her diet as is. She's easy to handle when I take her out and hasn't bitten me thinking I was food or anything.

What are your thoughts?

Lg Mouse or Sm rat is fine for weekly feeding for a 3 y/o

The whole "once per week" scheduling is not the best approach to determine the snake's needs. Many times the females will eat alot during parts of the year (like now) then back off for awhile.

When they want alot of food in Spring, I believe we should deliver. Then, if she gets too fat, slow down the feeding or reduce the size of the meal. If she is too thin, increase the frequency. Eventually you will hit on the amount that works.

"Once-per-week" doesn't take into account breeding stress or no breeding. The snake should be fed based on its needs and appearance, not just on some schedule.
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Mark

One mouse a week is a nice "general" rule. Several things can come into play here. Being a 3 year old female, for me, that would not work. I would be breeding a 3 yr old female, and feeding her all she will eat at certain parts of the year. Like this time of year, until she stops eating.
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Shane@SSuperiorSSerpents.com
http://www.ssuperiorsserpents.com/