Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a python (Macklots python, they have a higher metabolism) who takes f/t mice, and it's now clear that one a week isn't enough. At first I felt I should feed him the two, one immediately after another. But then I thought about how for humans (and animals) smaller yet more frequent feeding is better. What do you think?

In the wild, most snakes, especially boids, are sporadic feeders. They often don't eat for a week or so before finding a good prey item and gorging themselves. Humans are different because our food is easier to find. Lizards are similar to humans because they can run around all day eating crickets, thus having a continuous source of energy, while your python is a top predator, and a cold-blooded one at that. Alligators, sharks, and Gila monsters are similar because their prey is harder to obtain; thus it is more convenient to be able to eat a lot at one sitting and wait a long time before eating again, rather than having to ambush small prey items every day.

That being said, don't let your snake eat as much as it can all at once, because it will. Obviously for your python food is not at all hard to find when it is offered, but keep in mind that the snake's metabolism is adapted to being in the wild, not in captivity where it is fed on a consistent basis. In short, I wouldn't worry too much about the feeding schedule within a week, so long as your snake eats and seems comfortable.

Hope this helps,

crocacutus

thanks for the info, ur absolutely right about how they eat in nature. But in nature they don't live as long as they do in captivity. That's the reason why I'm considering tweaking their eating habbits. It seems to me one big heavy meal is more stressful on their system, what with all the digestion, dealing with toxins from the meat etc... its just like overwork, extremes. Whereas smaller meals several times a week might be less "stressful." But then again, I could be wrong, that might be more stressful for their digestive system...

Feeding rate vary from species to species, and age is important too. A good rule of thumb is to feed your neonate snakes as often as they poop as much as they will take. in my experience snake will rarely eat more then they can handle and if they do they wil reguritate without any harm done. Adult size snakes take the opposite approach and feed as sparingly as possible. A growing snake needs to feed, but adults grow much slower, and tend to be obese in captivity. keep your babies full and your adults hungry and you'll big long lived snakes!

Yea, they don't go to the bathroom much lol. I think I'm going to step it up. I know that when people "power feed" the animal gets to be very big but doesn't live as long, that might be because the continue that feeding schedule into it's adult life? I'm saving all this info people have told me here, thanks.