Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys! I acquired an 09 Black Pine a few weeks ago and am wondering how often you guys with the monster sized ones feed them? Right now I am feeding an adult f/t mouse once a week. I dont want to risk his health by "power feeding" of course, but I am curious if I am under feeding or if that is just about right? I want him to be a big monster someday of course, but I want him to get there in a healthy way so that he has a happy long life! Any thoughts on the matter would be great! Thanks so much!

-----
~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."

I have a pair of 09 black pines and they are now eating small to medium rats, two per week. Both are approaching 5' in length. I feed them heavy, but they have never refused a meal. They have never regurged, either. I believe black pines have high metabolic rates and are capable of very fast growth. They are not obese, but certainly not thin either. Both are incredibly strong beasts and a pleasure to keep. I fully expect they will both reach 7' eventually. My favorite snakes; a real pleasure to keep.

Holy cow crap really? Wow I gotta bump my guy up to more food then!!! Maybe twice a week now rather than once I will toss him a big mouse I guess! I am way jealous and cant wait till mine gets some serious size to him!
-----
~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."

Yeah, I have seen lots of pictures of great-looking, monster black pines on this forum. Made me realize that they will grow huge and healthy if given lots of food. I enjoy mine more than any snakes I have ever kept. I would get them on rats as soon as I could, if I were you. Maybe try some rat pups to entice them and rapidly graduate to small to medium rats. Mine have not seen a mouse for more than a year. During the first year I minimized handling until they became more confident, now they handle very well. I guess everybody has an opinion on the most under-rated snake to keep. For me, it is the black pine. Most over-rated? Honduran milks!!

I have 1.2 Black Pines they are 08 babies. I have never really measured them but are some pretty stout snakes. I feed them every 7 to 10 days a meal that leaves a slight lump in their stomachs. They are on small rats right now. Besides Black and White Northerns these are a real pleasure to work with.
-----
1.2 Black Pines
.1 Albino Northen Pine
1.1 Northern Pines
1. Hypo Bull
1.1 D. Deppei

The amount of food taken in the first two years of any sp.snake will dictate potential size, especially pines, get it on rats soon.

Man, that is so true. I feed baby snakes three times per week to get them growing quickly. Contrary to popular common wisdom, this does not result in obesity or regurging or any other malady. I do not feed them heavy in any desire to breed them quickly; I feed them heavy when they are young because they just end up larger as adults. They are pushing the outer limits of the growth curve. Tom Stevens has an article about "feeding" on his website. It is spot on. If you want an average size snake, feed it weekly as a baby. If you want to grow some monsters, feed the heck out of them.

Well that settles it then. I am upping the meals to at least twice a week now for both my Leucistic Pine and my Black Pine!! I want at least for some 5.5 to 6 footers

-----
~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."