Reptile & Amphibian Forums

just wondering if anyone here has studied the growth rates of bp's along the lines of feeding small vs larger feeders.

i'm specifically referring to feeding several smaller feeders instead of a single larger. growth rate comparisons? opinions?

seems like they would be easier to digest? just a theory :0)

jonathan

In my experience it is difficult to get most Balls to take a second meal much less multiple small meals. I try to get them to take the largest meal they can comfortably eat. Don't get me wrong though, I do try many a second time if I think they might be interested. You never know when they are going to take a break from feeding. Interesting topic. I'm curious to see what kind of luck others have with this.
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Brandon Osborne Reptiles

I feed multiple medium sized rats to mine. If they seem like they are going to take my hand after the first one I throw in another. I have one girl that will eat 3 or so medium rats and 4 days later is ready to eat again. I would guess it depends on temps and size. My couple month old female I only feed one decent sized meal a week.

Some of my females its a chore to get them to eat one.

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>>Some of my females its a chore to get them to eat one.

Exactly. Feed them as much as you can when they will eat.
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Brandon Osborne Reptiles

thanks for the feedback. i'm kind of getting the same feeling about the feeders. i've been trying to feed several small. i have a female that eats anything i put in the cage, and the others eat 1 and seems satisfied. i will probably start going for the larger ones as well...

Brian for BHB did a video on snake bytes tv about feeding different size meal and what made them grow faster. I think it was a larger meal once a week then small meals twice a week..

I don't FOR SURE know the answer to this, but this is my thought process...

Think about it in terms of energy. Every time they eat, they are using energy. Every time they have to strike, and constrict, they are using energy. So to only have to do it once (granted it's larger prey), you are going to get more energy gain from consuming that ONE food item. If you have multiple, they have to keep using energy to kill each prey item, and then to eat it. I would think the net gain would be in larger prey.

HOWEVER, I have heard that because pups are still on mothers milk, there is a faster growth in balls when being fed JUST multiple pups.... I haven't seen it, and I know that with mine.... they won't regularly take 2 meals, so I'd rather just feed one and get it over with.
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Teresa
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3.0 Dogs (2.0 Chihuahuas, 1.0 Toy Poodle)
1.3 Cats
1.0 Cockatiel
1.0 Indonesian Blue tongue skink

Ball Pythons
0.1 100% Het Albino (Watson)
1.1 Pastel (Sweets and Camille)
0.1 Spider (Daisy)
1.0 Albino (Gormagon)
1.0 Lesser (Wendell)
1.1 Normals (Fisher and Sexy)