Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have done a few searches on feeding and there seems to be multiple opinions on this so please give me your feedback here. I'm worried!

I have been feeding 3 weanling mice (15-18g) every 7 days but have recently read I should be giving 1/3 weight at each feeding which would be 6-7 of these.

My God have I been underfeeding that bad? I want her to be big healthy girl but not overweight. The last time I fed her 3 was 4 days ago and she seemed really happy and active the last couple of days except tonight. I have the gut feeling she's hungry again and her next scheduled feeding on my schedule is not until Thursday.

I really would appreciate some experienced opinions here! I love her to death and want her to be happy and healthy. If I had some more experience I'm sure I would better recognize her behaviors but I'm just not confident enough yet to trust my gut feeling here.

Thank you very much in advance for any help any of you can give!
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Rob

A few weanling mice is way to little for a ball of the size. I would feed a ball of that weight 3 week old RATS. If possible switch to rats. If you have to feed mice switch to adult mice - your snake will thank you.

Laura

Think about it.....

.

I don't interfere with the weaning process, I let the mothers tell me when their babies are weaned.

At that size mine take 1-2 ADULT mice per week, or one rat pup (eyes just open). Your snake needs more food.

Good luck, Christy

Is it just me or do none of you have any idea of what rat sizes are called? Pinkies are tiny, pups are small, weanlings are bigger. Wow.

Sorry, now my advice is instead of feeding your ball 29 weanlings when it's a year old, why not feed it ONE small adult, or a medium adult? Sounds easier, don't ya' think?

>>Sorry, now my advice is instead of feeding your ball 29 weanlings when it's a year old, why not feed it ONE small adult, or a medium adult? Sounds easier, don't ya' think?

would last me longer and I still have about 25 of them left. I do think it would be best to feed fewer, bigger mice/rat but didn't expect her to grow this fast.

On July 22nd she was at 100grams and is now at 316g. Is the ratio I mentioned first correct? I've heard this size and that size but no mention of how many grams of food to give. Is 1/3rd body weight correct? I have a scale and it seems a lot of these labels of sizes of feeders are somewhat subjective to opinion.

Can I get some gram figures please? Also, would it be a big deal to finish out what I have left for mice?

One more, please. Is that a normal rate of growth?
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Rob

I'm afraid I just don't know about the weight of prey to snake ratio. I usually take a look at the snake, and throw it a rat just a bit smaller than the thickest part of it's body.

I can answer 2 of the other questions though.

~ No, I don't think it will hurt the snake to feed out the 25 you have left, in fact....it may help to make the switch easeir. When your low on mice, go ahead and offer a rat...if the snake takes it....GREAT! If not, well then offer a mouse first, then a rat while the snake is still in feeding mode.

~ 100 grams to 300 grams in 4 months is not an abnormal rate. It is a little slow. I seem to be getting about 100 grams per month on my 03' strong feeders (on Rats) but 50 grams a month is not unusual on my more reluctant 03' mouse feeders.

Good Luck~

>>I'm afraid I just don't know about the weight of prey to snake ratio. I usually take a look at the snake, and throw it a rat just a bit smaller than the thickest part of it's body.
>>
>>I can answer 2 of the other questions though.
>>
>>~ No, I don't think it will hurt the snake to feed out the 25 you have left, in fact....it may help to make the switch easeir. When your low on mice, go ahead and offer a rat...if the snake takes it....GREAT! If not, well then offer a mouse first, then a rat while the snake is still in feeding mode.
>>
>>~ 100 grams to 300 grams in 4 months is not an abnormal rate. It is a little slow. I seem to be getting about 100 grams per month on my 03' strong feeders (on Rats) but 50 grams a month is not unusual on my more reluctant 03' mouse feeders.
>>
>>Good Luck~
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Rob

The original poster was/is feeding weanling MICE

"I have been feeding 3 weanling mice "

So, I suspect it is YOU that does not understand. Everyone else is suggesting he/she switch to weanling RATS. Your busy reminding everyone that weanling rats are the appropriate size for his/her snake.

Have another cup of coffee........it's early, I know I need another cup too!

Or maybe it is only ME that needs more coffee. Looks like you figured out the mouse/rat weanling confusion sometime last night, and here I am a day late and a cup of coffee short.......just ignore me.........it saves time that way!

Hi there...

No need for the sarcasm. Your post makes it seem like you are more interested in correcting others who are trying to help someone than doing any helping yourself.

If you read my post again you will see that what I stated was the same as what you said after. I said one rat pup, eyes just open (in other words, smaller than a weanling!). Although technically I'd say any baby rat is a rat pup, just like any baby dog is a puppy .

Christy

I feed my BP's based on weight, and keep records, so I can tell you exactly how much they eat. I feed one prey item (rats) that is anywhere from 20%-40% of the BP's weight. My two '03 males are 365 and 380 grams, and their last feedings were 99g and 90g rats, respectively. I breed my own rats, so sometimes it depends on what I have available. If I have to, I give them two rats to get them the appropriate amount of food.
If you can, switch to rats, but definitely get him on older animals, as he will get more calcium from older animals than he will from weanling mice.
Good luck!
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Randy
www.ball-pythons.net

>>I feed my BP's based on weight, and keep records, so I can tell you exactly how much they eat. I feed one prey item (rats) that is anywhere from 20%-40% of the BP's weight. My two '03 males are 365 and 380 grams, and their last feedings were 99g and 90g rats, respectively. I breed my own rats, so sometimes it depends on what I have available. If I have to, I give them two rats to get them the appropriate amount of food.
>>If you can, switch to rats, but definitely get him on older animals, as he will get more calcium from older animals than he will from weanling mice.
>>Good luck!
>>-----
>>Randy
>>www.ball-pythons.net
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Rob