Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a beautiful female Nelson's who's just about 5 months old and 11" long. On the feeding/shedding record that came with her, it lists her being fed one pinkie every 10 days and shedding every 7 weeks. She's in great condition and doesn't look thin, but for such a small snake, seems like she should be fed more often than that. I fed her today, 4 days after her last feeding, and she readily accepted food. I've never raised a snake this small so some advice would be greatly appreciated.

--Emily

Every four days is fine. A lot of breeders, dealers, and pet stores feed their snakes on a "maintenance schedule". Which means they feed them just enough. The idea is they don't wnat them growing too fast and needing a new enclosure and they are also saving money. IMO, a snake in it's first year should be shedding every three to six weeks.
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Martin Whalin

"It is foolish to let singleness of purpose deprive one of the joy and delectation of the many wonderful sights and sounds incidental to the quest."
-Carl Kauffeld
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I have a 5 month old honduran that I feed about once a week. Sometimes every 4-5 days depending on if the 'lump' is still there after a couple days. He eats with vigor except at his last shedding...he wouldn't eat. I've read if you want fast growth feed more often. I just want mine to be health and tame. I'm not into snakes for breeding or profit. Just pets.

A couple of days after feeding I found a regurgitated mouse in her tank I was guily to handling her the day after I fed her and I wondef if the pinky was too lareg. Her undertank heater seemed a little too warm, so I turned it down. I fed her again tonight and she gulped the pinky right down. Are very young snakes more prone to regurgitating? Reason I ask is I've never had an older snake do that before.

You really should wait a good week and a half before feeding after a regurge. If you feed too soon, sometimes they just do it again. If that happens, make sure you wait next time.

Also, it doesn't matter how warm the heat pad "seems". What matters is what temperature it is. Get a themometer. This could have caused it but I have had snakes do it for no apparent reason. I've also had it happen when I've accidentally fed in a shed cycle.
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Martin Whalin

"It is foolish to let singleness of purpose deprive one of the joy and delectation of the many wonderful sights and sounds incidental to the quest."
-Carl Kauffeld
My Email