I bought a nice looking female yellowtail baby from Dean a few weeks ago. She has been no problem at all(EXCEPT WHEN SHE BUSTED OUT OF HER AQUARIUM THE OTHER NIGHT)She's been eating like a pig,taking 2 fuzzies every other day.Too much? Her color is getting duller so I think she's getting ready to shed. Do they go off-feed when they shed? If so,how long? I'll post pics when I can get my brothers camera. Thanks for any answers,Steve
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Yellowtail question
SteveH
Jan 11, 2004 01:02 PM
Replies (1)
oldherper
Jan 11, 2004 01:24 PM
The subject of how much to feed Drymarchon is very much subject to personal opinion. Some people are of the opinion that you can't overfeed them, you should feed them as much as they will eat. Others are of the opinion that you should feed them according to schedule, pretty much like any other Colubrid. My opinion is somewhere in between. Babies in the first two years of life are the rapid growth stage and should eat somewhat more often that adults. Two fuzzies every 2 days is a little more than I would feed. I usually feed 2 rat pinkies or 2 fuzzies every 4 days for babies. I think that too rapid a growth rate is detrimental and can result in liver and kidney problems when the snakes reach adulthood. Drymarchon are large, active snakes with a high metabolic rate and will require more food than most colubrids when they reach adulthood, but you have to be careful not to overfeed, because they do have a tendency toward obesity once they are 5 or 6 years old. I prefer to feed more smaller items as opposed to fewer larger items. An average schedule for my adults is 2 or 3 small rats every 5 to 7 days. In the winter time, they continue to eat even though temps are somewhat cooler and they are in breeding season, but they don't eat as much. During that time they average 1 or 2 small rats every 7 to 9 days.
Most of mine will eat if you feed them when they are in shed, but I avoid this. I have run into problems in the past with regurgitation if they eat while in shed. When I see that they are going opaque, I take them off feed, then feed them as soon as they shed.
Other people may have other ideas about this...as I said, it is subject to personal opinion.
