Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It is a common belief that "power feeding" snakes will shorten their lifespan and is harmful to the snake.

I know of more than one prominant large-scale breeder of snakes who holds the belief that one cannot overfeed a young snake as long as it does not accumulate body fat percentage (basically, it remains relatively lean).

I am interested to know if anyone is aware of any HARD DATA to support the notion that "power feeding" snakes is inherently detrimental to the snakes. Note that I use the term within quotations as I've not yet heard of a satisfactory definition of the term. Therefore I define it as follows:

POWER FEEDING: offering a neonate snake as much food as it will accept, but not so much that the snake becomes fat - that it continues to increase in length without accumulating body fat percentage.

I'm always interested in hard data regarding info on snake care as well. Seems hard to come by. But I just can't help but think, if overeating is bad for everyother species - why not snakes? I'd be interested in seeing if anyone has any info to offer as well.
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I don't think this is one of those internet myths. I also think that HARD DATA is gonna be hard to find due to the relative newness of the hobby. Yes, there are those who have had herps for 20-30yrs. But the DATA is just not there. Too many variables can affect it.
That said. I don't power feed. I can't see how it could be good. My gut tells me it isn't. And I feed my animals WELL. Rarely will you see an animal that is kept 'lean' and well but not over fed have problems. I also think it is interesting that some of the smaller, thinner animals (for their age) I have obtained have been from 'BIG BREEDERS' Yes, I know it is likely a money issue and these are not their "keepers". But interesting none the less.
I am however gonna look for data also. I am also interested in seeing the data about big snakes (for the species) bred and producing BIG babies, vs small begatting smaller examples. I was thinking of this because my breeding pair of BPs is a 3.5-4# 4.5ft female and a 5ft 5# male. He is BIG. But both parents are reluctant eaters. The two yearlings I have from this pair are, if anything, on the small side. Reluctant eaters, though they started at 70 and 75 grams each. They are just over 200grams now and will be a year in August. I wonder how big they will top out.
-----
Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

I have read up on some of this before and this is a question that may have no black or white answer. I say that cause the metabolism of snakes can vary from individual to individual.

With that said....I don't speed feed. My snakes get one meal a week, and a lot of my adults get one meal every other week. I have noticed normal growth from doing this, or what I consider normal growth. Let's use my male northern pine Solomon as an example.

Solomon was born in 2001. I fed him one meal once a week. He grew from being a 17 inch baby to being 4 1/2 - 5 feet currently, making him 3 years old. He is now big enough to breed. If he was a female, I would wait another year for some more girth to arrive, as northerns lay very big eggs.

Overall, his metabolism seems normal, he is lean, never fat, and never has fat rolls. Some of my other snakes unfortunately, developed fat rolls, and that was with one meal a week! When they tend to lay around in cages, they can still get fat! So, I had to play it by ear, feeding every other week here and there, until their weight was managed.

I have noticed substantial growth in all my other snakes from once a week feedings. The question is, should they get more than that? I personally don't think that twice a week during the first two years is bad, since they do grow fast in those years. But you still need to watch for fat buildup.

I saw on one breeder's webpage the explanations for why power feeding is ok and should be acceptable. Funny thing was....every pic of every snake showed a fat snake! Breeding at 18 months.........is that really good for them? Remember...egg laying can take a lot out of a female. If they are the correct size...it is possible and does happen..but is it really good? The opinions of course would waiver. I personally think that females should be given at least 3 years.

I do think that snakes that don't have weight problems and were not sped fed may tend to live longer. Kind of like us. Weight gain can lead to many, many health problems.

Solomon's mother by the way, was 22 when she had him, and did lay another clutch of eggs the following year, her 23rd year. She passed away the following year, making her 24 years old. She was born in 1979. The breeder stuck to a diet that kept her lean, but growing steadily and not power feeding. The results may speak for themselves in this case.

Take care!

Billy

-----
Genesis 1:1

I have informaly tried lots of different feeding schedules on brooksi kingsnakes and have never seen it to have any effect on growth rate or fat buildup. In fact, an '02 male that was fed the least (once every two weeks from hatching) is actually the biggest from that year and has always been overweight in my opinion. Another male from the same clutch was fed twice a week up until this spring and is smaller and MUCH leaner. What does this mean? Well, to me it means that growth rate and body fat percentage is determined much more by genetics than by feeding schedule. I think that as long as there is enough food, (and the proper temp.) a snake will grow at it's optimal rate. Also, twice a month has proven to be more than enough food in this case and I would assume that as little as once a month could be enough to keep a snake growing at it's optimal rate.
Anyway, now I stick to once a week for all my snakes regardless of age unless they appear to be getting too fat in which case I back them off to twice a week. Females recovering form egg laying are fed small food items twice a week for about a month after egg laying.
-----
Martin Whalin
My Email

Quotes from guys named Carl:

"Science stops at the frontier of logic. Nature does not, she thrives on ground as yet untrodden by theory."
-Carl Jung

"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