Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am trying to put some good size on my Het Balls for the winter 2005 breeding season and I was wondering what would be the best technique to do so. I don't want to put any unnecessary stress on the snakes by force feeding. Right now, my male 04's (175g. & 115g.) are eating a large mouse (f/t, p-k, live)every 4 days and my female 03's (250g. & 210g(small!)) are eating a f/t small rat (sometimes preferring p-k & live large mice though) every 5-7 days. I just wanted to get some advice and ideas from you experienced guys and gals out there. Thanks!

Feed three times a week. For a few weeks they should eat like monsters then there will be a few weeks were they digest, then shed. The cycle will start over. You will see them grow overnight but cut down towards next year you want them big and hefty not fat.

I have tried feeding up to 3 days a week and it seems that they refuse after 1 or 2 appropriately sized rodents a week. Should I try any specific feeding techniques to get them to eat that much? Should I offer more medium mice more often or larger mice & rats less often (it seems they choose one or the other).

I have a 800g girl that I usually feed 1 small rat and one mouse. then two days later another small rat then for the rest of the week I go ahead and feed out extra ratpups or mice. before if you fed her two or three rats forget it, she is done for a while. Feed smaller but more often untill they reach that six seven egg clutch size then just feed once a week or maybe even twice. All my other ones eat like crazy when ever I throw something in there. If all else fails just give them a break. go a couple of weeks and let them use what they have to grow. I have fsix month olds that will take 8 mice a week but if they look uncomfortable I stop feeding and they will double in size