Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Black Rat Snake just put down 4 mouse hoppers (juveniles?) She was on pinkies just 2 (& 2 sheds)months ago. I am getting concerned that I am doing something wrong. Am I overfeeding? Should I move up to larger size rodents? Is there a danger of regurg? I know I asked this before when it was recommended that I move her off of pinkies, but it has only been a couple of months. She has grown from 19" to around 30" since Christmas. Is this possible or am I off on my measurements? I just don't want to hurt the snake.
She is wild caught. Are they more aggressive eaters or bigger gluttons? Sorry for all the questions.

P.S. Im feeding her every 10 days.

Thanks,
Jason
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Jason

A 30" Black Rat Snake can eat small mice. If that sounds to large, at least try hoppers. Also, you might want to start feeding your snake once a week. But, since your snake is growing quickly, you must be doing a lot of things right.

Best of luck with your snake.

Rick

He already is feeding hoppers. A snake eating 4 hoppers is definitely able to eat the next prey size up. A single small mouse or fuzzy rat should do it. Getting the snake to grow too fast can be detrimental to their health. This is more of a serious problem in boids than North American ratsnakes. I would slow it down a bit and just feed a single prey item of the next size up. When a snake can easily down two prey items without too much of a bulge, then it can take the next size.

Wow, four is a lot. Every 10 days sounds good. How big of a bulge are these rats producing? Sounds like it's time to move to the next size up. A single rat fuzzy should do the trick.

Well, The first one produced a bulge, but nothing uncommon looking. But by the 4th, her girth was pretty consistent due to the four bulges just making her look like a chubby snake. Or as my mother used to put it, big boned.

Jason
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Jason

Well if she can hold these 4 down without a problem, then I don't see why you can't upgrade in size to small mice or fuzzy rats.