Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a Spotted Python on 9/26. So far, it has eaten 4 pinkies (over a period of a week) and shows no indication of getting any fatter or less hungry. It has not pooped and keeps striking at the glass from its hiding spot if I get too close (but very tame in calm when I pick it up).

Question: should I wait until it poops at least once before I feed it again, or just keep it on a steady diet of pinkies in order to fatter it up (it was the smaller tamer one in the litter so I want it to bulk up a little).

Thanks!

Yvon

Some keepers will feed, wait for poo, feed, wait for poo, etc. Whilst there's nothing wrong with this, i'm more of a bureaucrat when it comes to record keeping.

I, feed once every 5 days for hatchlings and juveniles, and once every 7 to 14 days for older snakes. I don't exactly wait for defecation, but it is necessary to keep an eye on the regularity. Make sure you keep a detailed record of everything about the snake. Record all feedings (item taken, amount, items refused, etc), all defecation, all urination, and sheds). For your own interest, it is good to measure the snake after each shed (or monthly, quaterly, etc)

Some diamond pythons will only defecate every two or three weeks, whilst some carpets will defecate once, or more, per week.

4 pinks in a week is okay, providing that they are taken in one sitting. It is not a good idea to give a little bit of food once every day or two. If the snake doesn't poo once a fortnight, you should soak it in warm water to assist it 'pass'.

Cheers,
And good luck,
Aaron.

Well, it did its business last night (rather small venture compared to my last constrictor: an 8 ft boa).

I'd already started keeping notes in an XLS document and will feed it more in fewer sittings as you recommend.

Thanks for your advice!

Yvon
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Yvon
2.1.0 humans (including self)
0.0.1 spotted python (born June 2005)
0.0.1 garter snake (born August 2002)
0.0.3 fish
1.0.0 hamster
1.0.0 red eared slider (sitting for the summer)