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I have had her since she was a worm, and only recently has she ever shown any aggression towards me. I feed her one rat every 15th and 30th (the size is in the pic.) She defecates only once a month and it's usually pretty small. I really want a healthy animal, and I want her to live a long time, but sometimes I wonder if I'm feeding her enough. If I am, and she's just gettin' cranky in her adolescence, I can deal with that (I'll just use the hook more.) Temps, humidity,ect all copacetic with the info on this forum. Should I feed her more? Rat pups are for my son's Bull snake (yearling.)

n/p.

>>I have had her since she was a worm, and only recently has she ever shown any aggression towards me. I feed her one rat every 15th and 30th (the size is in the pic.) She defecates only once a month and it's usually pretty small. I really want a healthy animal, and I want her to live a long time, but sometimes I wonder if I'm feeding her enough. If I am, and she's just gettin' cranky in her adolescence, I can deal with that (I'll just use the hook more.) Temps, humidity,ect all copacetic with the info on this forum. Should I feed her more? Rat pups are for my son's Bull snake (yearling.)
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This is my opinion only!You will get different opinion's on this subject,So in the end only you can make a decision on whats the propper feeding regiment for your female!I feed my females between every 7 an 10 days,others may not,My males once they hit a certain age only get fed every 10 to 14 days!I have some that eat an use the bathroom like clock work that get their meals every 7 days some that dont hence the up to 10 day regiment!My males hate it,but I dont want huge males either!If she was mine that is the schedule she would be on!The decision is up to you!This is only how I schedule my own feeding,So my females get 3 meals a month,because I dont feed while in shed!Hope this hepls in your decision!Eric[Hypoboa]
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E&C's Exotic House of Reptiles

n/p.

If things are as you say they are(husbandry)then I would carry on with what seems to be working. The snake looks to be in good overall condition.No need to increase prey size/amount until after the 4th year unless there are plans to breed.
The slower you grow them(less food) the longer they'll live.
As for the aggression......IMO the term should be "defensive",then look into why the animal is displaying such.

She probably wasnt bred for docile temperment .... lol!!

Your doing a fine job,Best Of Luck

M/

>>I have had her since she was a worm, and only recently has she ever shown any aggression towards me. I feed her one rat every 15th and 30th (the size is in the pic.) She defecates only once a month and it's usually pretty small. I really want a healthy animal, and I want her to live a long time, but sometimes I wonder if I'm feeding her enough. If I am, and she's just gettin' cranky in her adolescence, I can deal with that (I'll just use the hook more.) Temps, humidity,ect all copacetic with the info on this forum. Should I feed her more? Rat pups are for my son's Bull snake (yearling.)
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"defensive" is a better term.

i know this may sound weird but it makes sense to me ...
i know snakes can smell a prey smell (rat smell) and that signals the feeding response, in my snakes at least. i also feel that they know my smell. i alway allow my snakes to smell (few tongue flicks) me before i try to move them. i seem to get less of a startled response when handeling them if i do this. my untested theory is that just like they can smell the known prey smell and know its time to eat, they can smell my smell and know its time to have someone bother them. i have not had any problems with doing this, but i also judge their mood before bothering them. if you interact with an animal enough you can tell what actions they take and the way they act when they are just not in the mood to deal with you (for my large male it is him moving away from me and making his breathing a little noisier but not really a hiss .. kinda sounds like hes got a booger in his nose). also some of my snakes tend to be more inclined to deal with me bothering them at different times (day vs night). you dont seem to be doing anything wrong care wise so just start payign more attention to your snakes moods and act accordingly.

She's very pretty. Obviously you love her very much and want the best for her. How much do you handle her? How often and how long? She doesn't look too thin to me. I think she's likely eating enough.

My suggesion is to take her out a minimum of every other day, preferable everyday for 15 minutes and handle her, unless she just ate or is in a shed. If she seems uptight, come back in an hour and see if she's nicer about it.

What kind of ornry? Please explain?

Caden