Reptile & Amphibian Forums

we feed him three adult mice a week. he is 4 feet 8 inches long amd 3 years old. how much sould we feed him? should we feed him small rats instead? are we feedomg him to often? He doesnt look over wieght. thats a pic of him during his last shed, he had a good shed. this is a double post we didnt get a responce from the post in health and diet forum.

One mouse every 7-10 days. You're risking a fat snake and early death. In fact, they can go much longer without food.

Good luck...

Walt

That sounds like a bit too much, unless the adult mice are very small. Just for an example, the horse pictured below eats two large sized adult mice per week. He's around 5 feet 3 inchs in size. I would think a huge kingsnake is going to need as much or more then a simular sized ratsnake. You could cut it down to two mice a week and see how he does with that. You just want to make sure that the snake is not developing any fatty areas around the vent area. I'd rather have them a touch on the lean side, then the other way around. Good luck.

Steve

ok sounds good, ya we were unsure about that because he is an adopted snake or rescue whatever u want to call him. the person that we got him from, got himself in trouble and lost his freedom. he told us what he fed him he did not have him long befor we got him. he got him from somone he knew so we dont know his history. as far as prey size goes what do you think about a just weined rat about 50 grams, a week? he also is hard to handle he has an attitude we don't blame him he still is a great looking snake. we love having him in our collection. this pic is 2 weeks after we got him.he was shedding you can see the shed in the lower part of th pic

From what I've read, rats are pretty fatty and not as nutritionally ideal as mice. Rats should be used as a treat, not a staple.

Walt

Seeing as I have seen the waste that the snake produce from both rats and jumbo mice i will have to respectively disagree strongly. When feeding ex-breeder or jumbo mice I have noticed a very greasy waste product from all the fat in the mice. Where as a small rat is still growing and has not had time to put on fat yet. Not to mention the larger skulls and teeth in rats that are made of calcium that the snakes can use. All in all rats are a more muscular animal at the same size as a jumbo mouse. Now a Jumbo Rat is fattier than a small rabbit.

Think of it as in human terms. On a average basis do you see more overweight adults or kids?? Also who is more muscular a teenager to twenty something or a person over forty. These are things that do compare with rodents. At least in my opinion.

Later Jason

sounds like "jumbo" ANYTHING is bad...

Walt

p.s. there are a LOT of fat kids!

A good basic guideline to go by weather your feeding him rats or mice is for the rodent to be about the size of your snakes largest diameter. One rodent per meal at that size is all that's needed for an young to full grown adult. Feeding about once every 7 to 14 days depending on age and body weight. For the size and age of yours about once every 7 to 10 days should be good even if he is roaming between meals. Looking for food keeps him fit. Hope this helps. Randy W.

The answer really depends on your temps and how the animal reacts to your feedings. Yellow rats can get over six feet in length and quite hefty. Fat is a bad thing though. I would suggest switching to rats to cut back on the fat intake. Large adult mice are very fatty. Something else to think about is the origins of the snake. WC??? Look for scars and such and watch the stools for signs of parasites. (smelly/runny) If he is mean it is likely he is wc but not for sure. Not all yellows are mean and infact most I have dealt where easy going. Good Luck

later Jason

>>we feed him three adult mice a week. he is 4 feet 8 inches long amd 3 years old. how much sould we feed him? should we feed him small rats instead? are we feedomg him to often? He doesnt look over wieght. thats a pic of him during his last shed, he had a good shed. this is a double post we didnt get a responce from the post in health and diet forum.
>>

I feed my adults once every 2 weeks on a diet of jumbo mice.I sometimes go three weeks if they look like there putting on too much weight...Paul

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Taste like chicken

Thanks for the info guys. I do not think our snake was wild caught, but I do think the reason he has such a bad attitude is that he was possibly misshandled and not properly taken care of. When we got him he had a terrible burn on his underside near his vent, and I am guessing he had that when the second owner got him because the cage he was in didn't have any under the tank heat sources. It seems to be healing slowly, but its getting better he also had some scaring on his side but they are almost gone now. That we put some Zoomed Woundheal on the scars and he has shed twice since we got him in early September.

Brian&Chrissy

>>Thanks for the info guys. I do not think our snake was wild caught, but I do think the reason he has such a bad attitude is that he was possibly misshandled and not properly taken care of. When we got him he had a terrible burn on his underside near his vent, and I am guessing he had that when the second owner got him because the cage he was in didn't have any under the tank heat sources. It seems to be healing slowly, but its getting better he also had some scaring on his side but they are almost gone now. That we put some Zoomed Woundheal on the scars and he has shed twice since we got him in early September.
>>
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>>Brian&Chrissy

Some everglades will never tame down.But you do know what to expect when you reach in.There a great looking snake that are very hardy.Im glad he went to a good home...Paul Yancick
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Taste like chicken

well, you have read the responses. The general concensus is cut down a little on the feeding.
One small rat or two meduim mice a week would seem about right.
The sore you mention actually sounds like someone had a heat rock in the viv with the snake.
Snakes don't seem to realize they are getting burnt when laying against a heat rock or other exposed heat source (light bulb.. etc)
With it being an adult you may or may not be able to calm it down but I would bet with time, you will.
Just handle it as often as possible and hopefully it will settle in.
good luck

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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

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sounds good we fed him just 1 weinded rat about 50 grams and he did ok with it . took it down with no problem. as far as holding him. we do every other day. once i get him out he is ok, nervous but ok. he has comed down from the time we brought him home. at first chrissy ( that loves snakes ) would not go near him. now she gets him out with little problem. once i get some better pic's of him i will post them

thanx for the help brian & chrissy