Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm worried that one of my snakes is eating too much. Most of my snakes are off feed, due to either the temperature/season, or improper husbantry. I'm working on the keeping the temps up better (not letting it get below 80 degrees in the daytime, and above 70 at night) in case that has something to do with it.

She came in a little slim, but was real hyper. Most of my snakes were eating when I first got her, so she wasn't eating too much extra. Now that almost all of them (4 snakes) are off, she's where I go with the left over rats. I know she should be eating 1 per week...but she's eating everything I offer to her. Last week she ate 4 rats. She's a MONSTER! I'm not proud of it, I feed like it's bad for her? Is it?

Thanks.
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Ryan Farris

Well, if she was "a little slim" when you got her I am sure that a few extras will not hurt at all(provided she is big enough to be eating as much as you are feeding w/o problems). If you are really concerned about her weight post a pic and I am sure we'd all be able to tell whether she is overweight or not. As far as the rest.....How do you have them housed?

Well, I have her housed in a 20 gallon with an adult male. Surprisingly, they actually aren't that crowded. I was hoping for some breeding action, but I haven't seen it happening. I have a tad bit smaller female in a 40 gallon...

Ha! I don't know why I never thought of it, but I could just but the smaller (off feed) female in the 20, and the two bigger ones in the 40. Maybe the smaller wasn't comfortable being in such a large tank? Who knows, but from past experiences I've discovered that being in a big tanks can cause a ball to go off feed.

I'll post a pic as soon as I find my camera.
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Ryan Farris

Yes, I would definately switch out those guys. Make sure you put two hides in the cage with 2 snakes and make sure of the temps in the cages. I like to make sure the water bowl is big enough to allow the snake(s) to submerge themselves as well. I use a small cat pan for my 1700 grm(empty weight) male. What kind of substrate do you have them on? I prefer (and so my snakes aparently) aspen shavings or coconut husk bark, but do not feed your snakes while they are on it(they can ingest it and cause major problems!)If you have not dewormed your snakes I would suggest it. I deworm my snakes twice a year as a precautionary measure.

How do you deworm your snakes?
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

If you have a vet that you use call him and tell him that you'd like to deworm your reptiles. You may or may not have to take them in and he will most likely give you some Panacur. Please do not try to give a dosage of it w/o consulting a vet about how much to give. Snakes can get most of the types of worms that any animal(dog, cat, ect.) can get. Tapeworms, roundworms, ect.

one rat a week is plenty, if she becomes obese from the excess rats it will affect her health adversely. It could affect her heart or liver, she will loose intrest in reproducing. It will shorten her life. Be nice to her and cut back.

Quig

I figured as much. I believe it was good for her at first considering she was a bit slim, but now I think it's too much. I wouldn't have this problem if my other snakes were feeding. They were eating great on live mice, but they don't dig the switch to F/T rats.

"Patience"
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Ryan Farris

LOL, yup patience is the key word.

Assuming (since you are trying to breed her) she is an adult of good weight an extra meal once in a while isn't too bad - if you are feeding her her normal meal and a couple of smaller meals on occasion that would be ok too. But if she is taking 4 times what she should be eating on a regular basis I'd be concerned. She may have some catching up to do - or she may be trying to add a couple of pounds (J/K) for the winter and may even her feeding out in a couple of weeks.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

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As long as they're not coming back up, I wouldn't worry about it too much......... If she came in thin, she's probably used to socking it away for the lean times........

VOT