Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking to feed my burm every three weeks. She is 12 ft or close to it and eating a 5 pound rabbit every other week, do you think it is OK feeding her once every three weeks or is this to much. She is 3 years old.

Thank you

Jeff
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
0.1 Green Burm
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda

That sounds like a pretty good feeding schedule. There are many factors that dictate how much you should feed: age of snake (older they are, the less the feeding frequency), sex/breeding (if you are keeping a female to prepare for feeding, you may want to increase the feeding interval), size of cage (burms in small cages need exercise), behavior and even genetics. With that being said, one appropriately sized meal (like a 5 pound rabbit) every three weeks should be just fine. If you notice that the snake is getting a tad overweight, cut it back to once a month. If it seems like the animal is always edgy and in full hunting mode whenever you get near the cage, then bump up the feeding a bit. Some here will say that feeding every 3-4 weeks is starving a burm but they are wrong and don't understand python physiology. Too many captive burms are overfed which puts a huge stress load on these animals' bodies. Just my .02. Rob

>>I am looking to feed my burm every three weeks. She is 12 ft or close to it and eating a 5 pound rabbit every other week, do you think it is OK feeding her once every three weeks or is this to much. She is 3 years old.
>>
>>Thank you
>>
>>Jeff
>>-----
>>0.2 Rotts
>>1.0 Super Tiger
>>0.1 Green Burm
>>0.1 Ball Python
>>0.1 Red Tail
>>0.1 Blood Python
>>1.0 Green Ananconda
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

I don't know about you guys but dosn't after every bowel movment seem correct?

My burm is at a steady temp but she dosn't "poo" at the same time at all....

sometimes a week,,, sometimes 2 weeks....sometimes even more...

Right after the bowel movemnt she goes into hunt mode, and is feed within the next 2-3 days....

The snake has never been skinny and has never been fat.... always between the too....

She's also been very very healthy froms 2' too now (12' 3 years old)...

Just an idea for you.....

Also my Ball python that I ve had for just over 8 years (male about 3 feet long) has been eating a medium rat every three weeks to a month for about a year now due to her not really growing anymore and He's stayed at a healthy wait too...

So that system is working pretty good for me lol

Thanx

Jim

Nothing wrong with that system....we do something similar to our rattlesnakes. Every snake is an INDIVIDUAL and must be treating as such so it is difficult to put absolutes on feeding schedules (other than feeding too much is ALWAYS a bad thing). Since I know my burm's "schedule", so to speak, I have found that one prey item every 3-4 weeks works well w/out having to wait until they defecate (but they usually do, or should I say doo-doo, most of the time). Either way works just fine.

>>I don't know about you guys but dosn't after every bowel movment seem correct?
>>
>>My burm is at a steady temp but she dosn't "poo" at the same time at all....
>>
>>sometimes a week,,, sometimes 2 weeks....sometimes even more...
>>
>>Right after the bowel movemnt she goes into hunt mode, and is feed within the next 2-3 days....
>>
>>The snake has never been skinny and has never been fat.... always between the too....
>>
>>She's also been very very healthy froms 2' too now (12' 3 years old)...
>>
>>Just an idea for you.....
>>
>>Also my Ball python that I ve had for just over 8 years (male about 3 feet long) has been eating a medium rat every three weeks to a month for about a year now due to her not really growing anymore and He's stayed at a healthy wait too...
>>
>>So that system is working pretty good for me lol
>>
>>Thanx
>>
>>Jim
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

>or should I say doo-doo<

LOL, Rob, you DO still have a sense of humor
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I value your opinion, I applaude your efforts and one day I'm going to make it to the neighborhood and hope to meet you and have a look see at the center.

Quig

Yeah, my humor slips out every now and then on the forums (I am actually a pretty funny guy around the wildlife center....we love to play all kinds of practical jokes on each other). Any time you are in the Chicago area you are welcome to come for the grant tour.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL
www.cityoflakeforest.com (go to Parks/Rec and then to the WDC)

>>>or should I say doo-doo<
>>
>>
>>LOL, Rob, you DO still have a sense of humor
>>Sorry, I couldn't resist. I value your opinion, I applaude your efforts and one day I'm going to make it to the neighborhood and hope to meet you and have a look see at the center.
>>
>>Quig
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Rob, a little humor is almost a necessity in here every now and then.

Quig