Feeding, metabolism and longevity.

[CosmicOwl]

It seems like this subject keeps popping up in various threads, so I thought it might be interesting to consolidate all of the different opinions in one place. I know that the feeding debate is one of the most contentious debates in snake keeping community, but I want to see if there are any common themes at work. The question is: How does prey size and the frequency of feeding effect the metabolism of a snakes as well as their longevity?

I know there might be some disagreement over what constitutes a small or large meal, so I'll just offer my own vague interpretation.

Small meal= 1 prey item that is the same size or smaller than the thickest part of the snake.
Medium/moderate meal=1 prey that is 1-1.5 times larger than the thickest part of the snake.
Large meal=1 prey item that is 2 or more times larger than the thickest part of the snake.

I realize that there will be differences depending on the age of the snake and it's natural metabolism. I think the general consensus is that colubrids have faster metabolisms than Boas/python and aren't capable of consuming comparably large meals. So in this case, we will acknowledge that the timescales are applied to specific snakes, and not all snakes in general.

From your experience, what prey size and frequency of feeding leads to a healthier snake? And for those of you who have held onto snakes past the 12-15 year period, have you noticed any differences in the longevity of animals fed in a particular fashion?

[EL Ziggy]

According to your schedule I feed my colubrids a medium/moderate meal every 5-7 days. They will sometimes get two prey items per feeding. Each meal equals roughly 15-20% of the snakes body weight.

[drumcrush]

Medium/ moderate-large meal every 7-10 days. When it comes to the smaller/medium meals, I will feed double. Just depends on what's available for me to feed at the petstore(like of they run out of rats/mice of certain sizes)

[Terranaut]

I mix it up. Sometimes big and other times not. I know my snakes very well but to be honest , if I kept 100 snakes I would use weight of prey and a constant time between feedings.

[RyanReptile]

I also don't have any of my snakes on any strict feeding regiment, when I notice them roaming around (hunting) is when I feed. As for size of prey most of the time I feed prey items of equal size to the girth or slightly larger.

[sharthun]

I don't have a set schedule, I try to observe the snakes and feed when prowling or actively hunting. I mix up prey sizes as well.

[poomwah]

It varies with mine. The kids have two 5 month old corns that eat a pinky that is about 1 to 1.5 times the snakes body size every 5 days.
The pits get a rat pinky about the size of the snakes body. Norma, every 5 days, Chinga when he starts looking for food. If I try to keep him on a set schedule , he has a tendency to skip meals.
Belt loop, the yellow rat, is 1.5 years old, I've offered her mouse pinkies a couple times and she showed no interest.
George is a DEFINITE schedule required snake. If I fed him based on his behavior, he would eat ALL the time and I guarantee he'd be obese, so he eats one prey item about 1.5 times his size every week. Wednesday as a matter of fact :]

[Sharlynn93]

I try to keep mine on a schedule...but if one or two refuse, and they show obvious hunting signs 2 or 3 days later, I feed...but I keep a log of my snakes, so I can keep track and feed accordingly until they are back on schedule with everyone else...I don't make them stay hungry, but it is nice to get them back onto schedules so it's easier...

[poomwah]

logs are great. helps keep an eye out for potential problems without having to try to remember who ate when.
I log both the ones that are on schedules, and the ones that arent. When someone does refuse a meal, I also log any extra info, if it was unusually hot or cold that day, if the snakes behavior was different, what color the prey item was (I've had some that were actually particular about that). I also log their length and weight monthly. The length just for the heck of it, but the weight so when someone goes off feed, I can keep track of any weight loss.
I also have a section for other tidbits of otherwise unimportant info. For instance, in the MISC column I have a listing for the first time Norma Jean bit me, LOL

[Sharlynn93]

logs are great. helps keep an eye out for potential problems without having to try to remember who ate when.
I log both the ones that are on schedules, and the ones that arent. When someone does refuse a meal, I also log any extra info, if it was unusually hot or cold that day, if the snakes behavior was different, what color the prey item was (I've had some that were actually particular about that). I also log their length and weight monthly. The length just for the heck of it, but the weight so when someone goes off feed, I can keep track of any weight loss.
I also have a section for other tidbits of otherwise unimportant info. For instance, in the MISC column I have a listing for the first time Norma Jean bit me, LOL

i pretty much do the same thing! only had 2 regurges over the years, but I log those so I don't attempt a re-feed too soon, etc...I get weights somewhat monthly (especially on my rescues or young ones)...I try to go by the 15% average on feeders (weigh them all upon purchase or euthanization) so I can feed accordingly until they are of size that I can "eye"...its working great! besides, if there is a reason the hubby would have to control "feeding night" he has all the info in front of him...he knows how to read my books, but he basically plays referee watching the ones eating while I move onto the next, etc....

[Mikoh4792]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/morelia-spilota/104416-couple-questions.html#post905938