Feeding questions

[Cmwells90]

So I've seen many different opinions on when to feed, what to feed, etc etc. This post is focusing on one thing about feeding. Frequency. I've seen some people say that smaller meals more often are best, and others that larger meals less often are best. Would this be different based on the breed? I have a Boa and a cornsnake and if it would benifit them to feed them more often, I would love to know. Also is there any actual scientific data to back up one way or another? I'll even take personal positive results, as long as it's consistent across the breed.

[millertime89]

It's completely subjective. I feed larger meals less frequently but have done smaller meals more frequently as well.

Edit: it mostly depends on what I've got in the freezer and which snake I'm feeding. Some won't take large meals but will eat every few days. Some will eat multiple meals at once and some will take a giant meal but not more than one.

[EL Ziggy]

I don't know about scientific data that says which method is best. I think it's a matter of subjective opinions and personal preferences. Different species also have different requirements. I'm not sure about boas but corns and other colubrids generally have faster metabolisms and tend to eat a little more often. I started my snakes on the Munson feeding plan which is often recommended for colubrids. After 6 months of slow but consistent growth I started feeding 10-15% of the snakes body weight per feeding. My yearlings typically eat every 6-7 days. I may scale back to every 10-14 days after they turn two. I also try to read my snakes behavior to determine when to feed. When they start prowling for food for a day or two, I feed them. All of my snakes are healthy and none are overweight.

[Cmwells90]

See I would feed when my boa starts to "hunt" my only problem with that is that my boa will be out and about and alert after 2 days, even with large meals. I need to get a scale so I can weigh my snakes and keep track of it, but I'll take a look at some of the % feedings.

[EL Ziggy]

See I would feed when my boa starts to "hunt" my only problem with that is that my boa will be out and about and alert after 2 days, even with large meals. I need to get a scale so I can weigh my snakes and keep track of it, but I'll take a look at some of the % feedings.

I know what you mean. My snakes will typically start foraging 3-4 days after eating but I still make them wait a couple of days before feeding again. If they eat a small meal they get fed a little sooner. If they have a larger meal they wait a little longer between feedings. The feeding by weight method seems to be working really well for me.

[millertime89]

With experience you won't even need the scale. After 3 years I've gotten pretty good at just eyeballing the prey size. I have mostly retics so I er on the larger side since I know they would eat daily if I let them, friggin pigs.

[David VB]

As said in another feeding thread, i tend to look at nature/the wild. Sometimes they find a large prey and sometimes a small, depending on how long it has been since they eat, they will take a smaller prey or not. Frequency is the same, sometimes they find food rather quickly after the previous meal, but at harder times it can be weeks or months before they find anything to eat. That's why i vary feeding them in size as well as in frequency. As long as they aren't getting thinner, it's ok ;) But when younger, feed a bit more often if you want them to grow faster, but remember that a fast growing snake is likely to die sooner than a slow grower ;)

[CosmicOwl]

As said in another feeding thread, i tend to look at nature/the wild. Sometimes they find a large prey and sometimes a small, depending on how long it has been since they eat, they will take a smaller prey or not. Frequency is the same, sometimes they find food rather quickly after the previous meal, but at harder times it can be weeks or months before they find anything to eat. That's why i vary feeding them in size as well as in frequency. As long as they aren't getting thinner, it's ok ;) But when younger, feed a bit more often if you want them to grow faster, but remember that a fast growing snake is likely to die sooner than a slow grower ;)

Any evidence to support the idea that faster growung snakes die sooner?

[SSSSnakes]

As said in another feeding thread, i tend to look at nature/the wild. Sometimes they find a large prey and sometimes a small, depending on how long it has been since they eat, they will take a smaller prey or not. Frequency is the same, sometimes they find food rather quickly after the previous meal, but at harder times it can be weeks or months before they find anything to eat. That's why i vary feeding them in size as well as in frequency. As long as they aren't getting thinner, it's ok ;) But when younger, feed a bit more often if you want them to grow faster, but remember that a fast growing snake is likely to die sooner than a slow grower ;)

I agree 100% and feed the same way. Snakes are not on a schedule or perfect size feeding in the wild.

Any evidence to support the idea that faster growung snakes die sooner?

I only can go by personal experience and what I have seen of others that try and make their snake larger fast. They tend to die early.

[David VB]

Yeah, it's not that i have scientific proof, just experience from other keepers i heard of. Big fat snakes die sooner it seems.

[EL Ziggy]

See, it is all subjective. You can vary prey size and feeding frequency. It doesn't have to be a rigid formula or exact schedule but a general outline is nice to follow. As long as your snake isn't gaining or losing too much weight, and your husbandry requirements are up to par, they should be fine.

[CosmicOwl]

Yeah, it's not that i have scientific proof, just experience from other keepers i heard of. Big fat snakes die sooner it seems.

Do you mean people power feeding to force a snake ro reach a certain size early

[millertime89]

Do you mean people power feeding to force a snake ro reach a certain size early

Yes. I've seen it as well. An animal fed too much, too fast dies young. Look at other animals as well, humans especially.

[Frisky]

I think that a good rule of thumb to follow regards Feeding Frequency, is as follows:

Hatchlings - every 4 - 5 days, and even when in shed.
Juveniles - every 5 - 6 days, even when in shed.
Adults - every 7 - 10 days, even when in shed.

Feed for 3 successive feeding sessions and then skip a feeding session, to allow the digestive systems some rest. then repeat the whole cycle. Feed even when they are in shed, a lot of my snakes eat, even when in shed and do not seem to have any ill effects.

This is the system I use, and I use it for all species in my collection.

[EL Ziggy]

I think that a good rule of thumb to follow regards Feeding Frequency, is as follows:

Hatchlings - every 4 - 5 days, and even when in shed.
Juveniles - every 5 - 6 days, even when in shed.
Adults - every 7 - 10 days, even when in shed.

Feed for 3 successive feeding sessions and then skip a feeding session, to allow the digestive systems some rest. then repeat the whole cycle. Feed even when they are in shed, a lot of my snakes eat, even when in shed and do not seem to have any ill effects.

This is the system I use, and I use it for all species in my collection.

At what age do you consider them adults Frisky? My method is pretty similar. I usually feed during shed also as all of my snakes will still eat. I don't regularly skip feeding sessions but I might try that from time to time.

[Frisky]

I, once again as a rule of thumb consider them to be adults as follows.

Colubrids - Males - 18 years and Females - 2 years. This is diet wise only, not breeding wise.
Boas and Pythons - Males 2 years and Females - 3 years, once again, only diet wise and not breeding wise.

For Breeding purposes I consider them to be adults as follows.
Colubrids - Males 2 years and Females 3 years.
Boas and Pythons - Males 3 years and Females 4 years.

This is just the way I do things. Everyone has their preferred system, this is mine.

[Frisky]

Oops - Males Colubrids at 18 Months, not years.

[Mikebrad1977]

I have a almost 1year old red tail, he's approx 2ft long and currently eating rat fluffs, my questions are A, is his size approx correct for his age and B, should I increase the size of his dinner? Any advise would be great. Thanks

[Frisky]

I would not worry about his size, whether he is 2 ft. or 3ft. as a yearling , does not bother me. From what I see, he seems to be in very good condition. I would upgrade his meals to Rat Hoppers or Rat Weaners.
He should at least show a bit of a bulge after eating, and if the bulge is visible for 2 or 3 days after eating, then all is good.