How often to feed?

[Sasha2]

Okay so I was feeding Ozzy every 14 days medium rats. The mediums seemed a bit small so I ordered large this last time. Should I still feed every 2 weeks or bump it to every three weeks?
He is full grown, a little over 6ft.
Thanks.

[EL Ziggy]

I'd probably keep him on a bi-weekly schedule as long as he's active and in good shape. I'm sure feeding every 3 weeks wouldn't hurt either so mix it up a bit.

[AwesomeGuy376]

I would just do every 14 days, nice easy schedule

[Gerbil Food]

If you guys have a need to feed, then check me out on the classifieds!

[Sasha2]

He tends toward chunkiness so thats why I asked. I think mixing it up might be the best idea. I was just curious how often others feed their adults.

[Derek Roddy]

As a general rule it's better to feed smaller meals more often than to go bigger and spread it out.
Several reasons for this but the main one is the processing of said large food type in the gut. The farmed rodents we feed are loaded with unnatural fats and proteins ( from their commercial diet) that these snakes do not get in the bush and can be harmful over time.

If a med seems small for your animal...... I'd still feed meds but shorten the days inbetween feedings.
Cheers
D

[gebon]

A fully grown carpet don't need to eat so much or often. I feed my adult female one 200-300gr rat every four weeks and under a few months in the winter, she don't eat at all. This winter she refused to eat for four months. But that's pretty normal:)

[Derek Roddy]

Actually these animals in the wild eat way more often than keepers realize. I always wondered why keepers think these animals only eat every so often when in actuality they eat very often......just small meals.

So, when I say small meals more often, this more closely represents the way reptiles most often eat in the bush. Thus mimicking their behavior in the wild more closely.

Will snakes "do fine" when fed like most suggest?.....yes, will they do better when fed smaller meal and more often?.....like they do in the wild?....most certainly.

In fact, 20 years ago when I started feeding this way I noticed an almost immediate difference in the skin tone, shine and muscle tone of all my snakes.

Not to mention that I have 3 of the oldest BHPs in captivity in my collection that I attribute 100% to diet. In fact, most of my snakes commonly live to over 20 years old. Most keepers average about 10 to 12.

This is something Ive researched thoroughly over the past 15 years.

Cheers,
D

[EL Ziggy]

@ Derek- What sort of feeding schedule would you recommend for an adult, or even a juvenille carpet? A small meal every 7-10 days? By small meals for the adults I'm thinking a medium rat. Right now I'm feeding my 6 m/o Bredl a mice fuzzy or two every 5-6 days, 8 m/o jungle eats a rat weaner every 5-6 days, and my yearling coastal gets a small rat & a chick every 7 days on average. All of the meals are roughly 10-15% of the snake's body weight.

[gebon]

Actually these animals in the wild eat way more often than keepers realize. I always wondered why keepers think these animals only eat every so often when in actuality they eat very often......just small meals.

So, when I say small meals more often, this more closely represents the way reptiles most often eat in the bush. Thus mimicking their behavior in the wild more closely.

Will snakes "do fine" when fed like most suggest?.....yes, will they do better when fed smaller meal and more often?.....like they do in the wild?....most certainly.

In fact, 20 years ago when I started feeding this way I noticed an almost immediate difference in the skin tone, shine and muscle tone of all my snakes.

Not to mention that I have 3 of the oldest BHPs in captivity in my collection that I attribute 100% to diet. In fact, most of my snakes commonly live to over 20 years old. Most keepers average about 10 to 12.

This is something Ive researched thoroughly over the past 15 years.

Cheers,
D

Isn't 200-300gr rats a small prey for a snake of 4 kg ( 5-7,5% )? What is small preys and often, translated in percent and time?

[Albert Clark]

Ive noticed by feeding less often my reptiles are more active and I get to see them more. From hatchling to adult. This does not include the gravid females who I always feed extra. Up to 30% more.

[dannybgoode]

Actually these animals in the wild eat way more often than keepers realize. I always wondered why keepers think these animals only eat every so often when in actuality they eat very often......just small meals.

So, when I say small meals more often, this more closely represents the way reptiles most often eat in the bush. Thus mimicking their behavior in the wild more closely.

Will snakes "do fine" when fed like most suggest?.....yes, will they do better when fed smaller meal and more often?.....like they do in the wild?....most certainly.

In fact, 20 years ago when I started feeding this way I noticed an almost immediate difference in the skin tone, shine and muscle tone of all my snakes.

Not to mention that I have 3 of the oldest BHPs in captivity in my collection that I attribute 100% to diet. In fact, most of my snakes commonly live to over 20 years old. Most keepers average about 10 to 12.

This is something Ive researched thoroughly over the past 15 years.

Cheers,
D

Derek

Interesting stuff. Does this apply to all snakes or is it species specific?

[Sasha2]

If what derek says is true I will have to wait until all my frozen large rats are gone before I go to the mediums more often. And that will be at least 6 months.
I have no idea how many grams my rats are but they are Rodentpro large rats. Everything Ive come across on the internet always says carpets can handle larger then normal prey so I figured medium were way to small.. I could start feeding him AFS, I think two of them are about equal to a medium rat.

[gebon]

If what derek says is true I will have to wait until all my frozen large rats are gone before I go to the mediums more often. And that will be at least 6 months.
I have no idea how many grams my rats are but they are Rodentpro large rats. Everything Ive come across on the internet always says carpets can handle larger then normal prey so I figured medium were way to small.. I could start feeding him AFS, I think two of them are about equal to a medium rat.

A workmate has a male coastal that he feeds 5-6 times a year. This snake is 22 years old:) I think the most important thing, is that the snake doesn't become unhealthy fat. It's a fact that obesity in reptiles decrease their lifespan with many years.

[Sasha2]

When I got Ozzy he was fat, the guy said he was his garbage disposal and I believe it.
He is still chunky but Ive had him out quite a bit for exercise. Next time I will get mediums and some chicks too but I dont have anything that eats large rats but him so he will have to make do for now.

[gebon]

When I got Ozzy he was fat, the guy said he was his garbage disposal and I believe it.
He is still chunky but Ive had him out quite a bit for exercise. Next time I will get mediums and some chicks too but I dont have anything that eats large rats but him so he will have to make do for now.

I think one large rat (200-250gr) every 3-4 weeks will be fine. A fairly normal feeding schedule for a adult jungle (at least here in Sweden). If you also let him go without food a couple of months during next winter, he will probably be in good shape next spring:)

[Sasha2]

Thanks, I almost have his new viv built so he will have alot more room to move around.

[shaunyboy]

i feed my adults guaged on their shape and condition,i keep my carpets lean and muscular,if they start to look fat i cut back that individuals feed,if they start to look too lean i up that individuals feeds


cheers shaun

[John962]

I feed my male adult bredli a large rat every 4 weeks, but he's nearly 4 years old, so pretty much full grown I think at about 7 feet long. I started him off weekly in his first year, then fortnightly in second year. Not sure if feeding smaller and more frequently in general is better? Carpets can take massive meals with ease and seems like they're evolved to do this.

[DennisM]

He tends toward chunkiness so thats why I asked. I think mixing it up might be the best idea. I was just curious how often others feed their adults.
well, if he's chuncky, you probably shouldn't up the prey size.

[DennisM]

... In fact, most of my snakes commonly live to over 20 years old. Most keepers average about 10 to 12.

Cheers,
D

I like this. I feed less frequently than the commonly suggested schedule and have had numerous pythons live well into their very late teens and early twenties. Two of the first snakes I ever got were 2.0 ball pythons in 1993. I still have them both. these geriatrics now feed on average about 10 times a year. I offer more frequently but expect frequent refusals. Of course, they're BPs not carpets. I feed adult carpets about every 3 weeks.

[EL Ziggy]

I learn a lot from these kinds of threads. Feeding will always be a subjective, if not controversial, subject. I take all of the information I get from reading, listening to other keepers experiences, watching my snake's behavior, and trial and error to develop a system that works for me and my critters. I feed my young snakes pretty liberally and dial it back as they get older. I don't see me ever feeding my snakes once a month but I believe they'll be fine eating every 2-3 weeks as adults. I think that's the sweet spot for me. Let's compare notes in 20 years :). Happy Herping!

[pet_snake_78]

For all of my colubrid snakes, I feed smaller than they can take and very often. I feed the females very heavily and most species will lay multiple clutches. I usually offer 1-2 food items per feeding. For my boas, I do feed far less often and slightly larger meals.

[Derek Roddy]

It really depends on the species and how their individual presences are...for their to be a "benefit". An ambush predators feeding habits are going to be different than a species (like a BHP) who is out everyday searching and eating.

Access to food types in the bush vary more than our "consistent" meals as well.

Very easy to overfed a snake in captivity based on these variables.

D

[NeverLift]

My schedule, my 4 carpets are all very healthy.
Neonates up to adulthood(~3 year old) get fed weekly.
Adults get small rats(~60grams) every 2-4 weeks and occasionally medium rats(~120gram) for the ones over 6foot.
Rarely will they refuse a meal.