PDA

View Full Version : Is this mouse to big for her?

smoothie4l
12-12-17, 07:10 PM
I purchased adult mice for my new baby blood python and the size looks good to me but I am still concerned with blood pythons being sensitive to overfeeding. I have emailed the breeder to ask what she has been eating and when her hatch date was and they said they would get back to me later this week.
Here is a picture of her after she ate the mouse (You can ask for a picture without the circle if it is to in the way)
Jim Smith
12-12-17, 07:20 PM
It looks fine to me. Typically, if a prey item is too large for a snake, the snake will realize this and spit it out. If a snake easily swallows the prey item it is not too large. Now, overfeeding is a different issue which happens when snakes are feed too frequently.
Jim Smith
12-12-17, 07:26 PM
It looks fine to me. Typically, if a prey item is too large for a snake, the snake will realize this and spit it out. If a snake easily swallows the prey item it is not too large. Now, overfeeding is a different issue which happens when snakes are feed too frequently.
EL Ziggy
12-12-17, 07:26 PM
I agree with Jim. The prey size seems fine. That's a nice looking blood you got there Congrats on the new addition.
smoothie4l
12-12-17, 07:43 PM
It looks fine to me. Typically, if a prey item is too large for a snake, the snake will realize this and spit it out. If a snake easily swallows the prey item it is not too large. Now, overfeeding is a different issue which happens when snakes are feed too frequently.

Yeah she definitely sucked it back just fine, it was in her belly within 2 minutes lol. Do you think I can feed her this size once a week?
smoothie4l
12-12-17, 07:44 PM
I agree with Jim. The prey size seems fine. That's a nice looking blood you got there Congrats on the new addition.

Thank you! Been on my wish list for a longggg time and I'm already head over heels for her ~ <3
DJC Reptiles
12-12-17, 10:54 PM
Thank you! Been on my wish list for a longggg time and I'm already head over heels for her ~ <3

It looks fine to me. As a general rule with blood pythons, they have very slow metabolisms, go smaller when in doubt.
Albert Clark
12-13-17, 05:34 PM
That's great that you double checked with the breeder/ previous owner for info. When nin doubt about the amount to feed you can always fall back on the guideline of 10 - 15% of the animals body weight. Weigh the snake in grams, then weigh your feeder. Based on the calculation you can go for the lower end of the guideline or the higher 15% if the snake is underweight or needs the added nutrition as in a breeder and such. You can always adjust your feeding frequency as needed. As a rule, hatchlings need more nutrition for growth.
smoothie4l
12-13-17, 09:44 PM
That's great that you double checked with the breeder/ previous owner for info. When nin doubt about the amount to feed you can always fall back on the guideline of 10 - 15% of the animals body weight. Weigh the snake in grams, then weigh your feeder. Based on the calculation you can go for the lower end of the guideline or the higher 15% if the snake is underweight or needs the added nutrition as in a breeder and such. You can always adjust your feeding frequency as needed. As a rule, hatchlings need more nutrition for growth.

I totally forgot about that! I will weigh her and find out