Feeding Schedule

[SerpentLust]

I would like to know what everyone does for a feeding schedule. I'm trying to get Montey on one full size mouse a week. But she's always hungrier than that. (you can tell because she's become accustomed to head on food bowl = food in bowl)

So my question is really about morals...is it RIGHT to try and put something on a feeding schedule when they're obviously hungrier? Do we have the right to say, "Nope, you can only eat THIS much"

Just personally, for me, I wouldn't like my parents portioning my meals, not letting me even have a bit of food when I'm hungry. Etc.

Montey is always way more hungry in the summer. In the winter, she doesn't eat that much. But yeah, I was just curious because I fed her on Wednesday and she's been out of her hide ever since waiting for more.

Jenn

[Tim_Cranwill]

What species is Monty and how old/big is he?

[Jayson]

In my experience some snakes are hungry all the time, this does not mean it needs to be fed. I once feed my burm a rabbit that was close to the max size for him, half an hour later after i walked past his cage, he was in feed mode again or still.
pythons in the wild are oppritunistic feeders meaning they only eat when prey comes close enough, and the snake is succesfull at capturing it. If this happens two or three times in one week then the snake will take the advantage and eat for the possibilty that it could be the last meal for a long time.
also keep in mind that captive snakes can become obese very easily due to the fact that life in a tank can be farily inactive.
Also is it possible that the food item is to small for your snake??

Hope this helped Jason

[SerpentLust]

She is a Spotted Python who is about 3 feet long.

And Jason, actually she's used to a full grown mouse a week which fills her up but the STUPID store didn't have any. So I'm feeding her a meal of three little ones instead. But I don't think they're enough.

Jenn

[Linds]

Schedules should be more a guideline than something that is strictly adhered to. If you notice your snake is cruising around in feeding mode a few days earlier, then feed it. Once you learn to interpret your snakes behaviours, you can let your snake tell you when it needs to be fed. I wouldn't however interpret your snake putting his head on a bowl as a request for food, snakes are creatures of instinct, they do not learn to depend on us like a dog or cat would. They don't wait for us to bring them food when they are hungry, they start to look for it themselves :)

Originally posted by Jayson
In my experience some snakes are hungry all the time, this does not mean it needs to be fed. I once feed my burm a rabbit that was close to the max size for him, half an hour later after i walked past his cage, he was in feed mode again or still.


Snakes take a while to calm down from feeding, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are not full up. Most snakes stay in feeding mode for 15 minutes to 24 hours after feeding, some even longer (most notibly Hog Isle Boas :p). They are just reacting to eating, not necessarily still hungry, as they do calm down when given time, its just reflexes :)

[Lisa]

We feed our boids and adult colubrids weekly, the juvinile culubrids get fed once or twice a week depending on food size.

As for the morality of a scedule, is it right to feed them enough to make them fat? A scedule lets you keep a healthy amount of food coming in.

[Invictus]

I just go by one principle with my corns.. when they stop pooping, they need more food. Seems to work for them. :)

[Edwin]

My feed schedule is every 10 days or so, as all my snakes are adults.