power feeding- life span

[KingFfaj]

i just herd in another forum that power feeding can reduce the life span of a snake:confused:
is this true? and if so why..

[reptilez]

Because thy could become Obese(sp). And that is not healthy for them.

[KingFfaj]

is that the only reason? Apart from the fact that thay shed more oftern though farster growth. So as long as i keep an eye on the fat levels it should do no harm?

[reptilez]

Im not to positive on that.... Better wait for someone else to reply

[KingFfaj]

dont worry, i just fed my snake a chick, im not gonna feed him for another 2 hours (lollollol)

[BurmBaroness]

The reason it is unhealthy, is because powerfeeding can cause health problems down the road for the snake. If fed too often, the snake's digestive system does not have time to replenish the natural gut flora needed to aid in digestion. Thereby making the snake's digestive system work hard to digest all that food. Love your snake, feed your snake properly, don't make him ill and die a sooner death. They grow big soon enough.

[Ladyhawk]

I'm very interested in this subject.

I've heard arguments on both sides of the equation. I finally talked to Kathy Love, who is sending me a shipment of corns, and she said she wasn't aware of any definitive studies done on the subject. Her gut feeling is that it is OK to feed roughly once every four to five days for the first year of the animal's life, then cut back to once a week.

Does anyone have a link to a scientific study on this?

I don't want to endanger my youngsters if there is something to the idea of power feeding = short life span.

I want to put some length on my young female Louisiana, but not at the risk of her health. Besides, tiny snakes are cute.

[eyespy]

I've never seen a scientific study, but then I come from a vet tech background and vets are bound by the Hippocratic oath. If they believe powerfeeding is risky, they cannot do a study on it because they have sworn to "first, do no harm" and could lose their license for putting snakes into danger.

We tend to see a lot more fatty liver disease, cardiovascular problems, impactions, and digestive system problems in snakes fed more than once per week but that's just an observation, not a study.

[BurmBaroness]

Ladyhoawke, if they are baby corns, then yes, you can feed them every 5 days. once they are a yr old, then go to every 7 days. Colubrids have faster metabolisms than boids, so what I just gave you as a guide is NOT powerfeeding.

[Ed_r]

When snakes are powerfed , their bodies grow rapidly but their organs grow at a normal pace. Would be like haveing a 6' adult with a 3yr old heart and lungs. The heart and lungs would be working so hard they would have a premature failure. Hope this helps.

[Invictus]

But DO NOT confuse power feeding with feeding large prey items. If the prey is not leaving a significant lump in your snake's belly, they are underfed. Period. Power Feeding, I believe, refers to feeding them too often, before they've had a chance to digest their last meal.

[BurmBaroness]

exactly, Invictus. I hate to see people not feed enough, and then stretch it out between feeds. Poor hungry snakies

[drewlowe]

I was the one that mentioned powerfeeding cause you suggest to a newbie to feed loads and loads and loads and loads (and there were even more loads in there) A newbie would take that as I need to feed my snake as much as i possible can and as much as i can. Which that in turn is powerfeeding. Instead of say loads like 15 times you should have told them the feeding schedule they should use and that the prey should make a nice lump in the belly.

[BurmBaroness]

I agree Drewlowe, the correct info should have been given to you in the first place. Sorry that someone misinformed you.

[drewlowe]

No i wasn't the newbie. it was suggested to a newbie. and i was the one that corrected it and told him that it was powerfeeding.

I've been keeping corns for at least 2 1/2 years now.

[Ladyhawk]

OK. Every five days would be OK for a growing young colubrid, then. I think I may have been overfeeding Bijou just a bit. I want normal, healthy growth and nothing more.

When my corn hatchlings are shipped I think I'll put them and my tiny milk on an every five day plan, actually marking calendar feeding days. Since the milk is older, I think it would be wise to drop her back to once a week after six months.

The guy who sold me my adult kings said they could be fed every two weeks. Elvis is the only one eating (at this point), but two mice are enough to give him a nice lump in the tummy.

[KingFfaj]

that sounds like a good plan lady hawk;)
The only reason i suggested feeding loads and loads and loads.............., was because "maties" corn snake was a year old and only 12" long and as thin as a pencil !!!! way under sized if you ask me, looked like it could do with being fed up a little.
Also, i'm feeding my cal king once every 5 days and he must be nearly 8 yrs old, and he's shed almost once a month!!!!!!:)