View Full Version : Feeding too large?
Vengeance
03-11-04, 07:54 PM
I think I may have fed my Cali King a too large of a prey item. This is his second feeding with me, first was pinkies which barely made a dent in him and he had them down in less then a minute.
I'm trying a fuzzie as we speak but it appears like he is having some trouble, he has it about too the shoulders but he seems like he is having a tough time, I'm worried it may be to big, if he can get it down will there be any problems later on? I'm affraid to try and take it away from him because 1) I'm not sure it's a good idea to take it out while he already has half down and 2) I would hate to sour his outlook on feeding.
I would wait; if he takes it, then all is well. If he regurges it, then try smaller, but wait a week or so. It may take time, I fed a 300g rat to a 1500g snake, and it took her 45 mins. to take it. Whatever you do, let the snkae decide if he wants it, don't take it away until he spits it out and ignores it. Let me know how it turns out.
Vengeance
03-11-04, 08:08 PM
Thanks I'll keep you posted, he is still trying to get it down, made it past the sholders. This is another case of diffrent feeding styles. My Ball python when he was 200 Grams was takin 50 - 75 Gram rats no problem. Couldn't even weigh the fuzzy it was so light and I made sure to pick the smallest I could find, and he is having a problem. He is only about 2 - 3 months old according to PCPC, but those pinkies just seemed like nothing when I gave them to him.
BurmGuy87
03-11-04, 08:08 PM
Too big? Bigger then this prey item?
http://ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/4020wakka_001-med.jpg
Still has it down:) Its been 3 days.
http://ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/4020wakka_002-med.jpg
Vengeance
03-11-04, 08:13 PM
Nope not bigger then that :P
One thing I allways notice when I get a new snake is I get very paranoid in the first month :)
*edit* he just tore the mouse in half so i'm sure he'll be fine now.
tore the mouse in half? either you have a rather odd snake that chews, or your rodent was completly rotten! I can't even think of the amount of times I have fed snakes over the years and i never heard of that! wierd!
Vengeance
03-11-04, 08:41 PM
The mouse looked fine, but I saw exactly what he was doing, while swallowing it, it split one of the sides, he kept coiling around, holding it and pulling it in till it ripped the back end off. I wouldn't say it's half, there are no inards in the end ripped off, just a tail, legs and possibly hips.
*edit* I got pics of it so I'll post them later.
AshleyL
03-11-04, 09:08 PM
my boyfriend's boa did that once when he first got it and that rat was F/T. i doubt the mouse was rotten, the little guy was probably just fighting to get the thing down and didnt realize his own strength! lol
BurmGuy87
03-11-04, 09:27 PM
OR it was wet.....
Vengeance
03-11-04, 10:28 PM
Here is the pic's, it wasn't wet, and also if an Admin would like to move this over to the Colubrid forums that's fine I was reading the Breeding forum when I posted it, didn't realize it ended up here.
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3606DSCF0011-med.JPG
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3606DSCF0012-med.JPG
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3606DSCF0014-med.JPG
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3606DSCF0015-med.JPG
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3606DSCF0016-med.JPG
You can see the mess he made :)
daver676
03-11-04, 10:32 PM
Damn! That looks like a crime scene! LOL!
Vengeance
03-11-04, 10:55 PM
makes me glad I fed outside of the cage :)
That mouse was probably thawed too much. The rodents often split at the belly if you warm them too fast or too hot.
In any case, I have noticed my kingsnakes take FAR longer to eat than my corns even if the king is larger and taking larger prey, etc. I have also noticed they take just a smidge longer to move up the prey size ladder than corns. This may be my personal experience and limited to just my snakes but an observation either way.
Looks like that prey size was just fine though. I'd try thawing them a little slower or cooler next time. :)
Marisa
Jeff_Favelle
03-12-04, 02:34 AM
Looks fine.
Why is this in the "breeding/incubation forum"?
Vengeance
03-12-04, 07:38 AM
Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Looks fine.
Why is this in the "breeding/incubation forum"?
Yea I made a mistake when posting it, I was reading the breeding forum when I posted it, I mentioned it in the post with the pic's but if a Mod wants to move this over to the colubrid forum that be fine.
BurmGuy87
03-12-04, 07:51 AM
Daaang and I thought my Savs left a mess when I had them! HahA
That is one nice king tho! What kind is it and if you dont mind, what did you pay for it! I want one! haha
Vengeance
03-12-04, 08:27 AM
Originally posted by BurmGuy87
Daaang and I thought my Savs left a mess when I had them! HahA
That is one nice king tho! What kind is it and if you dont mind, what did you pay for it! I want one! haha
It's an Albino California King Snake, picked it up from PCPC and prices vary from the type of pattern and depending where you buy it from, I know I talked to Henry Piorun about purchasing one for $70 but I found one local at PCPC so I didn't have to worry about shipping.
BurmGuy87
03-12-04, 08:56 AM
Awesome that means you in Canada! So the prices are abit lower here! I'm in the states. Thanks...I thought it was an albino type but wasnt positive....I'm more into the boids but I'm starting to love the colubrids!
YummyCdnMale
03-12-04, 09:01 AM
let us know if he muscles any more rodents like that :P
Vengeance
03-12-04, 09:16 AM
Well from what everyone is saying, the meal wasn't too big, it just how he eats so I'll be trying to same size again in 5 - 7 days. My only thing I was getting worried about was that because it was outside the cage in a seperate rubbermaid I was worried about heat. I didn't have an uth under the rubbermaid so I was worried he was getting cold cause he was taking such a long time. I'll make sure and pick up a spare one before the next feeding.
BurmGuy87
03-12-04, 09:17 AM
He should be fine....unless if you house is like 60 haha
Vengeance
03-12-04, 09:29 AM
again me = overly paranoid
not sure it's a bad thing tho.
"because it was outside the cage in a seperate rubbermaid I was worried about heat."
No that's not a concern at all unless you are feeding outside in VERY cold temps. These snakes can go a long time at room temp (not that I'd advise it) so you don't have to worry at all about him not having heat while he is eating, being held, or if a bulb/mat burns out for a few hours before you replace it. Go about your usual. :) He looks like he is doing great and I'd stick right where you are with prey size for a couple weeks/few weeks and just not thaw it out so hot and fast. :)
Good luck! He is super looking.
Marisa
Vengeance
03-12-04, 10:08 AM
Thanks for the advice. Usually I'll boil some water and drop the mouse or rat in the water, guess I should just make it luke warm instead.
daver676
03-12-04, 10:39 AM
Originally posted by Vengeance
Thanks for the advice. Usually I'll boil some water and drop the mouse or rat in the water, guess I should just make it luke warm instead.
Good call. You don't want to cook it.
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