Judging prey size for GTP's

[marisa]

How do you guys judge prey size for your GTP's?

Marisa

[Paul_Begg]

depending on age and size really, but i'll never go any more than the thickness of the thickest part of the snake. That said, for adults i'm looking at small - small medium rats for my biggest females. there's no point in trying to over feed a snake that isnt going to grow more than a few centimetres a year.

[Clownfishie]

When my girl was still growing, I was feeding her prey slightly larger than her girth -- but now that she's a few years old and unlikely to grow all that much more, I've cut down her prey size a fair bit -- she was starting to look a little chubby, so I've got her on the smallest rats that I've got, which are a little smaller than her girth.

Your little guy is still growing, so I'd say go with prey the same size as/just slightly larger than his girth :)


Jen

[Holy Mackerel]

I think that the snake will let you know what size is appropriate. I am usually careful to move up to a new size of rat for my GTP, and when I do i'm weary, but the snake always accepts the food. I think you're GTP is about 1yr old? I was feeding mine rat pups at one year (larger rat pups), and the snake would slurp them down before I even had a chance to watch. This kinda told me that the snake would begin to accept rat hoppers, and she does quite well on them. For a growing snake I personally stick to a prey that is slightly larger than the widest part of the snake.

[marisa]

Actually my my guy (gal) is almost two years old so it's already capable of eating small adult mice with ease. I was just curious as I know before mine is full grown he will be on something larger.

I fed him like spratically, and he eats a lot of leftovers from the other snakes. So one feeding might be three small hopper mice, next week a rat fuzzy, 7 days later a mouse, then two weeks might go by where I don't feed him at all. He seems to do well with a break between every few meals. :)

Marisa