question on food size

[Snakefood]

The day after I got Ananta, I went to Khuno's breeder to figure out prey size, ect. She sent me home with 1 rat fuzzy for week 1 (last week) as Ananta regurged the previous meal (according to her previous owner), for week 2-3 she sent me home with juvi mice and then for week 4 onward, she sent home full grown mice.

This week we gave her her first juvi mouse, it SEEMED like she had some difficulty getting it down, but that could have been due to angle, when I grabbed it by the tail to straighten it out for her, it went down more easily. However, I can't seem to see her taking a larger item in only 2 weeks.

Here are some pics of her last feeding, maybe you can help decide whether to move her up a food size or leave it where she for the time being. I will also add pics of the thickness of the snake and the 2 prey sizes a little later on.

14487

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[youngster]

Snakes are pretty adept at eating big prey items. Also I was surprised at how fast my corn grew. He went from 9 inches to 14 inches in a month

[Lankyrob]

From those pics i would say that that prey is the right size for that snake.

[Snakefood]

right, so I leave her on that prey size for now rather than going up a size two feedings (weeks) from now??

I can't see her growing that much in 2 weeks, she just shed in the last week or so (a few days before I brought her home)

Thanks for your input everyone!!

[Gungirl]

After she eats if you can see a food lump for 24-36 hrs its a good sign. However if the food lump is gone within a few hours the prey size is too small. I have been shocked seeing what some snakes can/will eat.

[Snakefood]

Well she was fed last night, and today I can see a thickening where the mouse still is. Not sure if I'd call it an actual lump though.

[bladeblaster]

she will definately take bigger than that




http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/bladeblaster/DSCF5417.jpg

http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr279/bladeblaster/DSCF5420-1.jpg

[Gungirl]

Well she was fed last night, and today I can see a thickening where the mouse still is. Not sure if I'd call it an actual lump though.


I would up her a size then. Just make sure she is staying healthy and not getting fat.

[Snakefood]

Alright, I'll give it a shot next week with the size up. Is there such a thing as a snake being hurt or killed by trying to take food too big?? (F/T of course)

[Lankyrob]

In theory the snake should recognise that prey is too big and refuse, tho some have been known to regurge large prey items.

[Snakefood]

And from what we were told by her previous owner, she regurged a jumbo mouse 2 weeks before we brought her home.

[Gungirl]

And from what we were told by her previous owner, she regurged a jumbo mouse 2 weeks before we brought her home.

Seeing as she did have a regurgitation I would keep her on the prey she is on now for a few weeks. Not worth the risk to up the prey until she has eaten a few times for you and is doing well.

[Snakefood]

well by the time we would switch they prey up, she will have been with me for 4 weekly feeds. The first was only a rat pinkie (because of the regurge), the last one was a juvi mouse. The next 2 feeds will be juvi mice, then the breeder gave me adults from there-on in. So another 2 feeds, on top of the 2 already. I was just wondering if I should up it to the adults in 2 weeks when I run out of juvi's (or go get more juvi's)

[Gungirl]

well by the time we would switch they prey up, she will have been with me for 4 weekly feeds. The first was only a rat pinkie (because of the regurge), the last one was a juvi mouse. The next 2 feeds will be juvi mice, then the breeder gave me adults from there-on in. So another 2 feeds, on top of the 2 already. I was just wondering if I should up it to the adults in 2 weeks when I run out of juvi's (or go get more juvi's)

I would up it as long as she is still doing well.

[shaunyboy]

imo that prey item is a perfect size for your snake

cheers shaun

[Lankyrob]

If there are no further issues with the two juvis then up it to the adults afterwards.

[Snakefood]

Awesome, thanks everyone!! I will give her 2 more feedings of juvi's, then go up to the adult. It isn't that much of a size difference looking at them. I'll let you all know how it goes, she scarfed down Khuno's pinkie mouse last night (he's in shed and refused his meal) But Ananta was happy to eat that up for me!!