prey 1/3 rule?

BryanB · 01-01-13, 07:28 PM

I was told that a good way to judge size of prey is 1/3 the weight of the snake.
Is their any truth to this because this would help me a lot. Feeding today i gave Inka (784 grams) a med rat (323 grams) and Maya (127 grams) 2 mice (17 and 23 grams) dose this seam to make sense. I only gave Maya 2 mice because they where the last 2 I had and the rats I have are about 57 grams. I really worry if i am over or under feeding so any help would be great.

rmfsnakes32 · 01-01-13, 08:22 PM

Are they growing and shedding regularly

StudentoReptile · 01-01-13, 08:38 PM

I would think there would be a lot of error using that formula. What if you just acquired an underweight or obese specimen? And of course, different species have different metabolisms. For example, a healthy African rock python can down something half its body weight. Their physiology allows for larger meals. But take green tree pythons; feed them too much, and they'll regurg for sure.

shaunyboy · 01-01-13, 08:46 PM

what species of snake mate ?

different species can handle different prey size.....

for instance a Carpet Python,can take,2,3,4, times larger than their girth in prey

i judge the size of my prey by eye,how large a bulge it leaves and how long it takes to digest the bulge/prey

cheers shaun

BryanB · 01-01-13, 09:02 PM

Maya and Inka are both BCL

Jay · 01-01-13, 10:23 PM

Don't over think feeding a snake. Just feed it a prey item no thicker than the girth of the said snake.

Lankyrob · 01-02-13, 05:28 AM

I only have pythons and corns, the corns get prey about twice their girth, my BP gets prey about one and a half, GTP 2-3 times girth and my SD retic and carpet get prey 3-4times girth.

mykee · 01-02-13, 04:02 PM

I feed all of my snakes meals no more than 10% of their overall weight. There's no rush to get them up to size, and damage can be done.

MoreliAddict · 01-02-13, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

I feed all of my snakes meals no more than 10% of their overall weight. There's no rush to get them up to size, and damage can be done.

You feed them on a weekly basis for their entire life too, correct?

mykee · 01-02-13, 06:48 PM

Baby to 6 months get fed every five days, six months to yearling-ish get fed on a weekly schedule, and adults get fed every 10 days.