Food Size versus Rate of Growth in colubrids

[jwsporty]

Now this topic has been brought up before, but I thought I would throw this out into the ring for discussion.

Here's some background..many feel that feeding big is the way to go. Others feel that feeding the "appropriate food size" is the way to go.

Here is what I have discovered over the past 6 months. bearing in mind that the growth rate of every snake is different and other factors may play on the growth development of the animal. (genetics, heating, etc)

The informal experiment:

Two california kingsnakes, same starting size and weight

One california kingsnake was fed one adult mouse once every 7 days, the other was fed 2-3 mouse hoppers every 6 days. Both are approximately the same age, on the same heating regime, 85 degrees, both are in the same type of housing. Both receive regular weekly handlings. So after everything is said and done, the one that was fed "big" is actually growing slower then the one fed smaller items.

Other observations:

Hypo-Brooksi Florida King, female, has put on 130 grams in body weight since measured last december. The funny thing is she will only eat mouse hoppers, larger food items simply scare her and no more then two at a sitting. She defecates regularly, and eats regularly never missing a meal except when she is in shed, which is standard every 4 weeks.

Now I am not saying there is a be all "right" way or an absolute wrong way to feed as long as the animal is getting its nutrition. And this thread is not about the mice vs. rats nutritional issue. All animals talked about so far were fed mice only. Almost all of my adult kings are easily eating rats.

Now its known that if you want your boid to grow fast...feed em big and feed em rats. But is it necessary for animals like ratsnakes, kingsnakes, milksnakes, corn snakes? Personally, I don't think so.

Lately, I have been mixing up the feed frequencies and feed volumes on some of the collection (not the breeders) to see if there is any marked difference in growth. Taking into consideration the fact that in the wild, the snake is not necessarily gonna get what it wants when it wants and that it is not gonna eat precisely every 7 days.

This study was not to determine is you can feed less and get more. I would never put an animal at risk by starving them. It is about the more efficent use of food in the animals.

Let's hear from the old timers and the newbies alike.

And to all newbies.....welcome to the site, live, learn and enjoy!!!

Cheers
Jim