Feeding by weight instead of appropriate sized meals. More in depth feeding schedule.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by SKYlord

I call bull on Aarons. You didn't back you statements up anymore than Jerry did. You both are using your personal experience from your personal collections. Stop being so arrogant.

LOL.

So funny.

Apparently the records I kept of their actual weights before eating, after eating and then after pooping aren't backing anything up? This isn't done with 2 or 3 animals. It was done a larger scale than that. Dozens.

Sure it's my own collection as I've stated but it's shown over a number of animals.

I didn't just look at my snakes and say "Hey. They are doing better this way."

I took into account noticed behaviours and feed responses too.

I never said it's the end all be all of feeding snakes but that with my personal numbers it's a good way to go about it for any keeper looking for more info than just simply "this is the way".

All I was trying to offer up there Tiger.

[ReticMan123]

There's no reason to argue. It's just a specific feeding regimen discussion. Yes she is a suriname. And ziggy if you have baby boas the 90g one should get a hope around 15 g maybe a small mouse a week. And what is it that's only 40g that would need like a fuzzy a week. Like I said. A 10 pounds snake would not eat at 3 pound rabbit every 2 weeks. That's 1/3 their weight. Once on rabbits it should be like 1/5 to 1/7 their weight every 2 weeks. Pretty much newborn to 1.5years 1/3 and 18 months til rabbits or at least around half grown 5" for females bcc. 4 for males. They should get 1/5. And adjust accordingly. All on a 2 week basis. And if you feed every month then adjust it. Adult snakes fully grown should get about 10% every 2 weeks. So of you have an adult 20 pound boa. A 4 pound rabbit a monh would be great. Or 2 pound every 2 weeks. Get it? Lol I know it seems complicated but I have a scale and it works for me. I have read a lot about snakes in captivity in general require about twice their body weight a year. Whic is about 10 percent every 2 weeks. Or a little less. So you adjust as they grow and get older. But any large snake one rabbits should be bumped to at most 20 percent every 2 weeks. So if your late snake starts rabbits at 10 pounds and its a boa and say 2 years old. Then 2 pounder every 2 weeks would be good. Then once it's about 7 to 8" you would bump to 1/7 every 2 weeks. Then around 9 ft bump to 10 percent. Again all talking about a female suriname. You would have to adjust it depending on the species of snake and broth rate sex and maximum size.

[ReticMan123]

Oh forgot to answer a question. I don't have a pic of her with a meal in her. But she's about 300 grams. I'm weighing her next week. Me she gets small rats every 2 weeks about 100 grams and for example I fed her Thursday the lump was gone sudsy and all the way Monday. So it's a decent lump but not HUGE or anything. She swallows with ease and fast

[red ink]

Feed 10-15% of the specimens body weight when hunger behaviour is displayed... let the snake tell you when it's hungry not feed when it's time for a feed is what I've always followed.

The schedule fluctuates with the seasons in the warm months that can be a s frequent as once a week and up two two months intervals in winter. It depends on their activity level and ambient temps.

*I only keep australian pythons though so I don't know if it makes a difference with Boas or other pythons.

[LadyWraith]

Originally Posted by red ink

Feed 10-15% of the specimens body weight when hunger behaviour is displayed... let the snake tell you when it's hungry

I switched to a method similar to this for my BP a few months back. After a few skipped meals, I got tired of wasting food and waited for hunting behavior before I tried again. I still stick to a general 10 day feeding schedule but don't feed unless there is active "hunting" behavior. And I've actually noticed a difference in his body composition since the change. He feels more solid/muscular and less flabby/lethargic, for lack of a better term. Just a personal assessment of my one snake and I may be waaay off, but the increased activity seems to be an improvement.

[SKYlord]

Lol. Just look up those definitions and you will see where the truth lies.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by SKYlord

Lol. Just look up those definitions and you will see where the truth lies.

Again, those are opinions. The truth lies not with you! =]

[Terranaut]

I knew this thread would go all to hell when I read the first post.
May I add some perspective?
I love the different feeding methods but everyone who gave their opinions keep different kinds of snakes. Aaron has royals, the op is talking bcc, Jerry has a variety and so on. Only one person mentioned they keep a specific kind and how their experience may be dependant on that. You are all arguing for nothing, even arguing about arguing.
Great we have a few different methods shown. Why can't we share why we don't like that idea or why we do? Does it always have to be like this? Let's discuss it and not argue about why your method is better based on your collection size or years of experience. If all you got is "my 2 kings do great this way" , then post it. If you have 500 snakes and have 5yrs of measured data before and after a change in technique, post that. There should be no shame is tell everyone why you do what you do. Any keeper worth a crap would love to hear other newer ideas. If you think that's a bad idea, don't do it that way. Telm us why your idea is better.

I have a varried collection of boas , carpets, balls , pits and kings. They all are fed based on when I think they are displaying "hunting". I can see it takes longer when larger prey items are used. This woks great for me. My snakes are very active and none are overweight. I also mix up prey size a little bit. Nothing extreme but up or down a size.

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

I knew this thread would go all to hell when I read the first post.
May I add some perspective?
I love the different feeding methods but everyone who gave their opinions keep different kinds of snakes. Aaron has royals, the op is talking bcc, Jerry has a variety and so on. Only one person mentioned they keep a specific kind and how their experience may be dependant on that. You are all arguing for nothing, even arguing about arguing.
Great we have a few different methods shown. Why can't we share why we don't like that idea or why we do? Does it always have to be like this? Let's discuss it and not argue about why your method is better based on your collection size or years of experience. If all you got is "my 2 kings do great this way" , then post it. If you have 500 snakes and have 5yrs of measured data before and after a change in technique, post that. There should be no shame is tell everyone why you do what you do. Any keeper worth a crap would love to hear other newer ideas. If you think that's a bad idea, don't do it that way. Telm us why your idea is better.

I have a varried collection of boas , carpets, balls , pits and kings. They all are fed based on when I think they are displaying "hunting". I can see it takes longer when larger prey items are used. This woks great for me. My snakes are very active and none are overweight. I also mix up prey size a little bit. Nothing extreme but up or down a size.

Nicely stated.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

I knew this thread would go all to hell when I read the first post.
May I add some perspective?
I love the different feeding methods but everyone who gave their opinions keep different kinds of snakes. Aaron has royals, the op is talking bcc, Jerry has a variety and so on. Only one person mentioned they keep a specific kind and how their experience may be dependant on that. You are all arguing for nothing, even arguing about arguing.
Great we have a few different methods shown. Why can't we share why we don't like that idea or why we do? Does it always have to be like this? Let's discuss it and not argue about why your method is better based on your collection size or years of experience. If all you got is "my 2 kings do great this way" , then post it. If you have 500 snakes and have 5yrs of measured data before and after a change in technique, post that. There should be no shame is tell everyone why you do what you do. Any keeper worth a crap would love to hear other newer ideas. If you think that's a bad idea, don't do it that way. Telm us why your idea is better.

I have a varried collection of boas , carpets, balls , pits and kings. They all are fed based on when I think they are displaying "hunting". I can see it takes longer when larger prey items are used. This woks great for me. My snakes are very active and none are overweight. I also mix up prey size a little bit. Nothing extreme but up or down a size.

Dan I like your post but I wanted to point out that this data was collected on ball pythons but it's been applied to multiple species with similar results. So that's why I am willing to recommend it in general to any boa or python keeper. Colubrids tend to have a higher metabolism so I don't really talk about those but I would say this regime could give a good foundation.

I don't know why I'm being called out. My first post simply said 'I dislike that line of thinking and here's why...'

Are we not allowed our own opinions anymore? I was trying to incite an actual discussion and I didn't see anything wrong with that.

SKY, hmm I guess having at least one other person substantiate my claims isn't proof, now is it?

Furthermore, as I've said multiple times, I've made my claims so those reading can have some follow up so they don't have to ask "why?" I never said it's the end all be all, I just believe it to be a healthier mindset and as Dan stated anyone can do as they wish if they don't like it.

[Terranaut]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Dan I like your post but I wanted to point out that this data was collected on ball pythons but it's been applied to multiple species with similar results. So that's why I am willing to recommend it in general to any boa or python keeper. Colubrids tend to have a higher metabolism so I don't really talk about those but I would say this regime could give a good foundation.

I don't know why I'm being called out. My first post simply said 'I dislike that line of thinking and here's why...'

Are we not allowed our own opinions anymore? I was trying to incite an actual discussion and I didn't see anything wrong with that.

SKY, hmm I guess having at least one other person substantiate my claims isn't proof, now is it?

Furthermore, as I've said multiple times, I've made my claims so those reading can have some follow up so they don't have to ask "why?" I never said it's the end all be all, I just believe it to be a healthier mindset and as Dan stated anyone can do as they wish if they don't like it.

I hope you don't feel I was calling you out. My comments were directed to all and not just any specific person. Every thread regarding experimentation with feeding seems to end with someone bashing someone else. I just hope we can start discussing it instead of arguing it. Some of us need to thicken their skin and others need to bring it down a notch. Somewhere in the middle is a perfect conversation.


One more thing to add. To those who have put the time into studying these methods....how much do you regulate the source of the prey items you use. Maybe quality of rat/rabbit/chick or whatever is more important than when and how much? Just a thought.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

I hope you don't feel I was calling you out. My comments were directed to all and not just any specific person. Every thread regarding experimentation with feeding seems to end with someone bashing someone else. I just hope we can start discussing it instead of arguing it. Some of us need to thicken their skin and others need to bring it down a notch. Somewhere in the middle is a perfect conversation.


One more thing to add. To those who have put the time into studying these methods....how much do you regulate the source of the prey items you use. Maybe quality of rat/rabbit/chick or whatever is more important than when and how much? Just a thought.

Sorry Dan I wasn't clear in my post. Just the first part about when you said I only keep royals was directed to you. You are correct but the feeding regime also works for other species was my point!

[EL Ziggy]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

I knew this thread would go all to hell when I read the first post.
May I add some perspective?
I love the different feeding methods but everyone who gave their opinions keep different kinds of snakes. Aaron has royals, the op is talking bcc, Jerry has a variety and so on. Only one person mentioned they keep a specific kind and how their experience may be dependant on that. You are all arguing for nothing, even arguing about arguing.
Great we have a few different methods shown. Why can't we share why we don't like that idea or why we do? Does it always have to be like this? Let's discuss it and not argue about why your method is better based on your collection size or years of experience. If all you got is "my 2 kings do great this way" , then post it. If you have 500 snakes and have 5yrs of measured data before and after a change in technique, post that. There should be no shame is tell everyone why you do what you do. Any keeper worth a crap would love to hear other newer ideas. If you think that's a bad idea, don't do it that way. Telm us why your idea is better.

I have a varried collection of boas , carpets, balls , pits and kings. They all are fed based on when I think they are displaying "hunting". I can see it takes longer when larger prey items are used. This woks great for me. My snakes are very active and none are overweight. I also mix up prey size a little bit. Nothing extreme but up or down a size.

^Thank you.

[smy_749]

The general idea behind this topic is the same as a few others, so I knew it would be a somewhat **** storm in here. Any time 'mimicking nature is best' vs 'We can do better than nature' comes up, people are butting heads.

Its great if you can get your beardie (or snake in this case) to live for 25 years, but it doesn't mean that one who lived half that was 'unhealthy' if they only live to be 10 or so in the wild. Humans aren't supposed to live to their 90's (generally) but pretty soon most people probably will be with advancements in treatment.

I skipped to the end here, and I don't know if anyone has done any real study on age / prey size correlation, but if there is a study like that, I'd be interested in reading it.

[SKYlord]

My point was and is that Aaron was being very arrogant when he said he posted proof and didn't even ask for Jerry's.