Update on Xena

[Tsubaki]

Once a week? That is very often imho. I fed my adults (5+ years) Once a month tops, some i fed even less really depended on the individual. I'll write out my 'feeding schedule' for you, might be easier to explain as my head is usually all over the place trying to explain something otherwise haha (not helping that i'm in the graveyard shifts and writing this stuff at 4am). Anyway, my motive about feeding bigger and less often... Constantly being digesting, constantly having 'reset' their stomach contents, constantly active bowels.. Also having to thermo-regulate specifically for that purpose, so not getting much opportunity to thermo-regulate for other purposes as their intestines are usually at work... It just doesn't seem healthy to me. I look at what the giants in the wild do, they gorge, thermo-regulate/digest, and then take a while before they feed again (unless there is easy prey available, they're still opportunists ofc) I know everyone has their own way, their own schedule.. I'm sure there are other perfectly fine methods out there. I'll just stick to the one i've tested for a long time, and got to experience it working.

This is the baseline i use for Retics (Not advised to use for other species). Every feeding is based on prey size 1,5 thicker than width of snake. I do not offer food in shed, i start looking at gender at about a year old, as i tend to slow down feeding males a little sooner if they're growing well.
0-6 months: 1 meal every 5-7 days. (Depending on growth)
6-12 months: 1 meal every 7-8 days. (Depending on growth)
12-24 months: 1 meal every 10 - 14 days (Depending on growth, gender)
24-36 months: 1 meal every 14 - 21 days. (Depending on growth, gender, body tone)
36-48 months: At least 21 days in between (Depending on growth, gender, body tone)
At 48- Adulthood. Very slowly start to slow down their feedings, some were fed once a month (tops), had one male that only got food once every 3 months and that worked great for him. If they started acting hungry, i would check if it had been at least a month. if it had they would get food, if not they had to wait.

No fat snakes, no lazy snakes, lean muscular bodies. Just the way i like them. The months really are a guideline, absolutely not in set in stone for me. for example: i put Xena on the 1 meal every 14/21 days even though she is past 3 years old, as she was fed so little by the breeder. When she catches up a bit i'll slow her down to where i think she should be. Zuko is on +/- 14 days in between currently, growing like a maniac so that's fine.