Multiple small prey items v's one large item

[Chris72]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

Chris 72, often if I have to feed my snakes an extra mouse (because.someone didn't eat or i thawed too many etc) they are already in feed mode and do not do any of the constricting "killing" behavior.

I wonder if it has something.to.do with the prey itseld, I.e. a larger animal is more likely to be at a better plane of nutrition with less fat et, so you.want to.feed an animal that is lean and muscular (say a med rat vs several rat pups or.several adult mice) but you don't want to.go too big (I.e. jumbo rats) because those animals tend to be too fat?

Yeah, having a few "always ready garbage disposal" animals is a luxury. Nothing wrong with doing that from time to time....but I don't think I would put 2 medium rats into a 900g - 1000g snake even though I know I have some who would line up for that.

From one week to the next you want your animal to not become to content (ball pythons anyway) so you don't see them go into fast.

I have girls that could easily put away a large rat at a longer interval but keep them on mediums 1xwk. They are wonderfully healthy and most of them eat like they think a shortage is on the way.

On the multiple items Vs one of proper size (lean v fat).....
You might be right but I hadn't ever considered feeding multiples as a matter of practice. The addition cost per gram of rodent plus the addition effort is enough of a deterrent to not do that. (Unless trying to get someone eating again.

[LiL Zap]

I used to feed my corn snake 1 medium rat every 2 weeks for a while (not sure how long, didn't keep track) but I recently switched to 2 adult mice every 2 weeks. I don't know why but she's definitely getting larger in size (both length and width.) I guess it's different for every animal?

[CosmicOwl]

What do you guys think about feeding two smaller prey items of the same combined weight of a larger prey item? Let's say you have a snake that is long and slender, and probably can't readily accept a prey item of say 10 grams. However, it will readily eat two prey items of 5 grams. As long as it's on the same times scale, do you think there are any drawbacks?

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

What do you guys think about feeding two smaller prey items of the same combined weight of a larger prey item? Let's say you have a snake that is long and slender, and probably can't readily accept a prey item of say 10 grams. However, it will readily eat two prey items of 5 grams. As long as it's on the same times scale, do you think there are any drawbacks?

Woman pythons are a very slender snake. I feed them multiple prey items because they have a higher metabolism and their heads and necks dont seem to stretch like a boa or royal.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Woman pythons are a very slender snake. I feed them multiple prey items because they have a higher metabolism and their heads and necks dont seem to stretch like a boa or royal.

^^^^^
i don't have these issues mate

re Carpets
very stretchy they be

it never ceases to amaze me the size of prey a Carpet can put away

cheers shaun

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

^^^^^
i don't have these issues mate

re Carpets
very stretchy they be

it never ceases to amaze me the size of prey a Carpet can put away

cheers shaun

I think they could take bigger prey but all of the breeders I spoke to said multiple small prey was better.

[Terranaut]

I have also spoken to a couple carpet breeders who have said the same but have noticed the opposite with my own collection. The big meal always makes them have a big crap and in yearnings has made a noticeable growth spurt. A $8 2.5-3lb rabbit will keeo my female jungle happy for a month. My adult male eats 5-7 times a year. So to me larger prey is more cost effective as well.

[Starbuck]

Wow terra, what size is your adult male eating, that he only eats every month or so?
I noticed my yearling carpet start 'looking' about 10 days after the small rat feeding, but just 5-6 days after the double rat-fuzzy feeding. The two rat fuzzes weighed ~30 grams each, and the small rat weighed ~2 grams.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

Wow terra, what size is your adult male eating, that he only eats every month or so?
I noticed my yearling carpet start 'looking' about 10 days after the small rat feeding, but just 5-6 days after the double rat-fuzzy feeding. The two rat fuzzes weighed ~30 grams each, and the small rat weighed ~2 grams.

i feed my adults every 2 to 4 weeks,in the winter they get only 2 to 4 feeds

my diamonds only get fed 6 month of the year

all my carpets are the size they should be as adults

imo its best to keep carpets lean and muscular

i feel most people over feed captive snakes (not aimed at anyone)


cheers shaun

[Terranaut]

One jumbo once a month from about May to September give or take a few weeks in either end. He takes most of the winter off feed but never looses any weight. This is a spring shot.

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

Wow terra, what size is your adult male eating, that he only eats every month or so?
I noticed my yearling carpet start 'looking' about 10 days after the small rat feeding, but just 5-6 days after the double rat-fuzzy feeding. The two rat fuzzes weighed ~30 grams each, and the small rat weighed ~2 grams.

My female boa eats only every 5-6 weeks.

[Chris72]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

I think they could take bigger prey but all of the breeders I spoke to said multiple small prey was better.

Also...

Cleaning multiple med size poops is easier than cleaning horse size cr@p

A while back my rodent supplier had 4 mammoth rats mixed in with my mediums (has even apologized) so I fed them to my biggest girls.

It was like a T-rex stopped by for a bathroom break.