Time to offer bigger meals?

[Spirit_Scale]

I think it's time to step up my boys prey sizes as now everyone has settled in/begun feeding so I feel comfortable changing things.

Both (male BP and male BCI hoggxcolumbian cross) are currently eating medium f/t rats once a week. The BCI came to me eating f/t mediums on what frequency I don't know...and I've noticed that with weekly feedings he's shed twice in a month since he's been here. I wonder if he's not going to grow a good bit despite being an older snake.

The BP is about 4-4.5 feet long and weighs 1415 grams---he's just recently gotten into feeding well after we had a feeding issue and has bulked back up. He's at his widest point about 2-2.5 inches thick and tall. He'll be three years old in January.

The BCI looks like he needs to put on some weight (rescue and recovering from an abscess, mites and what looks like worms---getting these treated) is about 5-5.5 feet long and weighs about 2200 grams. He's not as thick as the BP however. I don't have an exact hatchdate but was told he was an '02

Using the 10-15% bodyweight of the snake = prey weight rule the BCI needs to be stepped up for sure, the BP depends on if I want to go by 10 or by 15.
Using the 'leave a slight bulge' after feeding rule they look like they're on the cusp of needing to be stepped up, as it's a small lump but am worried the size jump would leave too big a lump.

I was thinking of stepping the BP up to a large rat and the BCI either a large or extra large.
I know some people feed smaller/less frequently...but while I don't powerfeed or want to overfeed I believe in weekly, good-sized meals and allowing the animal to grow as big as it is supposed to be given optimum environment.

Thoughts?

[franks]

I concur. I think many people stop offering "ideal" sized prey once their snake outgrows whatever is convenient. Go ahead and step up the prey size if you want. The most important thin to the healthy eating habits of your snake are appropriate temperatures provided at all times.

[Spirit_Scale]

That's my feeling too. Everyone is eating/drinking/going to the bathroom and shedding well (the BCI is a little tricky because poor little guy has got some stitches in as well as some old burn/bite scars).

Silly question, but does anyone think the BCI's going to have a bit of a growth spurt despite his age?

My BP was acquired at about 2.5 feet long and 1.5 years old and was *just* being transferred onto weaned rats. Ugh. He ate small/mediums as soon as I got him home and low and behold put on a foot in the first few months. But he was/is still a young snake who hadn't reached the end of his growth period whereas the BCI (in theory) is an adult.

Has anyone ever acquired an older snake who, fed properly, went through a big growth spurt?

[franks]

Absolutely. I have a ball python that was a pain to get feeding. She would pnly touch live when she felt like it. A little over a year of this and she was only at 200 grams. One day something clicked and she just started hammering small rats. Shes doubling in size every month it seems. A snake that is not properly supported can very easily put on size quickly once it starts getting the food and enviornment it requires.

[Spirit_Scale]

Well that's hopeful at least, he's well past those first few years where most snakes grow, but minus when he's in blue he's never a missed a meal.
I don't think, even with the mites/medical issues that it's normal for a big ol' mature adult like him to be basically going into shed, shedding, being clean for about a week and then starting it all over again without some massive growth coming up. So who knows.
I'll bump them both up to large for the coming month (I buy a month's worth as my freezer is small) and see how the BCI takes to it--if he does well and adjusts I'll bump him up to the XL rats.