Does feeding when young effect maximum size?

[CosmicOwl]

If you were to compare feeding for maintenance versus feeding larger or more frequent meals, do you think there is a difference in the eventual adult size of the snake? On the one hand, it seems like there should be. On the other hand, snakes in the wild are probably not eating near as much as they would in captivity, yet still usually manage to be the largest examples of a species. What do you think?

[KORBIN5895]

I think that regular feeding in the first 6-9 months affects the time it takes a snake to reach adult size but I don't feel that it will cause them to be a larger adult nor do I feel a lack of food in the first 6-9 will cause them to be a smaller adult.

[Jim Smith]

I'm not so sure about this. If you think about it, virtually every baby animal (including people) requires frequent smaller feedings to maintain optimum growth. As we get older, we take less frequent, larger meals. I believe that you should feed baby snakes more frequently smaller meals, perhaps every 4-5 days or so where you would feed an adult every 7-10 days. I also believe that you can stunt the growth of any animal if it is not properly fed when you and growing fast. Just one man's opinion.

[exwizard]

This is interesting to consider. Medusa obviously did not get fed enough the first year of her life before I brought her home. At 11 months old, this Burm was 36" long. Now at 2 years and 4 months old, she is over 9' so I don't think she was stunted but I think this is because she was young enough to have this situation rectified. If she was older, then I could see the possibility of permanent stunting taking place.

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by Jim Smith

I'm not so sure about this. If you think about it, virtually every baby animal (including people) requires frequent smaller feedings to maintain optimum growth. As we get older, we take less frequent, larger meals. I believe that you should feed baby snakes more frequently smaller meals, perhaps every 4-5 days or so where you would feed an adult every 7-10 days. I also believe that you can stunt the growth of any animal if it is not properly fed when you and growing fast. Just one man's opinion.

But in the wild snakes don't eat on a consistent basis. Especially babies that need a particular size.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by Jim Smith

I'm not so sure about this. If you think about it, virtually every baby animal (including people) requires frequent smaller feedings to maintain optimum growth. As we get older, we take less frequent, larger meals. I believe that you should feed baby snakes more frequently smaller meals, perhaps every 4-5 days or so where you would feed an adult every 7-10 days. I also believe that you can stunt the growth of any animal if it is not properly fed when you and growing fast. Just one man's opinion.

I think underfeeding a snake will probably stunt it's growth, but that isn't want I'm talking about. Let's say you have two corn snakes of exactly the same size. Snake A gets fed a small pinky every 5 days, while snake B gets fed a large pinkie every 5 days. It you continued this experiment through to adulthood while feeding successively larger prey items(i.e. snake A gets a small hopper every 5 days while snake B gets a large hopper every 5 days.) will you see a difference in the eventual maximum size of the snakes?

On a slightly different note, a lot of snakes like corn snakes start out eating frogs and lizards, which have more developed bones. By comparison, pinkies are basically blood gummy bears. I wonder if there is any merit in feeding young CB snakes calcium supplements to make up for this.

[BryanB]

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

On a slightly different note, a lot of snakes like corn snakes start out eating frogs and lizards, which have more developed bones. By comparison, pinkies are basically blood gummy bears. I wonder if there is any merit in feeding young CB snakes calcium supplements to make up for this.

I am debating an experiment this coming season if my corns breed and I get a couple I want to hang onto.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by BryanB

I am debating an experiment this coming season if my corns breed and I get a couple I want to hang onto.

I think the snakes fed larger meals will probably grow faster and attain their near max size sooner. However, I have a feeling that when they reach about 90-95% of their maximum adult size, you'll see their metabolism and growth slow.

[shaunyboy]

i feed hatchlings every 7 days.....

sub adults every 14 to 21 days...

adults every 14 to 28 days,i only give them 3 or 4 feeds per winter season,i feed large prey less often once they're adults

my Diamonds only get fed 6 month of the year

if i see a snake starting to get fat,i cut back the feeds,i keep my Carpets lean and muscular

imo most people tend to over feed in captivity

cheers shaun

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

i feed hatchlings every 7 days.....

sub adults every 14 to 21 days...

adults every 14 to 28 days,i only give them 3 or 4 feeds per winter season,i feed large prey less often once they're adults

my Diamonds only get fed 6 month of the year

if i see a snake starting to get fat,i cut back the feeds,i keep my Carpets lean and muscular

imo most people tend to over feed in captivity

cheers shaun

What do you consider a sub adult?

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

What do you consider a sub adult?

around 3 to 4 years of age mate

cheers shaun

[MizCandice]

Id be inclined to think the animal with larger prey would grow more rapidly, though as long as the second snake was receiving adequate nutrition they would probably balance out at adulthood..( 3 years old or so) though you may notice the one fed larger rats may be girthier as a result of the additional food. If you guys do engage in the experiment Id love to see regular updates