how much food

[Smilts]

I have a two foot gopher snake ! and !/4" round sofar i feed him one adult mouse every 7 days eats fast as long as I put it in his hide box just wonderng how to tell if he needs more or how to tell

[Zoe]

Well, your frequency of feeding is fine. Every 5 to 7 days for the first year, then every 7-10, then every 10-14 for the 3rd year+ seems to work fine. The size of the prey item should be a little bigger around than the fattest part of your snake... but if you feed a little bigger or a little smaller sometimes its fine too. Switch to rats when he gets so big that he's eating 2+ mice per meal.

The food item(s) should make a nice lump in his stomach. Not hugely wider than the snake itself, but definitely discernable.

Zoe

[Smilts]

how should i tell when he needs mre than one still acts knda hungery after one i think

[Zoe]

Does the mouse make a nice lump in his stomach? If you can see the outline of the mouse then he doesnt need anymore. But you could give him 2 sometimes, it wont hurt him.
Just be sure not too feed him too frequently, like once every few days. He needs to digest his meal before eating another one.

Zoe

[Smilts]

it makes a nice lump. I was told by the local pet shop to feed him after he goes. If so then I need to feed him more often three days after eating, He goes. But ive been feeding him every seven

[Zoe]

don't do what petstores say. like I said, if you feed one food item thats a bit wider than the widest part of the snake and it makes a nice lump in his body thats enough for him.
He's defacting 3 days after eating?? What do his poops look like? Runny? Have you had a fecal check done?

yes, feed every 7 days. every3 days is much too often.

[Smilts]

there one clump but kinda wet, he's seeing the vet monday

[spyderman]

I have a Bull Snake which is 5ft. & 4" in girth. When I got him, a few weeks ago, he was only given 1 small mouse a week, I have got him onto 1 small rat up until last night, I put 2 small rats in his Viv, which he took with no problems at all. I was told that he will only eat what he wants or needs. He seems to still be looking for more. I think I got a new breed...Pig Snake. Is it Ok. to keep feeding him 2 small rats a week, or am I over feeding him?

[Smilts]

I dont Know for shure I have a bull snake i got a few days ago four foot. Just wach and see how big the lump in his belly is. If it looks like he just ate a cat, then maybe try less.

[Invictus]

I feed my 3.5 foot boa a large rat pup every week and a half. It leaves a huge lump in his belly, and he's happy as can be. I also just gave my 5 foot corn snake 2 large adult mice, which he took without hesitation. (So did my 6 foot corn, but that's no surprise) Each snake is different. If he eats it, and digests it in about the same amount of time, I'd say it's a happy snake.

[Smilts]

how long does it take your snakes to digest