wasting rodents !!

wyz · 12-01-03, 01:48 PM

Ok, we're getting really tired of wasting rodents.. So we have a question for ya !

We've been in the hobby for allmost 2 years and we buy most of our snakes as babies. Feeding them on a weekly basis was never a problem and they usualy all eat pretty well (exept when in shed, wich is normal). Since we are fairly new to the hobby and that we buy young snakes, we aren't really use to dealing with older snakes, but now our collection is getting a bit older and we our questionning feeding scedule.

I would say that in the past 5 feeding we have been wasting alot of mouse and rats, some great feeders and becoming not so good feeders. They seem really healthy, they just don't look that hungry anymore.

At what age should (boas, pythons, colubrid) be fed less often ?

We know that it's different for every specie, but we thought that a 12 to 18 months snake still growing would still need to be fed every 7 days. Should some be extended to 10 and 14 days ?

What do you guys think ?

WYZ

Lisa · 12-01-03, 02:36 PM

what we've started doing is feeding in shifts, if one snake doesn't strike when offered we offer them to a different snake.

Tim_Cranwill · 12-01-03, 02:43 PM

I have at least two days a week when I feed. That way there is usually someone else who didn't JUST eat that could take the leftovers. I rarely need to throw anything away... unless one of my bigger snakes doesn't eat.

To answer your other question, I feed my young snakes every 5 days or so until they are 12-18 months. After that I slow them to 7-10 day schedules.

Katt · 12-01-03, 04:14 PM

In time you'll get to know your snakes individually in terms of eating habits, you'll find some will only eat every two weeks and others every time, and then some will eat like crazee, and then stop for months, and start again. I woudn't fret too much.

The DOC · 12-07-03, 08:50 AM

Going though the same problem, 2 of our snakes will only take live hopper mice, (The Hognose, and Banana Cali had always taken F/T before). The 3 year old Pueblan will only eat small pinkie rats and a small mouse, and now... our Taiwan is refusing large rats, guess we'll have to "downsize" him this winter.....
We offered smaller F/T prey to the Hog and the Cali for 2 months, and would not eat, before we had to resort to the live food. Best of luck!

chas*e · 12-07-03, 09:39 AM

I rotate the feeders(if I have to)...as you get to know your snakes "feeding personality", you will find that some eat like clockwork and some feed as they feel, ...when a snake doesn't take or strike right away at an offered food item, I move the Rat/rabbit to another snake's enclosure. The thing that is important is that you never leave the food item in the enclosure because the health problems that can arise from this, could be devastating for your collection. eg..if one snake has an infection of some sort it can be passed from one snake to another and another...if you must "rotate" a food item make sure you put the rat/mouse in boiling water" immediately" after exposing it to the one snake before you offer it to another; even if it was exposed to the first for 1 second. Another thing, before feeding, unthaw LESS than you need, that way there are no leftovers...remember it is unwise to re-freeze a food item (just as you wouldn't refreeze your chicken or hamburger)..... good luck and I am sure this problem will be ironed out with a little modification

justinO · 12-07-03, 01:45 PM

another good idea is to pick up a monitor lizard :P.. those things are garbage disposal units! they always eat whatever our snakes refuse.

just my $.01

Katt · 12-07-03, 07:35 PM

I don't understand why it's "unwise" to refreeze meat. I have asked around, and no one can really say, aside that the meat's tenderness and possibly taste is changed.

Oliverian · 12-07-03, 07:44 PM

I've always wondered about that too. I think it's because the bacteria can start to grow once thawed, and once you freeze it and thaw it again, it grows very fast and could possibly poison the snake (or person). Not sure, though.
-TammyR

eyespy · 12-07-03, 07:52 PM

Once thawed, bacteria starts to grow. Freezing may kill some of the bacteria, but even dead bacteria contains toxins that can cause food poisoning. Some types of bacteria are actually preserved by freezing and so thawing that food out just activates it.

Oliverian · 12-07-03, 08:05 PM

Ah.. thats what I thought.
-TammyR

12-07-03, 08:27 PM

keeping growth charts helps. You can monitor you animals growth rates, when mine seem to be dropping below a 50% annual gain they move from 7 to 10 day schedules, below about 30% they get moved to a 14 day schedule or prey size is dropped and they are kept on 10 day schedules. My big breeder male corn(700grams) gets 1 little adult mouse every 10 days(except for right after the breeding season fast) and still gains 20-50grams a year.

LadyHawke · 12-07-03, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by justinO
another good idea is to pick up a monitor lizard :P.. those things are garbage disposal units! they always eat whatever our snakes refuse.

just my $.01

thats exactly what i do!! except i've always had monitors around, so what ever the snakes dont eat i feed to them

wyz · 12-08-03, 09:48 AM

thaks guys !

great comments and ideas

but this one wins the palm

Quote:

Originally posted by justinO
another good idea is to pick up a monitor lizard :P.. those things are garbage disposal units! they always eat whatever our snakes refuse.
just my $.01

but... can I switch monitor to TEGU... I just love those guys

WYZ

UpscaleBoas · 12-08-03, 10:06 AM

i just through the mice/rats/rabbits away...I work really hard at keeping my snakes not only clean but seperated from one another...i personally don't care about the couple bucks that get wasted......but i'm wondering how long do you guys give to let your snake take the food....I place a dead mouse/rat/rabbit in the cage and by moring its almost always gone....are most people just giving them like 1/2 hour to eat/