paranoia

[paulsreef]

My new baby ball had her 3rd meal yesterday. She usually spends her time digesting in her hide for at least 5 days. After feeding her yesderday she is already out of her hide and perching on top of it.She usually hides out, but not today; is she still hungry? Or am I suffering from paranoid dillusions?
Thanks, Paul.

[Tim_Cranwill]

She's much better at being a snake than you are. Let her do her thing. ;) :)

[nita]

What size of meal are you feeding her, how often, how big is she. I have some that will eat every 3 days (hatchlings under a year old) and others that will eat every 7 days but I try to feed a maximum sized meal too. My rat eaters eat the largest size rats they can get down. Most of my hatchlings are eating 1 mouse every 3 - 7 days but could easily eat more if they were so inclined, if she will take a second mouse I would give it! You can't overfeed a baby.

[TheMan]

My male is closing in on a year old now so I increased his feeding days from 5 to 7 days in-between feedings and now it's seems like he doesn't "rest" after meals anymore. He's eating medium rats now and he cruises his cage every night even with a big bulge in his stomach. But my female is about 7 months and eats a small rat every 4 - 5 days and still sits there waiting on seconds but I don't offer it because the small rats leave a nice lump in her. If you really can't notice a "lump" in your BP after feeding I would increase her prey size or offer a second item. If she's still hungry she'll take the second offering.

[paulsreef]

Thanks everyone; she's a hatchling, in total she has had 5 meals. All meals were hopper mice. I think I could increase the prey size, but I was aclimatizing her to her new home and thought that a large meal may stress it out.
Thanks, Paul.

[TheMan]

If she's feeding then most likely she isn't stressed. I don't think the size of the prey would cause her to get stressed, but I'm quite sure the more experienced herpers here will correct me if I'm wrong. Good luck with her.

Sam

[mykee]

Try another food item, this time a rat and forever from here on out. No moe mice. The longer you wait to trade her over, the more hair you'll lose...

[RepTylE]

Maybe she is just settled down a little and likes to be out where she can look around now and then. If she is eating regularly then don't worry. You don't have to stuff her like a sausage skin to get her to grow.