some of the rainbow boas

[NBLADE]

a few of the rainbows

columbians

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/34106_133224693377550_8050959_n.jpg

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/379505_305031712863513_1284641219_n.jpg

brazillians

http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/526840_537849176248431_1170692065_n.jpg

http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/537832_537848862915129_1050563332_n.jpg

http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/65572_537848906248458_1553123831_n.jpg

and a large meal

http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/529502_537848996248449_724748743_n.jpg


http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/395687_537848999581782_1396893427_n.jpg

http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/555794_537849092915106_1296506098_n.jpg

[-MARWOLAETH-]

:Wow:Tidy! I'd love to have some of those species some day.

[Snakesitter]

NBlade, thanks for the post -- your rainbows look great!

However, I'd be a bit more conservative with meal size. The general rule of thumb for snakes is "no bigger than the snake at its thickest point," and the meal above looks larger than that -- especially judging by the lump afterwards. In addition, rainbows are especially prone to obsesity in captivity...so less is often more.

Again, great pictures!

[NBLADE]

NBlade, thanks for the post -- your rainbows look great!

However, I'd be a bit more conservative with meal size. The general rule of thumb for snakes is "no bigger than the snake at its thickest point," and the meal above looks larger than that -- especially judging by the lump afterwards. In addition, rainbows are especially prone to obsesity in captivity...so less is often more.

Again, great pictures!


Thank you, but I don't tend to go by that rule, i tend to feed larger food to all my species, however they all stay in great shape and aren't over weight and never develop fatty deposits or hips, because i feed larger food less often. The only species i am conservative with food on is etbs and bcc's, everything else, gets fed 1.5 times to 2 times the size of its body and gets fed less frequently, if you think that is big you should see the size i give to my retics, i will put up pictures in that section later.

i achieve healthy growth rates and in proportioned snakes with my feeding methods and raise hundreds of snakes on this diet. I do agree that if i was feeding that sized meal every 5 to 6 days, this snake would be at risk of fatty liver disease and obesity, but a meal like this every 10 to 14 days and they grow at a great rate, and stay healthy.

[Lankyrob]

NBlade, thanks for the post -- your rainbows look great!

However, I'd be a bit more conservative with meal size. The general rule of thumb for snakes is "no bigger than the snake at its thickest point," and the meal above looks larger than that -- especially judging by the lump afterwards. In addition, rainbows are especially prone to obsesity in captivity...so less is often more.

Again, great pictures!

That isnt true, none of my pythons apart from the royal fit that rule at all, nor my colubrids for that matter. For some species it may be recommended but not as a general rule for all snakes.

[Rainbowsrus]

While I would agree that looks like it left a pretty good size lump, judging by the pre-eat pic that snake is not overfed. Feeding really comes down to three factors....

The first two are obvious, size and frequency. Larger infrequent meals or smaller frequent ones. In the wild snakes will eat whatever they find (small or large) and then hole up somewhere to digest and not come out until hungry again. Obviously sooner with a small meal and longer with a larger one.

The third factor is the capability of the individual snake to digest a larger meal.

[Snakesitter]

I've seen the rule used as 1.0x and 1.5x, though there are of course exceptions -- as with any rule. Rainbows just do better fed conservatively. My apologies for not being clearer.

[Snakesitter]

It sounds like you are well aware of feeding risks then, Nblade, for which I salute you.

At any rate, my point was just a gentle caution: when young, rainbows can generally channel anything you give them into growth. That changes as they age. I feed my adult rainbows a single medium rat (about as big around as they are) every third week, and they do fine on that schedule....

Best of luck to you with a very pretty snake.

Dave: There are other factors at play as well, the biggest being exercise (size of cage and handling time, and breeding when in season) -- in other words, the chance to burn those calories off. The first two you listed are clearly the main ones, though.