Size feeding question - Page 2

reptimama · 03-16-13, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

I bet you also believe a regurge can be caused by a meal too large.

My BP regurged when I fed him a jumbo rat. No other ill effects though and I went back down to the large.

As for the OP pic to me that size looks fine for him.

KORBIN5895 · 03-16-13, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reptimama

My BP regurged when I fed him a jumbo rat. No other ill effects though and I went back down to the large.

As for the OP pic to me that size looks fine for him.

I would dare say it had to do with the temps being too low for it to properly digest that size prey and not really the prey size.

I have snakes that normally eat a 175g rat that I have fed a 300g-400g rat and just bumped the temp 2°f.

snakeriver · 03-24-13, 10:52 AM

Well, you have a beautiful snake! Feed him two pinkies. I have a king snake, and he is as thin as a pencil we feed him two pinkies. He isn't nearly large enough to eat fuzzy.

Terranaut · 03-16-13, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valid

Added a pic. I had to buy a fuzzy for my milk any way- figured I'd see the size comp.
Think it's still ok?

I think thats perfect. I think larger prey is good for your snake but I also mix it up a bit. Sometimes I feed my female jcp 2 large rats or one jumbo or a small rabbit.
I also agree that a snake will not attempt prey that is too large but only if it is properly fed. A starving snake will attempt anything close and can hurt itself accidently by going a bit to big. Honnestly I think even in the wild this is very rare. The shot of the ripped open snake.... if you look at the rest of the bulge of the snake that gator was ok in size for that snake. A sudden awakening inside the snake or a last acting nerve caused the snakes death...not overeating.

Starbuck · 03-15-13, 10:00 PM

Do i think he COULD eat it? yes.
Do i think he SHOULD...? no :/
it does look a little big, though maybe the angle of the picture is misleading? I would feed 2-3 pinkies instead. The shop i get my F/T feeders from will often pick through their stock for me to get 'large pinkies' or 'small fuzzies', maybe yours would too?

KORBIN5895 · 03-15-13, 10:29 PM

Yeah. I would do it. A snake won't eat anything too big for it.

valid · 03-15-13, 10:46 PM

I have about a month month of pinkys left which I will finish out. (not including shed time) I think he may be ready for them after that. Holding it next to his body it is not as big as I first thought. It's still large don't get me wrong/but not HUGE in comparison. Most of that is fur.

I my may have to find some one who sells sizes as well. Right now I am buying them at petsmart, but that is only because it is a mile away - I'd love to find another source. I swear they have jumped in price 20cents every time I have bought them ..

Starbuck · 03-16-13, 07:27 AM

eek, petsmart!! lol i buy dozens of mice at a time; i would need to take out a loan shopping there!! hahahahahaha

Good luck with him!

**Aaron_S** · 03-16-13, 10:48 AM

That's what I would consider a hopper mouse. It's the next size up from fuzzy it seems. I feed my rough scale sand boas, similar size to yours a small hopper or a couple of fuzzies.

Bigger meals, like the one you have is still fine. You'll probably see a shed cycle in a feeding or two of those as the larger meals will kick a growth spurt. That's purely from my experience and nothing but a lot of snake years to back it up.

stephanbakir · 03-16-13, 11:10 AM

The list goes on.

KORBIN5895 · 03-16-13, 11:18 AM

Lol! I knew it! ( that you would use that picture)

You're disillusioned. Most people think that's from the claws tearing through (hence where the rip is) not because it's too big. Do some research and try again.

stephanbakir · 03-16-13, 11:26 AM

"most people think"? who are these people...
Its well understood that when an animal eats a prey item that is simply too large, the item starts to go bad inside their systems (before their body can break it down). Generally its fine because in the wild some species have been known to feed on carrion, but it can hurt the animal.

Also, with a prey item that is too large, once swallowed the snake is pretty fragile, working with it, or even it trying to move around could hurt it pretty bad. Is there a risk? Yes, Is it worth it to put your animal at risk? not to me. I feed some pretty large food items... my 2 year old retic just ate a 10lb rabbit... but I dont push them hard enough to put them at risk. She is fine with that in her belly.

KORBIN5895 · 03-16-13, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

"most people think"? who are these people...
Its well understood that when an animal eats a prey item that is simply too large, the item starts to go bad inside their systems. Generally its fine because in the wild some species have been known to feed on carrion, but it can hurt the animal.

Also, with a prey item that is too large, once swallowed the snake is pretty fragile, working with it, or even it trying to move around could hurt it pretty bad. Is there a risk? Yes, Is it worth it to put your animal at risk? not to me. I feed some pretty large food items... my 2 year old retic just ate a 10lb rabbit... but I dont push them hard enough to put them at risk. She is fine with that in her belly.

Like I said do your research and you will learn a bit more of what people think about that pic. If it was too large of a meal it would've burst further back not at the thinnest part of the gator. It would've probably burst out of the side too.

As for too large of an item spoiling that's hooey too. I would blame that more on improper husbandry ( low temps) than I would on prey size. I feed my animals what's on hand and if I have a snake normally on mediums and I give it an XL I just bump the temps a few degrees.

Snakes have survived a long time with out our intervention because their instincts guide them to not eat when its too cool, if they feel threatened, the meal is to large. Gravid females prove the last point as I have seen many people claim a gravid female won't eat a large meal.

You claim my statement was uninformed but you seem to be the one lacking legitimate logic or proof. All you have is a photo you clearly misinterpreted.

stephanbakir · 03-16-13, 11:51 AM

Who said females skip large meals when pregnant? I'd say half of the tics I've bred eat straight through their gestation period, they might skip the last week or two prior to laying but other then that they are ravenous... same goes for the carpets I've worked with

Terranaut · 03-16-13, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

Who said females skip large meals when pregnant? I'd say half of the tics I've bred eat straight through their gestation period, they might skip the last week or two prior to laying but other then that they are ravenous... same goes for the carpets I've worked with

My carpet doesn't eat when she is gravid. She eats like mad all summer but won't touch a meal from December until she lays. Ok let me clairify that with her eating one small rat this season but other than that she slithers away when I offer it and I offer it every 2 weeks.