How often should a one year old 4 foot long retic eat

[sirtalis]

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

I do know how to properly care for snakes. I love my snakes, and they get fed well. Sometimes they eat better than I do. So what if this snake ate a jumbo. Hes' already pushing 4 feet. He isn't a baby.

but you just fed a 4 ft snake a jumbo rat...
I always have read that a meal should cause a slight bulge, it shouldn't make the snake look like it will explode any minute.

[AlexCrazy]

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

I hate to say it but I think the best thing for you and your uncles snakes are for them to be sold to someone who can properly care for them. One of the most basic and agreed upon pieces of information in this hobby is that you should not feed an animal that is more than 1.5 times wider than the snake at its widest part. You either ignore this information, did not bother to do any research, or just don't care. I can't shake the feeling your are going to kill your snakes with all the issues you are having. I can't understand how you think getting more snakes is a good idea if you have not gotten the hang of the care of the ones you already own? Also you should refrain from giving advice to others until your own situation is fully under control and you have a better understanding of snakes in general.

Sorry for my language everyone but.
Please stop being an A*!& HOLE! and listen to people who know what the hell they are saying... the don't say it for fun of it! they say it for the sake of your poor snakes! you might love them too bits.. but you must stop being an idiot and consider that they are suffering cos of your ego or freaking size needs! with pets you need love, dedication and PATIENCE! not treat them as if they are growing machines!
how about you try and put a hole freaking apple in your mouth and eat the freaking thing! or eat 5 plates of what ever crap you eat! just because you can eat it don't mean its good for you! to much of a good thing is bad! water is good but try drinking 5 gallons! you will feel like Cr*p! get the point! I almost cry-id wen a saw your snake with a freaking bunny in it! listen to people! i suppose that was the dam idea in the first place wen you posted! or are you one of those sh*&ti people that just look for trouble!?!
And what the hell whent throug your mind to have a tazer incase the bunny moves! my goodnes!.
Sorry everyone. i just had to let it out.

[eminart]

That's too big.

Just because a snake CAN eat something that large, doesn't mean it should. Snakes in the wild eat whatever they can, because they don't usually get too many opportunities. Getting a huge meal may be risky, but it's better than the alternative of starving to death. In captivity, we can provide optimum conditions and food. No need to take any chances or push the limits.

[Minkness]

Seeing as how they get over 16 feet....4 feet IS a baby. =/

[KyleKennedy]

Originally Posted by Minkness

Seeing as how they get over 16 feet....4 feet IS a baby. =/

He is almost a year old. Pretty much a juvenile.

[Mikoh4792]

A jumbo rat for a 4 foot retic is not "too" big, but it most certainly is for a 2.5 foot ball python. Most snakes will eat what they can because they are opportunistic feeders and they don't know when their next meal will be. In captivity there is no reason to push their limits. I would advise feeding smaller meals from now on.

Could you post full body pictures of both the retic and ball python? I would like to see the size of the lumps the rats have left in their bodies.

[KyleKennedy]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

A jumbo rat for a 4 foot retic is not "too" big, but it most certainly is for a 2.5 foot ball python. Most snakes will eat what they can because they are opportunistic feeders and they don't know when their next meal will be. In captivity there is no reason to push their limits. I would advise feeding smaller meals from now on.

Could you post full body pictures of both the retic and ball python? I would like to see the size of the lumps the rats have left in their bodies.

My uncle doesn't have the ball python anymore. He traded it for a baby iguana. I will post pics tho of the retic later after work.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

My uncle doesn't have the ball python anymore. He traded it for a baby iguana. I will post pics tho of the retic later after work.

Was it done digesting the rat?

[KyleKennedy]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

Was it done digesting the rat?

Somewhat. Not 100 percent fully digested.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

A jumbo rat for a 4 foot retic is not "too" big, but it most certainly is for a 2.5 foot ball python. Most snakes will eat what they can because they are opportunistic feeders and they don't know when their next meal will be. In captivity there is no reason to push their limits. I would advise feeding smaller meals from now on.

Could you post full body pictures of both the retic and ball python? I would like to see the size of the lumps the rats have left in their bodies.

It's not too big in the sense that it would outright kill the snake but it's not healthy to stress a snake by feeding prey items that push the limits of what it can handle. Just because a snake can eat something doesn't mean it should. A prey item that takes an hour to consume is unreasonably large. I'd say that the bigger issue here is that the OP asked for advice and when they didn't hear what they wanted to, they went ahead anyway.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

It's not too big in the sense that it would outright kill the snake but it's not healthy to stress a snake by feeding prey items that push the limits of what it can handle. Just because a snake can eat something doesn't mean it should..

That was my point, and why I put the word "too" in quotations.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Yeah I'd be saving the jumbos for 6' retics...a jumbo rat would be too big for a 6' boa constrictor (I have a 6' BCI and he gets large rats atm so that's the closest I have to compare which is why I included the boa constrictor bit), but if I'm not mistaken a 6' retic should be able to take jumbo rats?

A large meal like that should be ok for an occasional treat, but I would by no means be giving that size of meal regularly, as others have said, it would put too much strain on their system eating that big of meals regularly.

[KyleKennedy]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Yeah I'd be saving the jumbos for 6' retics...a jumbo rat would be too big for a 6' boa constrictor (I have a 6' BCI and he gets large rats atm so that's the closest I have to compare which is why I included the boa constrictor bit), but if I'm not mistaken a 6' retic should be able to take jumbo rats?

A large meal like that should be ok for an occasional treat, but I would by no means be giving that size of meal regularly, as others have said, it would put too much strain on their system eating that big of meals regularly.

Well if it's not going to kill the snake by giving him large rats, then what is the problem? He is not obese or anything. He is healthy and active. I want him to reach maximum size which is also why I feed him large rats. A well fed snake that continues to grow at a rapid pace is the sign of a healthy snake. What do you mean a jumbo rat is too big for a 6 foot boa? I have a 6 foot red tail that proudly takes 2 jumbos during feeding time.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

Well if it's not going to kill the snake by giving him large rats, then what is the problem? He is not obese or anything. He is healthy and active. I want him to reach maximum size which is also why I feed him large rats. A well fed snake that continues to grow at a rapid pace is the sign of a healthy snake. What do you mean a jumbo rat is too big for a 6 foot boa? I have a 6 foot red tail that proudly takes 2 jumbos during feeding time.

It doesn't need to kill him in one go to be bad for him. Eating a meal filled with preservatives and high sodium won't kill you that day, but the damage being done builds up over time. It's just a point of causing undue stress on the system.

But anyways, I think it's too early to say this meal is too large for him. We will need to see how big that lump is before going any further.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

Well if it's not going to kill the snake by giving him large rats, then what is the problem? He is not obese or anything. He is healthy and active. I want him to reach maximum size which is also why I feed him large rats. A well fed snake that continues to grow at a rapid pace is the sign of a healthy snake. What do you mean a jumbo rat is too big for a 6 foot boa? I have a 6 foot red tail that proudly takes 2 jumbos during feeding time.

No, growing rapidly IS NOT A HEALTHY SNAKE. It is a snake that is being OVERFED, and power-feeding them LOWERS THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY.

You may want a max-sized snake, but power-feeding does not give you a bigger snake, just a bigger snake SOONER. Imo you need to be more responsible and do what's right for the snake. Feed it properly so you will have a long-lived and healthy snake. Back off on the food.

How on earth...? 2 jumbos? For a 6' boa constrictor? You do realize that boa constrictors have very delicate digestive systems compared to any python right? They are VERY prone to fatty liver disease, and will die quickly. They really cannot handle fat very well. You shouldn't be feeding one jumbo let alone 2 to your boa...An adult boa constrictor should be eating something that leaves NO BULGE ONCE A MONTH.

My 6' boa couldn't even physically get a jumbo down, I've tried. Maybe a thicker boa of his size could, but mine personally could not get a jumbo down even if he wanted to (and believe me, he would).

You are going to kill all your snakes feeding them like this. Everyone in this thread is telling you to back off, you should be listening.