Northern Pine snake

[kingsnakes]

Hi,

I have pair of Northern Pines (Male and Female) and they are 11months old approx. The male is 3 and half foot long the female is 3 foot long, the question I have is what kind of food would readers think the Pines should be on at this age, Fuzzies or mice,
Because my Pines are taking medium size rats every 7 days and they have no problem at all taking these. Am I in for a pair of large Northern Pines when they reach adult or is this just the norm.
Would appreciate some feedback on this.
Thanks

[SCReptiles]

My normal formula is prey items just big enough to cause a bulge in the animal. One every 4 days while growing, then one every 7 days as a young adult, then one every 10 to 14 days as a mature adult. However, pines are a very active snakes. And I believe they have a higher metabolism then most snakes. They burn up food resources much faster then say a rat or a corn snake. They are notorious for high food consumption. With pines, I pretty much double that formula. One prey item of appropriate size every four days will suit a pine through out its life. I have a 7 foot plus northern male. He is alternating 400 gram rats and small rabbits every 4 or 5 days. He’d eat more if I would offer it. I have a grey rat that is about the same length. I will feed them at the same time. By the following day, there will be no visible bulge in the pine, as his body will have already processed the food. The bulge will remain visible in the rat till usually the following day.