| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ptmbradley |
Posted - 18/05/2011 : 21:20:11
Hi gang. As some of you may have read, the reptile shop where I got my BRB said he is eating 1 large mouse a week. I thought that seemed a bit big, and after seeing him struggle with one on Saturday - although he managed in the end - I've decided to switch him to rat fuzzies. It's a little smaller so less of a struggle for him, and it's a rat, which he'll need to get used to as he grows.
But should I feed him one fuzzy or 2 do you think? The mice that he's used to eating are around 25g or so and the fuzzies average around 15g, which is obviously a fair bit smaller meal. He last weighed 110g and measures about 29" if that helps. 
Thanks. |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 23/05/2011 : 21:08:55
quote:
Originally posted by ptmbradley
I found where that chart may have originated from. I saw it posted somewhere else and it says: "Reproduced courtesy of Ian Calvert at Zetland Veterinary Group, Bristol" so you can try searching deeper on that if you want Cliff.
AWESOME -- thank you, Peter! I will look, but probably not for a while -- I have many many other projects in the meantime. |
| ptmbradley |
Posted - 20/05/2011 : 04:45:04
Zetland Veterinary Group
Ian Calvert BSc., BVSc., MRCVS
32 Zetland Road,
Redland,
Bristol. BS6 7AB
(0117) 9445111
zetland.vet@valevets.co.uk
Member of Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians
Whether it was him that produced the chart I don't know, but like I say I saw his name attached to it on another post, so if you want to delve deeper then here's your info.
And if you have any joy I'd be interested in your findings!
|
| ptmbradley |
Posted - 20/05/2011 : 04:35:15
I found where that chart may have originated from. I saw it posted somewhere else and it says: "Reproduced courtesy of Ian Calvert at Zetland Veterinary Group, Bristol" so you can try searching deeper on that if you want Cliff. |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 19/05/2011 : 22:48:13
(name corrected -- wups!)
Interesting chart, *Peter*! I just wish there was more information on their methodology, as in how they reached these estimates and what science was involved. (I also wonder if anyone else has produced a similar chart, as a double check on the original work?( Still very interesting -- thank you!!!! |
| Invalid User |
Posted - 19/05/2011 : 09:49:41
quote:
Originally posted by ptmbradley
To get back to the original question... I found this food size chart and how much a snake needs to just maintain itself.
http://www.scottishexoticreptilesforum.co.uk/general-snake-keepers-discussions/8818-snake-feeding-guide.html
If it's anything close to accurate than my 110g boa will grow just fine on a single 15g fuzzy.
Tbh, I never weigh the food. I just go by size. Last week I bought some huge rat pinkies, so she had one of them. I have never double fed her, she has a nice bump after each feed and is growing well so I guess shes fine.  |
| ptmbradley |
Posted - 19/05/2011 : 05:23:02
To get back to the original question... I found this food size chart and how much a snake needs to just maintain itself.
http://www.scottishexoticreptilesforum.co.uk/general-snake-keepers-discussions/8818-snake-feeding-guide.html
If it's anything close to accurate than my 110g boa will grow just fine on a single 15g fuzzy. |
| flaboye |
Posted - 18/05/2011 : 23:26:15
Gotta love BRB's and BCI's. Very few rainbows give any feed issues, and none of the bci's, or other pythons. Only area we have issues is the ball pythons. I don't know about the colubrid section, not sure what they do, etc. We do have corns, kings, gecko's and turtles, and other types, I just have never been over there and seen em, etc. |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 18/05/2011 : 23:15:24
Good info -- thanks Joe!
I hear you on keeping everyone on one prey item, the few mousers/fresh-kill fanatics I have always require the most time! |
| flaboye |
Posted - 18/05/2011 : 22:48:57
Cliff the breeding pairs eat twice a week one prey item per offer, but 2x a weekly. So, a rat once per week would do what the 2x mice do. It's just what they do, I didn't make the rules, lol :) I haven't decided yet, on my BRB what I'll do as she gets larger. She's grown a LOT since I brought her home, and I'm giving her 2 medium mice per week (separate feed days). My BCI is probably getting close to being ready for small rats, so I may try to go over to that with both of them at the same time. I think the rainbow can handle it. BCI is a much heavier bodied snake of course you already know this. Trying to time things. I really only want to personally keep one prey item too. Unfortunately at some growth point the BCI will again outgrow the prey item and the rainbow, being a slender bodied boa will have to remain with a smaller rat, etc. Decisions, decisions ! :)
The facility however, is owned by one of the largest frozen rodent outfits, lol, so they aren't hurting for mice/rats/freezer space. At some point in the past I guess they decided multiple mice work ror them. Shrug. Rats are used on the heavy bodied pythons and boas though as I pointed out earlier.
Joe |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 18/05/2011 : 22:33:55
I go by eyeball too, sorry. A meal as big as the snake at its thickest point. We also rely on rats almost exclusively. I find it's both cheaper and easier in the long run, as an adult Brazilian can munch several mice whereas one medium rat will do the job, and those multiple mice take up much more of our limited freezer space. However, either will work from a nutritional perspective, and mice seem to have a stronger appeal to this species.
Joe, out of curiosity, how many mice do you offer your adults per feeding? |
| flaboye |
Posted - 18/05/2011 : 22:17:39
Sorry, didn't say anything about weight/feed ratio. It's done by eyeballing the snake, but that's something you learn as time goes by. Only time anything is weighed is when the females get weighed monthly. Maybe Cliff can give you a weight/feed size ratio that would work for you until you are comfortable eyeballing this process. |
| flaboye |
Posted - 18/05/2011 : 22:15:55
We start our newborns out on mouse fuzzies after first shed. Then they work up to rat pinks. Then to hoppers. Then to weanlings. Then to large mice. In fact that's the highest we go with the rainbows, got some 10 years old that eat the large mice. Never go to rats (except the one time frame with rat pinks) with them. Medium, Large and X-large rats do go to the dumerils, timors, bci's, blood pythons and red tails as their size demands. However, even all of them start out the same way the BRB's do.
I'm sure there are others who do it differently. |
| ptmbradley |
Posted - 18/05/2011 : 21:57:46
Just for the record, what is the recommended meal size/body weight ratio? I'd happily search for myself, but I'm working and about to finish my break! lol |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 18/05/2011 : 21:53:23
Any time. |
| ptmbradley |
Posted - 18/05/2011 : 21:47:07
Yeah that's what I thought.
But always pays to get a 2nd opinion. Which is the sheer beauty of forums like this.
Thanks. |
