Feeding size help...

[Wild_Storm]

Hi All. The ONLY rat I could find and purchase for my beautiful BHP is still a bit bigger than she's eaten in the past. I have read somewhere here (and I can't find it tonight!!) about things you can do to the rat if it's a bit big to help the Snake eat it.

She's out on my shoulders sniffing around... She is due for a feed tonight, (and she knows it), but she is being a lady... at the moment!!

Thank you for your help!!

 

[mysnakesau]

Depends how much you call "a bit bigger". If there isn't a great deal of difference then let her have it, as it is. If she can't eat it she will most likely spit it back out and leave it. Or if she gets it down just make sure her warm end is working well and she has her cool end so she can digest it well. I have just fed a guinea pig to my big male carpet I am worried was a little big for him. But I have added an extra heatmat as well as his light just to be sure he gets adequate warmth.

I had a small problem with him once before eating a large g.pig - his middle appeared swollen bigger than the lump the g.pig would have left in him. Straight on the phone first to an experienced friend who says it is a build up of gasses in them that is completely normal. But extra swelling can be a sign of not enough heat so upped the warmth he was fine.