Juvenile Children's Python feeding behaviour

[AJ Shelley]

Hi, here's my first post in here! My children's python Artie is about 11 months old and has always had a fairly calm temperament. Just recently, though, he's been very snappy and active, wriggling around to the point it's hard to hold him in the one spot. I've been feeding him one pinkie mouse a week as per instruction by his breeder.

I'm wondering why his behaviour has changed so much? Is it to do with the winter approaching or do I need to feed him more, or is he just changing as he grows older?

Thank you so much!

 

[Foozil]

One pinkie mouse a week isn't enough for a childrens python that age. My 1 month old is already eating pinkie rats.

 

[AJ Shelley]

One pinkie mouse a week isn't enough for a childrens python that age. My 1 month old is already eating pinkie rats.

Thank you for such a quick reply! What frequency & food do you suggest I start feeding him? And when do I feed him the next one?

 

[Foozil]

Thank you for such a quick reply! What frequency & food do you suggest I start feeding him? And when do I feed him the next one?

I couldn't answer that, but some more knowledgeable people should chime in soon
Any pics of the snake, just out of curiosity?

 

[kittycat17]

The prey should be leaving a good sized lump in the snake
Pinkies have almost no nutritional value so he’s probably starving
I would up the size ASAP, probably jump to weaner mice if he’s big enough (should be 1.5 x wider than the snake approx)


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[Pauls_Pythons]

Agreed. Pinkie mice at that age is a total waste of effort for the snake.
Weaner mouse once a week then look to upsize again if the snake is getting them down with ease.

 

[AJ Shelley]

Thank you everyone! I will buy a pack of weaner mice for him. Should I feed him a weaner mouse as soon as possible or wait until next feeding day (next Tuesday)?

 

[Ropey]

I would feed him now he is probably peckish

 

[Kirk1701]

The prey should be leaving a good sized lump in the snake
Pinkies have almost no nutritional value so he’s probably starving
I would up the size ASAP, probably jump to weaner mice if he’s big enough (should be 1.5 x wider than the snake approx)


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Do the pinkies have no nutritional value based on his size?

My 3 month old python is still on pinkies (still gets a lump when he eats) - how soon should I look at upsizing his food?

 

[kittycat17]

You should be upgrading as soon as possible, when there little I tend to go through 6-8 feeds before I upgrade you will also find they will probably go into shed when you give them a bigger meal


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[Kirk1701]

You should be upgrading as soon as possible, when there little I tend to go through 6-8 feeds before I upgrade you will also find they will probably go into shed when you give them a bigger meal


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He's had 4 feed with me, I believe I have 2 pinkie mice left in the freezer. Should I upgrade after those are gone? Also he had a shed the week before last.

 

[kittycat17]

Give him both this week and upgrade ASAP


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[Fall guys]

Thank you everyone! I will buy a pack of weaner mice for him. Should I feed him a weaner mouse as soon as possible or wait until next feeding day (next Tuesday)?

If u just fed a pinkie, you could feed the larger size after a 24hrs

Do the pinkies have no nutritional value based on his size?

My 3 month old python is still on pinkies (still gets a lump when he eats) - how soon should I look at upsizing his food?

The way I go, is to weigh the snake(in a box or whatever, but make sure u tare before putting snake in) then feed max 30% of it’s weight, for example my baby is 200g and she’s getting 60g rats fortnightly

 

[pythoninfinite]

Thank you everyone! I will buy a pack of weaner mice for him. Should I feed him a weaner mouse as soon as possible or wait until next feeding day (next Tuesday)?

You don't need to stick to "feeding day" except as a convenience for you. Snakes are opportunistic feeders in the wild, and don't limit themselves to feeding on particular days. Any time within a week or two of the usual feeding time will do, and if you miss a feed for even a few weeks occasionally, the snake won't be harmed. We keepers feed our captive snakes FAR more, and far more frequently, than they need. I feed my youngsters more regularly because they grow quickly, and when they've got a bit of size, they are less vulnerable.

If u just fed a pinkie, you could feed the larger size after a 24hrs
The way I go, is to weigh the snake(in a box or whatever, but make sure u tare before putting snake in) then feed max 30% of it’s weight, for example my baby is 200g and she’s getting 60g rats fortnightly

I don't really see the need to be as prescriptive as this. There is no actual formula for snake food size. Something that is big enough for the python to manipulate (don't give a mouse to a 3 metre python) and leaves a slight bulge is all you need.

Jamie

 

[dragonlover1]

I spoke to Peter Birch (the recognized Antaresia expert in Australia )soon after I bought my Pygmy Banded Pythons, he recommended 6 feeds of each size,6 pinkies,6 fuzzies,6 hoppers etc.
This has worked well for me,my Ants are all doing well.All are on adult mice now.

 

[Scutellatus]

A general rule is: make sure they prey item is bigger in width than the snakes head. Keep in mind also that a python can take a meal three times the width of their head with ease, they can even go bigger but won't have this opportunity very often.

 

[Fall guys]

You don't need to stick to "feeding day" except as a convenience for you. Snakes are opportunistic feeders in the wild, and don't limit themselves to feeding on particular days. Any time within a week or two of the usual feeding time will do, and if you miss a feed for even a few weeks occasionally, the snake won't be harmed. We keepers feed our captive snakes FAR more, and far more frequently, than they need. I feed my youngsters more regularly because they grow quickly, and when they've got a bit of size, they are less vulnerable.



I don't really see the need to be as prescriptive as this. There is no actual formula for snake food size. Something that is big enough for the python to manipulate (don't give a mouse to a 3 metre python) and leaves a slight bulge is all you need.

Jamie

well... it was just a measurement.. for the type of size you should be feeding

 

[Pauls_Pythons]

If u just fed a pinkie, you could feed the larger size after a 24hrs

Why would anyone want to do this?
Feed it, leave it alone to digest.

Why people have to over complicate feeding a snake is beyond me.

 

[Foozil]

Not sure of the point of cramming as much food into snakes as you possibly can... Not like its gonna grow into a super-snake with a couple extra pinkies.

 

[Fall guys]

Why would anyone want to do this?
Feed it, leave it alone to digest.

Why people have to over complicate feeding a snake is beyond me.

That’s as long as it’d take to digest a pinkie. What’s different between that and feeding 2 right after the next.