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francessweeney1
Snake Mite
Ireland
16 Posts |
 Posted - 07/02/2011 : 15:00:55
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My sons two and half year old king snake is eating adult mice as though they were a small appetizer! He is eating them from nose to tail in about one and a half to two mins and we can hardly notice where the mouse is once its been swallowed, he takes one of these every three or four days and my question is should we be feeding him on baby rats? He is obviously to small for adult rats and I have read on your forum that the baby rats are very fatty so I presume not much in the way of protein, is this correct? We live in Ireland and believe me when I say that variety is very limited, I can get only baby/adult rats, the selection of mice obviously but large adult mice seem impossible to get hold of, there is also the option of day old chicks? Everyone in the pet shops though says no to these because of the beak and claws and so I am also tending to feel they could hurt him going down the throat! He is about three foot long and approx 9cm around his tummy! I know its hard to offer advice without seeing him and its very much trial and error but any advice would be very much appreciated, I dont want to under feed but dont want him to get loads of food that holds no goodness if you get what I mean? What would you experienced guys tend to do here? Thanks in advance for help!! |
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Gmac
TKS Grumpy Scots Admin
United Kingdom
754 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2011 : 19:21:23
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first thing feeding every 3 or 4 days is too soon, this does not give your snake time to digest between meals.
Ideally you want to be feeding every 7-10 days and you can feed 1 or 2 large mice and see how it goes. You can also feed smaller rats they are as good for your snake as mice are just that bit more fatty so the feeding timescales should be lengthened accordingly.
As for the chicks they have no benefit or nutitional value for you king so i wouldnt bother. |
9.6 Corns, 1.0 Bci, 2.1 Royals, 1.1 king snakes, 0.0.1 milksnake, 1.1 black rat snakes, 1.2 Beardies, 1.0 shovelface
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lpbldg18
Egg
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2011 : 22:10:07
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| You can feed him more than one if he seems too hungry. my snake takes about 2 min to eat her small adult mouse. i feed her 2! |
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francessweeney1
Snake Mite
Ireland
16 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2011 : 21:04:10
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| i was wondering if you feed one mouse straight after the other ? |
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headlow
Hatchling
United Kingdom
233 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2011 : 22:21:08
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| Yea when the snake has the 1st mouse swallowed and his tongue is flickering again offer him another. |
1.0.0 Mexican Milk
0.0.1 Mexi Black
0.0.3 Corns
0.1.0 Western Hognose |
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Diamond Star Halo
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
18 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2011 : 20:27:05
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| Hi, while we are on the subject of feeding. My cali king hadn't shed for a long time so on the advice of the guy in the reptile shop he suggested upping his feeds. I know feed him a pinky every 6-7 days and he has never refused one yet. The only problem is now that when I handle him he has become quite aggressive. To speed up the defrosting I have been steaming them over boiled water as I have read that warm food can be more enticing. Could it be the heat that is making him more aggressive towards me? Also I heard about aggressive feeding and I am not sure exactly what this is.... |
http://s774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/Jesika101/?action=view¤t=DSC00155.jpg |
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lpbldg18
Egg
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - 13/02/2011 : 00:15:14
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| Yes if you are making his food to hot, it could be burning him. remember what seems warm to us could be extremly hot to a snake. |
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Diamond Star Halo
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
18 Posts |
Posted - 14/02/2011 : 12:20:09
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Yeah but I fail to see why that would be the reason he would bite??!!Other than associating my body heat with food, that is the only connection with heat. The temperature of the mice must be fine as he accepts them and has not regurgitated a warm mouse.
This doesn't help or answer my question...can someone who actually knows about this help me.
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http://s774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/Jesika101/?action=view¤t=DSC00155.jpg |
Edited by - Diamond Star Halo on 14/02/2011 12:22:15 |
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Gmac
TKS Grumpy Scots Admin
United Kingdom
754 Posts |
Posted - 14/02/2011 : 14:46:23
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@ Diamond Star Halo its possible that the king can smell the mouse in the air, from your method of defrosting, try just letting the mouse defrost naturally. You also say that you have upped the feeds it may also be him just associating hands with a feeding response. Can you tell us how you feed the cali, is it in a different rub do you use tongs etc and what you were feeding before.
It may just be you will have to persevere with the handling to calm him down a bit again though.
also on a side note you have jumped into someone elses thread to ask your question, this is not a good idea as you dont know what question is being answered by whom, can you please start your own thread niext time you have a question that will save any confusion. |
9.6 Corns, 1.0 Bci, 2.1 Royals, 1.1 king snakes, 0.0.1 milksnake, 1.1 black rat snakes, 1.2 Beardies, 1.0 shovelface
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Edited by - Gmac on 14/02/2011 14:49:24 |
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king snake and feeding advice
