Monty's meal . . . the pinky/fuzzy delimma

So, just when I start feeling like I know what I'm doing when feeding Monty I start giving advice to other newbies regarding feeding their babies! So I said to myself "self, before you tell other people how to do this, you oughta double check." Besides I may be getting as many as 3 more new snakes next weekend, soooooo . . . triple the fun! And triple the questions. I'd like to think that at this point I've at least figured out how to feed them . . . :eats02:

I finally took a pic of Monty with a ruler and measured him. He came out to approximately 16 1/2" long (wow! I thought he was a bit longer!) and about 1/3" diameter at his widest spot. So I'm thinking his max mouse size is about 1/2" diameter (1.5X his diameter)? I also took a pic of him eating his mouse, which according to the Rodentpro site would probably be a peach fuzzy, and a pic of him with his after-mouse bulge. Does this look good to you all?

I am also planning to stock up on feeders. I was planning to keep Monty on large (fuzzy) pinkies til he didn't get a good-size bulge anymore, however I have no clue how long that will be . . . weeks? months? :shrugs: I wasn't really planning to ever try him on 2, I figured I'd just bump him up when those aren't enough.

Anyway, I've been working on this post off and on all day as I've been in and out so I think I will just send it on out . . . I'm so excited about the expo this weekend I can barely stand it!!! I'm like a kid at Christmas. :santa: But I just don't want to get there and realize that I'm totally ignorant and have no clue what size mice to buy!!! And I will not go back to the pet store for them - I can't believe I paid $1.50 each. OUCH!!!

Looks pretty good, maybe a little bigger, but see how he does after a few of those first

A Dollar Fifety????? Crap!!!!!

mbdorfer said:

Looks pretty good, maybe a little bigger, but see how he does after a few of those first

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Yup, he could probably safely handle something a bit bigger, but no reason to rush it.

Thanks!

Yes, $1.50 each, even for the tiny neonates! I had bought Monty and quite a bit of other stuff, and when I got the credit slip to sign I thought it was a bit much but I didn't check it (so you know I was excited - that is so not like me!). I just about fell over once I realized how much I'd paid.

Since I'm going to stock up on feeders it's good to know that I could go a little bigger if I need to. I'll try to get him some more close that size, but will go up from there. That is actually his 4th one that size, I was feeding him the tiny ones at 1st but even 2 were leaving no visible lump.

It figures Monty would be at an in-between size in feeders tho, LOL, seems to be the story of my life lately wtih my kids' clothing. Go figure.

You can always go by their behavior. If they are out looking for food the same day you feed, or the next day, you could probably safely go up to two of the same sized food items. After 2 or 3 feedings of two, you can go to the next size up.

mbdorfer said:

Looks pretty good, maybe a little bigger, but see how he does after a few of those first

Click to expand...

I agree, but I just wanted to add that one meal of a slightly larger size would be better than 2 pinks (ie. feed the equivilant of 1.5 pinkies). Still wait to see how he does on what you're feeding him now though. It's not a BIG bump, but it's a good sized bump anyway.

Some people believe that smaller meals, fed more often (than larger meals) is less stressful and healthier for the snake anyway (easier to digest a small meal than a huge one).

Based on that, I'd say that bump is just fine for now (how often do you feed?).

I only feed multiple food items for a few feedings before moving up in size to make sure they are ready for the next move. Otherwise, I don't advocate feeding 2,3, or more food items at one feeding either.

I do the same as Meg... I'm not a fan of multiple meals in one feeding.

Edit (still sleeping lol): I wanted to add that I don't even feed 2-1 before upping a size. I just chose a mouse that's slightly larger than the last... There's no need to feed 2-1 unless the next sized mouse you have is MUCH larger than the one feeding now, imho.

Spirit, I kinda go by how he's acting. He was out "hunting" the other day, 6 days after I fed him last so I went ahead and fed him. If he doesn't act hungry before 7 days I feed him then. He hasn't really acted hungry in less than 5 days, except when I fed him that 1 tiny pinky when I first got him. He's never turned down a meal, or even been the least bit finicky for that matter! I think that for Monty I'll get a mix of large pinkys and small fuzzies, that should hold him for a while, I think. And what feeders I get will depend on what other snakes I buy too. But it'll be good to know what Monty's going to need anyway, and I can sorta base what I get any other snakes on that too.

CAV said:

A Dollar Fifety????? Crap!!!!!

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Thats nothing here in Ottawa for one pinkie $2.19. Most pet stores don't even give deals. I once asked for them to order me 100 pinkies thinking Id get a good deal. They called me to confirm the price and they said $250. Good thing I know someone that deals with importing and exporting reptiles, and mice. In the end I got 100 pinkies for $65.