Feeding two fuzzies at once...

[MaxxOwner]

was just reading another thread and saw that you are not supposed to feed two fuzzies at once unless you are transitioning to a larger size and then it's okay to do it a few times...

OOPS.

I purchased 25 fuzzies and 25 hoppers from Big Cheese Rodent.

MAXX can eat a fuzzy and barely show it so I decided to give him two every six days until they are gone and then go to the hoppers. At that rate, he will be eating two fuzzies a meal for about 5 more feedings (I have already done it for the past three times with no problems).

Is this going to cause a problem?

Robert

[JoannaD]

I feed 2 fuzzies at a time before I transition to a hopper. I find it takes bout 5 feedings before I transition them. I don't think it's a problem at all. I am not sure why someone would say 2 fuzzes should not be fed.


JO

[JenC]

Hell i have fed 6 fuzzies at once, because i was out of rat pups.....i havent had a provblem, i feed multiples all the time...

[zwyatt]

I think that many people believe it's harder on the animal to digest multiple items than one appropriately sized item. Whether or not this is for sure correct, I cannot say.

I have fed multiple items when transitioning, and sometimes to get rid of a particular size before they go bad. Whenever I can avoid it, I try to get them up to the next size and off of multiple items just in case.

[Roy Munson]

Another thing to consider is that two fuzzies usually weigh more than a single hopper anyway. I normally only do double prey-items as a transition when moving from large pinks to fuzzies. I've occasionally given double-fuzzies when I've been out of weaned mice because two fuzzies weigh about the same as the average weaned mouse anyway.

[Lennycorn]

Depending on the time line.. (if you can keep the fuzzy a long time). You can save them until your snake is ready to move up from hopper and feed a few hopper and fuzzy and one feeding than two hopper. But I guess the best bet is to just use them up. :shrugs:

[antsterr]

this guy loves eating two at once.
<img src=http://homepage.mac.com/antsterr/.Pictures/Rubeus1.jpg>

<img src=http://homepage.mac.com/antsterr/.Pictures/Rubeus2.jpg>

It's more cost effective to just feed one hopper though.

[MooreSnakes]

was just reading another thread and saw that you are not supposed to feed two fuzzies at once unless you are transitioning to a larger size and then it's okay to do it a few times...

Are you sure it was the actually eating capacity of the snake? I think I've heard something about (younger?) corns having a problem subduing two prey items at once.

[maegann]

well, i have a four month old snow aqnd i was told to keep him on two fuzzies for awhile before moving up to a hopper.

what do u guys think??? :shrugs:

[Roy Munson]

well, i have a four month old snow aqnd i was told to keep him on two fuzzies for awhile before moving up to a hopper.

what do u guys think??? :shrugs:

I already stated what I think about it a few posts back in this thread. If two fuzzies weigh more than a hopper, how does it make sense to feed them as a transition TO hoppers? :shrugs:

[JoannaD]

I think that depending on where you get your mice 2 fuzzies may not be larger than one hopper. For example my fuzzies are between 4 - 7 g and my hoppers are 8-11 g so I will often transition this way. I use 2 small fuzzies since I think it is easier to digest. Two fuzzies have more surface area on which the stomach acids/enzymes have to work. Also I assume a less mature mouse which has softer bones and fur is easier to digest.

This has worked well for me.


Jo

[Roy Munson]

I use 2 small fuzzies since I think it is easier to digest. Two fuzzies have more surface area on which the stomach acids/enzymes have to work. Don't these two sentences contradict each other? :shrugs:

[maegann]

well, thnks

[JoannaD]

Hmm.. I'm not sure why you think they contradict each other so let me see if I can better explain my thinking. I tend to try and picture things. When I think of a snake digesting a mouse I see a mouse floating in a bath of acidic juices that contains a lot of Pacmen- these are the enzymes! The Pacmen attack the mouse and chew on it! If there are 2 fuzzies vs one hopper there is room for more Pacmen to attach themselves and begin chewing!

I don't know if that makes it easier to understand but it is how I see it!


Jo

[Roy Munson]

Hmm.. I'm not sure why you think they contradict each other so let me see if I can better explain my thinking. I tend to try and picture things. When I think of a snake digesting a mouse I see a mouse floating in a bath of acidic juices that contains a lot of Pacmen- these are the enzymes! The Pacmen attack the mouse and chew on it! If there are 2 fuzzies vs one hopper there is room for more Pacmen to attach themselves and begin chewing!

I don't know if that makes it easier to understand but it is how I see it!


Jo
I'm not sure if that makes it easier for me, but I like the imagery anyway. :)

In your example, I see much more surface area that the pac-men need to get through to get at the nutrients. Since the skin is probably the hardest thing for the pac-men to deal with, you've almost doubled the work they have to do to get at a similar amount of nutrients.

Here's my example. Which takes longer to peel, two oranges or one grapefruit? :)

[JoannaD]

Your analgoy of the orange and the grapefruit is correct.
However, there are more "hands" i.e pacmen or enzymes, that are being used to gain access to the nutrition of the two fuzzies. From my understanding of physiology having more surface area on which the enzymes work is actually more effective. It's easier for us to digest a steak if we cut it into small pieces and chew well rather than swallow larger pieces!



Jo

[jazzgeek]

Your analgoy of the orange and the grapefruit is correct.
Analgoy? Anal goy?

NOW who's writing in Yiddish? :grin01:

:sidestep:

regards,
jazz

[JoannaD]

As soon as I hit the submite button I realized I hadn't hit the spell check! I can't type for beans! :grin01:


Jo

[JoannaD]

I think I need to become a contributing member just to edit my typos! I even hit spell check this time. What does submite mean? Maybe this is a hint that I actually should be working!


Jo

[BeckyG]

So are you saying that if you feed two fuzzies, the number of enzymes in the snake's digestive system will suddenly double? Because that's the only way I see that there could be more "hands" peeling the two oranges. 'Splain please.

[JoannaD]

There are more than enough enzymes hanging around. Nature tends to do things in excess to increase chances of it working.

Jo