How much to feed

[claireree]

I have a 3 1/2 year old corn who laid 17 eggs 3 weeks ago and is now doing really well, we got her from someone who didnt seem to know much about her or snakes really and she was hardly handled as he was a bunch of nerves whenever he handled her, dont know why she is lovely even my son has no problem getting her out for a wonder.

Anyway we have noticed the last couple of days even after feeding she still seems to roam around a lot do you think this is because she is still hungry or just because she is nosey.

At the moment she is on 2 small mice each feed, as I dont have any large mice at the moment. We feed her once a week.

 

[Coty]

-When they're on single pinks (2-3g), I feed every 5-6 days. (Snake = 4-15g)
-Double pinks (3g x 2) every 5-6 days. (Snake = 16-23g)
-Small fuzzies (5-7g) every 6-7 days. (Snake = 24-30g)
-Regular fuzzies (7-9g) every 6-7 days (Snake = 30-50g)
-Hoppers (9-12g) every 6-7 days (Snake = 51-90g)
-Weaned (14-20g) every 7 days (Snake = 91-170g)
-Adult (20-30g) every 7-x days (Snake = 170+) See below.

Here is a good guideline and the link to where I found it (in these forums). I would defer from giving advice personally as I have relatively little experience, most of what I have learned has been here.

 

[Corny Noob]

I guess I'm just wondering how "small" these small mice are, because my definition of 2small mice, is still a lot of food to be feeding to a gal every 7 days. You don't want her gaining too much weight and getting fatty hips near the base of her tail/coloca.

 

[claireree]

they are weaned mice about 4-5 weeks old, they dont even seem to leave a lump once she has eaten them, she also seems b¡to be out and about wondering the next day as well.

 

[claireree]

ok so at the weekend I got round to weighing the snakes and the mice (not a easy job)

My boy snake now weighs 290g
My girl snake now weighs 489g before she laid her eggs 580g

I weighed my mice as well and they average 19-22g

The boy took one mouse and the girl had two, is this enough, they both seemed happy and we try the boy with another one but he wasnt interested.

 

[bitsy]

The mouse should leave a visible lump in the snake when swallowed, that disappears after about 48 hours. Sounds like she's ready to go up to full-sized mice.

Appropriate-sized mice should be about 1.5 times the width of the snake's body.

 

[claireree]

the problem I have is that I breed my own mice and as I am just starting I havent got a supply of adults yet which is why she is on 2 small ones, my supply is going up but unfortunatly at the moment I am struggling to find a good supplier of decent mice over here in spain.

 

[Susielea]

I had one female this year, first time breeder, that exibited similar behaviour to what you're describing, ie always seemingly hungry and roaming a lot after laying 17 eggs.

She shed again 46 days after her post lay shed, then refused her post shed meal and laid a 2nd clutch of eggs 12 days later, just as her first clutch was pipping, without being bred again.

What I'm trying to say is, keep an eye on her and if you think she might be double clutching, then make sure you put a laying box back in with her, when she next sheds.

This may not be what's happening with your female, but I thought I'd better mention it just in case

Best wishes,

 

[claireree]

oh ok thanks for that I will keep an eye on her then.