 |
|
        
|
How large should my snake's food be?For most commonly kept species, a good guideline for food size is to feed food items about 1 - 1.5x the snake's fattest part. That part is usually mid body. After the snake has finished eating, there should be a noticeable "lump" in the snake's belly. This lump will gradually get smaller and smaller as the snake digests its meal over the course of a few days.Snakes, in general, can eat food items much larger than the recommended size, even up to 2.5x their fattest part or larger for some boids. However, certain snakes, like a few milksnake sub-species, will only accept food items smaller than the guideline above. Once you have established a good feeding track record with your snake, you can begin to experiment with the food size to find out what size best suits your snake's needs. The size of food a given species will eat is partly determined by the life style of that snake. A species with a high metabolism, active life style and slim body structure that hunts for its food and eats more often might not prefer larger food items. A belly full of food doesn't allow the snake to move as quickly or to escape predators as easily. However, an ambush predator, with a slower metabolism, less active life style and a heavier body structure would be more prone to eating larger meals less often. The age of the snake can also play a role is determining the appropriate food size. A hatchling or juvenile snake that is still growing rapidly, will use extra calories it consumes for growing. A mature snake whose growth has slowed down, will store the extra calories as fat. An obese snake, like humans, will likely run into numerous health problems due to its obesity. Choosing food size is an important aspect of proper husbandry and vital to maintaining a healthy snake. Given all of the factors that play into finding the appropriate sized food item, the best method is to watch and learn. By watching your snake and monitoring its activity, you will learn what size food item is most appropriate for your snake. If you don't feel you have the experience to determine this on your own, the guideline at the top of the page should be a safe place to start. |