Feeding multiple items (snakes)?

[CraigC]

Ok, I've been seeing posts about how folks feed more than one item at a time. I've always been under the impression that this is a bad idea. One reason is the amount of energy expended, "catching", "killing", swallowing and digesting, seems to me to be pretty extensive. So, by feeding multiple items would tax that expenditure further, possibly leading to regurge.

I have always followed the idea of one, appropriate sized item per meal. Obviously there are different feeding intervals for different species, but why is it necessary to feed multiple items? I understand that in certain countries you are limited on what is available.

Just want to get others thoughts?

Craig

[Johnny Utah]

I have always avoided feeding multiple items. The only exception would be one of my JCPs that only eats mice. And I plan on switching him to rats somehow.

[razeraze]

Simple, if the snake is still hungry, I still feed it. If someone does not feed me when I am hungry I would bite them too. We can not speak snake and only they know when they are full. We do not know if they will be the abnormal and out grow average sizes. Snake in the wild will eat multiple prey with out regurge especially if they break into a chicken farm. Bottom line if the body language of a snake tells me it is hungry I will feed it. If I start feeding multiple prey items too often, I will up the prey size. Until I learn how to speak reptile I will feed my snakes and lizards when ever they are hungry, and i have had them turn down food when they are full. How ever this has to be done at an early age. Feeding on a strict schedule then trying to change it will lead to over eating and a possible regurge.

[CraigC]

Maybe I'm just too focused on emeralds. If you do that with one, you'll have a puking machine on your hands. Besides, I was not referring to wild snakes. That is an entirely different situation. They never "know" when the next meal is coming and get a heck of alot more exercise than captive snakes. they can also choose from a greater variety of spots to digest and recoup expended energy.

I'm sure a snake will eat and still "look" hungry, but is it a good idea to keep feeding it? Almost any creature will eat until it can't, if given the oppurtunity. That doesn't mean that they should. I sure wish my parents, hadn't given in to my "idea" that I was still "hungry". Then maybe, I wouldn't have been battling my weight all my life, or could have avoided some of the illnesses I've had to deal with.

Craig

[Revj0e]

Im not going to get into the argurment of feeding multiples as right or wrong. Everyone has their own opinion. I try to feed one appropriate sized item a feeding, I have and Im sure I will feed multiples again. Mostly it is when i do not have the right size I may double up, but mostly just one.

You want to over feed your snake and make it huge, multiple items is the way to go.

[razeraze]

I preach exercise before diet, unless you are so obese joints and bones can not take a work out. All of my snakes get plenty of exercise hence why I only have 2 snakes. I have no room for any more. Perhaps if your emeralds had a more natural enclosure they would not be puking machines. I find we know too little about reptiles (since they have only been CBB a few decades) so I get my answers from their habitat not a breeder. Doing this I find I have less problems. I have never had a regurge from a snake nor any health problems. I provide hotter basking spots to aid in quicker digestion and larger caging to encourage exercise. Humidity and heat is always kept like the rainforest not like a caresheet. They are also provided with large soaking bowls, here is my 9 foot boa.
If I listened every time someone told me boas are terrestrial and do not need large water bowls. I would not see the behaviors I do with my boa. Climbing, soaking and basking on spots 100+F.

[danktat]

Originally Posted by CraigC

Maybe I'm just too focused on emeralds. If you do that with one, you'll have a puking machine on your hands. Besides, I was not referring to wild snakes. That is an entirely different situation. They never "know" when the next meal is coming and get a heck of alot more exercise than captive snakes. they can also choose from a greater variety of spots to digest and recoup expended energy.

I'm sure a snake will eat and still "look" hungry, but is it a good idea to keep feeding it? Almost any creature will eat until it can't, if given the oppurtunity. That doesn't mean that they should. I sure wish my parents, hadn't given in to my "idea" that I was still "hungry". Then maybe, I wouldn't have been battling my weight all my life, or could have avoided some of the illnesses I've had to deal with.

Craig

The same applies with Suriname and Guyana Bcc. The only time I go for more than one animal at a sitting is when, for example, I am out of large rats I my use two small rats to give the same amount of weight at that meal. This isn't however a habbit. I only do that if I don't have other options.

Suris can become "puking machines" as well.... .... so it is best to be overcautious with that ssp.

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor

[CraigC]

LOL, I don't have puking emeralds, because I took heed to someone that actually caused emeralds to puke by over feeding them i.e. multiple items and close intervals. It was his unofficial "research" into ERS, probably 5 or 6 years ago. He is a nobody, so there aren't any "papers" in print.

No one can duplicate a natural environment. That's why the majority of exotic animals in captivity are still alive. You would be surprised at how many people have animals that should be dead, by "natures standards". Nature is harsh and along with all the benefits of a natural environment, come the pitfalls as well. I for one, will never keep an animal in a "natural environment". There won't be any drought, too much water, predators, famine, parasites, untreated desease, etc. Your snakes can't get the same amount of excercise as a wild snake, no matter how much room you have or how often you take them outside. IMO, captive reptiles are as far removed from their naturally occuring relatives as to only resemble them in looks (that's also debatable) and the fact that they are all reptiles.

Considering all of the "problems" in my family's past and recent history, I'm pretty happy with what I was able to overcome and eliminate from my history. So, I'll continue with my weight battle. I won't be contributing to the future generation of my family either, as I'm one of those late 60's early 70's, ZPGers.

Craig

	IMO In My Opinion

[razeraze]

I find it funny how "domesticated" breeders try to paint reptiles. They are only a few decades old in human care so no we don't know it all. How ever they have survived thousands of years with out us just fine. Why because nature does it right. We currently are selectively making snakes not what they are as we did with alligators. Few alligators grow over 6 feet now because we have selectively killed the ones that do. In our sterile cages, with the huge windows and lack of any natural substance it is amazing we have any snakes. How ever now we are breeding animals so delicate they can't hold food down.
I had a water monitor throw up all the time. It took me a month to figure out why. She hated my fiance and I. Simply seeing or hearing us would make her vomit. How did I fix this? I did not feed her less or feed her smaller prey. I put in a waterfall (white noise that covered our footsteps) and huge pond for her to go to because in the wild, when they are scared they retreat to water. How did I figure this out. I talked to somebody with them in his backyard. Then wow, regurgitation stopped.

Perhaps if we do a little more research and listening and less talking these animals will stop regurgitating. Rhinos, to Komodos to insects all have certain things they need in captivity to encourage health and breeding as well as longevity. Zoos understand this as do conservation centers focused on endangered species why can't common reptile keepers.

One of my favorite stories.
..:: Welcome To The Cincinnati Zoo ::..

[Revj0e]

Before this gets turned in yet anther pointless battle of what is right and wrong for animals, could we stick to the question at hand? Multiple items: pros...cons... and who does it.

There is no need to bring up about how stupid we all are or how little we know. If we knew it all we wouldnt be on here with abunch of other people that dont know it all.

I really am not trying to start anything or insult anyone but sometimes a quetion is just that, tere is no need to go into a rant ( such as this one lol) and bring up replicateing nature everytime feeding comes up.

When i get my backyard rain forest, this will be the fiorst place I post about wehat is going on. Till then we should all do what we, ourselves, feel is right for our snakes.