Feeding new carpet python

[Pink Angel]

My first snake arrived late last night, a coastal carpet python around 3 years of age. Now I have a question as I want to make sure I have done the righ thing.

I let the coastal settle in for the night and was told it had not been feed for 2 weeks. I got hold of some medium mice today, as I could not source any fuzzie rats.

When I got home, the snake was in its hiding box. I thawed the mouse and held it over the hole. Within what seemed milli-seconds, it sprung out, grabbed the mouse and I let it swallow it. It then popped it's head out of the hole and appeared to be smelling for more food. I then thawed out another mouse and again, waved it over the hole. Again, repeat performance of grabbing the mouse within seconds.

Now I am sitting back and thinking, have I done the right thing. Is it alright to feed two mice within succession of each other?

Thanks for any advice or comments given.

[Hetty]

Yeah, it's fine.

[PhilK]

That should be fine for a 3 year old coastal... Correct me if I'm wrong anyone?

[junglepython2]

It's fine just give it a week to digest its meal before offering more food. Maybe try a bigger food item next time as a medium mouse is a bit small for a 3 yr old coastal.

[Jungletrans]

Should be able to take 3 - 5 med mice at that age then none for 2 wks .

[Pink Angel]

Thanks for that. I feel a lot better now. So, would fuzzie rats be the right food for it? Or should I go for something a little larger? How do you determine what size food you should be offering?

The person I bought the snake from had very little knowledge about snakes and could not offer a lot of advice. The sex of the snake is still unknown.

[Clairebear]

My little spotty eats smallish fuzzy rats. Your carpet needs to be on something much larger! Those jaws open a looooooooooong way remember!

[junglepython2]

Depends on the size of the snake, the item should leave a noticeable bulge in its stomach after its eaten it. You will be surprised at what they can get down.

[Pink Angel]

mmhhh, sounds like I may have the food a little small. It was hard to watch the bulge, but it did not appear noticably big. The snake remained in its hiding hole, so I could not really see the full effect.

Can it digest it properly when they are still curled up inside their hiding box?

I know these questions sound silly, but the fact sheets and all the reading I have done, dont really address these small issues.

Thanks

[PhilK]

Your snake knows how to eat ! Remember, they've been doing it for millions of years and BOY are they good at it. Three year old coastal can probably get down a medium rat or two (not very experienced here) maybe even a large one. How big is your snake? Post a pic and someone will be abl to tell you far more accurately.

[Jen]

I'd like to know if there is a correlation between head size and the size of the food we should offer. My macs are tiny and i don't want them to choke!

[finny]

it will be fine 4 shore lol

[PhilK]

Like I said, snakes know how to eat. If it is too big, they won't eat it. Like if you had a watermelon and wanted to swallow it whole, your better judgement would tell you not to. If your macs are hatchies, they'll cope with a pinky they can rreeaally stretch.

[Jen]

Cheers, I fed them both a furred baby, but it was only just starting to fur up, probably a few days old. they both seemed to take it fine, tho i was a bit worried watching those tiny jaws stretch! Cheers, sorry for the hijack

[SlothHead]

They wont choke. If the food is ever too big they will regurge it

So dont panic

Also the physiology of a snake precludes it from chokeing,

Though it is possible, it is highly unlikely

D