How much is too much (food that is)?

[Jenny]

I have become the owner of a rescued sub adult Murray Darling (she’s about 5 foot long and a bit under weight). Obviously I don’t know her history or how long it’s been since her last proper feed.

I’ve had her for 5 days. In that time she has eaten 6 adult mice and a medium sized rat yet she is looking for more.

Should I keep feeding her until she’s no longer hungry?

[deano351]

I was always told to let them poop then feed.She sould have a nice lump in her belly after a good feed

[Kenshin]

give her a chance to digest.....

[childreni_440]

i would be feeding medium to large rats to a snake that size. JMO

[Mcdowelli]

I was always told to let them poop then feed.

This probably isn't the best method in regards to feeding. Some particluar species such as adders have a tendancy to hold in faeces and poop a large amount at once. Personally, I have a jungle that does this also and poops once every 4-5 weeks. Apart from this, it is is a perfactly normal jungle. If i were to be feeding this snake once every 5 weeks, it would not be the ideal situation for the snake.

[childreni_440]

if is under weight i would feed weekly untill snake regains a healthy weight.

[glacey]

Waiting for the snake to pass a meal is a good way of knowing when to feed again - but every snake is different and as Mcdowelli said, some hold on. I've got a carpet that will hang on for 2-3 months sometimes.

[Jenny]

Thanks. I will be feeding medium rats in the future - she came without warning and mice were all I had on hand.

[childreni_440]

Pics of the snake may also give us more of an idea as to the actual condition of the snake.

[Brodie_W]

Do you wait until you Shiiit before you eat again?

[Jenny]

I'll do a picture on Saturday.

She's alert, active and looks good to me but I'm going to have her checked by a Vet on Saturday morning. I’ll also worm her as a precaution because who knows what she may have eaten while on the run. I have her quarantined from my other animals and will keep it that way for about 6 weeks.

[Ricko]

may i ask where she came from? as u said she was on the run??

[peterescue]

Originally Posted by Brodie_W

Do you wait until you Shiiit before you eat again?

I agree with Brodie,
If its hungry and it would like a big feed thats fine, just make sure you keep the heat up to it and get ready to clean up.
I had one rescue 1800mm python eat 2 bags of chicks(24) in one sitting, I left them in the enclosure while I went and did something else and forget about it for a couple of hours.

[deano351]

Common sence guys. All my pythons poop about 3 days after a feed. So the ones im building up get a feed a couple of days after that.They may not let it all out but its a good indication that there ready again.Nothing wrong with a big feed, but it sounded like it was getting a little bit every day(not aimed at you Jenny )

[ether]

The wait till it poos methond isnt that great, if you wait till it craps then it will instictivly leave the food in it's stomach longer. Just feed it once a week and it will be fine, dont wait till it craps before you feed again.

Cheers Alex