Aussie Pythons and Snakes

AGAMIDAE · #16 17-Mar-04, 11:08 AM

from what I have seen of "power fed" snakes their life span decreases, I like to have my herp live for a very long time.....

Woma_n · #17 17-Mar-04, 11:39 AM

What about the Olive lying belly up? Is this nromal behaviour for one at this time of year?

NoOne · #18 17-Mar-04, 12:56 PM

AGAMIDAE have you got any proof to support that statement? Alot of people will say that because they heard it somewhere and have no proof, powerfeeding snakes only last until they reach an adult size it doesn't continue after, if continued that is what would cause a snake problems.
I have power feed a few snakes in the past some are now 6yrs old and look the same as any other snake of that age and in perfect health.

AGAMIDAE · #19 17-Mar-04, 01:20 PM

over many years watching my assoicates doing it, for research...they are publicated to where I will have to find out possibly herpetofauna, but what I can say about thirty snake were involved python and elapids (manly carpets and tigers)and non are alive know (most at the age of between 4-6 years old) due to problems like fatty live and heart failure....what is the point of doing it anyway, apart from getting to breeding size so that they can breed or the look how big my snake is syndrome...you see alot of these power fed herp with really tiny heads and abnormal sized bodies it doesn't represent the true morphogy of that species. it was also found out that breeding decreases with fatty snake and sexual maturity wasn't gained greatly by power feeding

Woma_n · #20 17-Mar-04, 01:27 PM

Anything about the olive lying belly up? (god I sound like a pain but I really am unsure about it!)

The female Olive was lying belly up for ages this morning. She was found mating a few times, but this isnt the right time of year isnt it? Could she be gravid?

AGAMIDAE · #21 17-Mar-04, 01:33 PM

I have seen it in both olives and water python sometime they will go through the hole being gravid thing but are not, she may be gravid depending on the environment you have her on, snake given the right environment can breed at any time of the year, is she swollen at the rear end and does she look like coming up to shedding

Woma_n · #22 17-Mar-04, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGAMIDAE

I have seen it in both olives and water python sometime they will go through the hole being gravid thing but are not, she may be gravid depending on the environment you have her on, snake given the right environment can breed at any time of the year, is she swollen at the rear end and does she look like coming up to shedding

She is a bit swollen at the rear end, does that mean anything?

She doesnt look like shes gonna shed.

AGAMIDAE · #23 17-Mar-04, 01:48 PM

has she been with a male? if so she could be gravid....can you see lumps?

varanus · #24 17-Mar-04, 01:54 PM

This is taken from the 'Fatty Liver Disease' thread.

Quote:

Craig, great post and spot on in nearly every detail. Don't let the Armchair experts tell you your wrong.

In the USA and Europe they don't refer to powerfeeding or pumping. They simply call it feeding. They just simulate a good breeding season. No wonder they are so far in front of most of us Austalians when it comes to reptile breeding. I agree with your comments. Most people do underfeed most of their reptiles and they wonder why they do not breed.

I feed all my juveniles a few times a week. Are they fat. No way. As long as you keep them warm all food goes into growth, not fat. As it was stated they grow like weeds. Does it make them unhealthy, no way again. I have been doing it for over 15 years and mine are all fine.

Its when the young obtain adult size, that you must cut the food back, otherwise they will get obese. There is no denying it. Obese snakes normally do not breed and are very unhealthy with short life spans.

Artie, I read your post with some amusement. People often compare themselves to reptiles. What most people do not understand mammals(including humans) and birds grow according to age. No ammount of food will make these grow any faster. It just gets stored as fat. Reptiles and fish however do not grow by age. Their growth rate is determined by food intake. A lot of food, fast growth. A little food, slow growth.

As for BHP's and Fatty Liver Disease. I was the first to pick this up about 20 years ago. I would feed all my snakes the biggest rats I could find. Of course, Jumbo size rats are over half pure fat. BHP's mainly eat reptiles in the wild, ergo, their livers are not acustumed to injesting fat. I lost several before we realised this. I let all the known breeders of the day know of my findings back then, but these days it is common knowledge.

Any species of Python could get Fatty Liver Disease if it is constantly feed fatty food or is very obese for long periods and is not allowed to cool down over winter to use some of their fat.

Regards
Bob

Think I'll be sticking with the advice from a well known breeder who has been in the game for 45+ years.

Woma_n · #25 17-Mar-04, 01:58 PM

She has been with a male. But i cant see lumps. Ill get her out tonight and have a proper look. Do they do this early on in the pregnancy?

AGAMIDAE · #26 17-Mar-04, 02:03 PM

some snake will do it year round even when not gravid but normal belly up indicate close

zoe · #27 17-Mar-04, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Most people do underfeed most of their reptiles

ummmm i thought most people OVERFED their reptiles...

zoe · #28 17-Mar-04, 02:08 PM

Quote:

I feed all my juveniles a few times a week.

like agamid said...why? if not to get them to breeding size quicker than they naturally would so you can start getting eggs out of them then whats the point? not being aggressive or anything but im very curious as to what peoples reasoning is for doing this. also, what sort of ages are bob's snakes living to?

AGAMIDAE · #29 17-Mar-04, 02:10 PM

its a fine line between over feeding and over heating and getting those to correctly working together can sometimes be hard to acheive and wouldnt recommend it.....if you dont get it right.....well

cwarren72 · #30 17-Mar-04, 02:48 PM

Well I guess it all comes down to what you want out of your herps? Me personally ! I keep snakes because I find the extrordninary and fasinating to say the least, I have a goal to one day study Herpotology with conservation in mind and I am taking steps in that direction now. I feed my snakes well and I have good healthy animals and I have never and nor will I ever Powerfeed my animals. The problem as I see it is that there is no clear answer to the question so for me while they are still extremely healthy and happy I will continue to feed the way I do. If they breed then they breed and if they don't who really cares. I love them just the way they are. So for all you others I say feed away if you wish, the risk and option is upto you.