Earthworm feeding frequency

[fl4ian]

I have been feeding Jeeves' 6 earthworms once a week (when fully contracted, they are about 4" and fat; I get them from the best bait store around here). Jeeves is currently about 2' long and shed a few days back.

When she came out of brumation, she just kept eating... I ran out of worms at 8 that time. When I put 6 worms in the cage, they are all gone within approximately 2-2.5 minutes. Should I keep giving her worms until she stops eating? Is there a safe limit? Will the snake continue to eat, even if it's not hungry? Should I be feeding her more often? Like 6 worms twice a week?

Just looking for some guidance for this first-timer; I want her to be healthy and can't tell if she's tricking me like my dog would do...

[EasternGirl]

Yes, some snakes will keep eating even if they are full and you can overfeed. My Cee Cee is a pig...she will eat until she regurgitates. I am not sure exactly how many worms are enough for one feeding, as I usually do not feed worms alone. But the rule of thumb that I use for feeding in general is that I feed until I see a nice bulge in the snakes belly and then I stop. I would guess though, that 6 big worms is a lot...because Cee Cee is almost 3 feet long and she usually looks full after 2 big worms. I don't think I would give her more that 3 at one feeding. I usually feed her pinkies, fish and worms...and I alternate and mix food. I feed her every 4-5 days...about 2-3 pinkies worth of food. Perhaps another member could give you a better idea of how many worms would be good for one feeding. I would suggest maybe feeding her smaller meals twice a week, instead of larger meals once a week. And perhaps if you are only feeding worms, you could try adding other things to her diet like pinkies and fish fillet.

[chris-uk]

It does sound like a lot of worms to me too, but I don't feed worms at all so not the best to answer the question. I do agree with Marnie though, some of ours will eat as much as is available - Lacrimosa is our biggest pig, she will eat 3 pinkies and a pile of trout and still be looking for more.

[fl4ian]

Thanks, guys for the input. She's never regurgitated, so that's a plus. Maybe I will feed more frequently. Anyone have any idea how often a wild snake feeds? Obviously opportunistically, but I'm wondering if when they find a worm, they find a bunch of them, and then don't find any for a while, or if they come across a worm and eat it, and then tomorrow then find another, and then the next day, etc. etc...

I guess, like what is their eating pattern in the wild, but I'm not sure anyone knows what that is exactly.

I don't want the snake to get fat, but want to give it a margin of adjustment for it's release in the Spring. How would you tell a snake was fat unless you had a lot of experience with this type of snake, anyway?

[Selkielass]

With worms, I find my snakes prefer several small feedings a week. Mice will hold adult snakes for about a week, but they still like a worm snack mid week if they can get it. (They do beg!)

I feed until they are full, or I see a visible bulge in their middles. If they are constantly piggy, watch out for signs of obesity and start limiting food. My snakes self regulate well on worms and fish, but will start to get fat on rodents if I let them.

[fl4ian]

If they are constantly piggy, watch out for signs of obesity and start limiting food.

What are the signs I can look for to determine this?

[Selkielass]

Do some searches here with the keyword 'Obese' 'Obesity' 'Fat' and similar.
Some threads will show scale spread on pregnant or merely fat snakes.
Fat garters start to look chunky not just in the middle, but in the neck, and sometimes sausage-y above the tail. (But be sure it isn't pregnancy, constipation or something similar.)
When Abby was getting fat, she became a lot more lethargic. She is much more active now that she has slimmed down a little. She is well grown, and I make sure she is actively hunting for a day or two before I feed her. If I overfeed her she just lays about and barely moves until her next (weekly) feeding.

[fl4ian]

Thanks for the info, Selkielass. I think I may be overfeeding at one time, but proper amounts overall. After looking at some pics of "obese" snakes, Jeeves is not obese, but she does tend to lay around until the next feeding time. I'm thinking I should spread the worms over several days, instead of once a week, and see if her activity level improves.

Worth a shot anyway.

[Selkielass]

Sounds like a good approach.
Worms tend to get digested faster than fish and rodents- Jeeves should deficate at least once, and possibly several times between feedings. Garters have high metabolisims and pee and poo much more often than more sedentary snakes.

[fl4ian]

Jeeves seems more active since I've started feeding several worms every few days instead of a lump of worms once a week. Thanks for the good advice, guy and gals.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad to hear things are better.

[EasternGirl]

Great to hear...thanks for letting us know!