How often do you feed?

[Holly]

I feed my Dekayi snake every second day, he gets a half large worm. But he still begs and pleads for more and then sulks when he doesn't get it. I'm worried that maybe I'm underfeeding him and should be feeding him every day, or is this just a ploy from him to get more food from me?

I feel like I'm starving the little guy with the show he puts on!

[guidofatherof5]

Half a worm? Half a night crawler, earthworm? how large a food item are you offering. You might increase the amount of food and keep the same time frame.
They do like to beg. Keep in kind that worms pass through rather quickly.

[Holly]

Half a large nightcrawler, that's all that is available this time of year

[guidofatherof5]

Half a night crawler a day doesn't sound like too much. I'm sure they search for food in the wild daily.

[Lovok]

I've noticed Scylla's appetite has ramped up. Back around November/ December, she was only interested in an earthworm every other day, if that. Then she went up to one a day, then last week she was up to two a day (and these are fairly nice sized, Pet Smart worms). Her eyes have clouded over, and she's going to shed in the next couple of days. I've not been keeping her on any set schedule, since they're normally opportunistic feeders. I keep a feeding log more for my own purposes than hers, and since she's growing again, and really active & curious, I'm taking those as signs she's well-fed, and healthy.

[Holly]

My guy has shed 3 times since I found him in late October and about doubled in size. He looks nice and fat to me.

[guidofatherof5]

My guy has shed 3 times since I found him in late October and about doubled in size. He looks nice and fat to me.

Sounds like you're doing things right.:)

[Holly]

Caught him halfway through another shed this morning! He's a fatty!

[guidofatherof5]

Holly,
I brought my crew of dekayis out of the fridge last weekend. They are chowing down on worm pieces now.
Nice to see those little faces again. They are a special snake.

[ConcinusMan]

How often I feed depends on age, temperature/time of year, how much was fed, and what was fed.

Babies less than a year old eating fish, or worms get fed often. Sometimes every day, or every other day, but not too stuffed.

An adult, say 2-3 feet long that gets a good stuffing of frogs, or rodents gets fed once or twice a week 'till he's really full. Worms and fish are pretty much just a watery snack. Nothing that will hold them over for very long. If that's all you're feeding them, feed them often and quite bit at each sitting, till they get good and bulged.

Adult kingsnakes or milksnakes at moderate temperatures do fine with one good lump of rodents or reptile food once a week, sometimes skipping a week. I dang near over did it with Jewels today. (4 foot female milksnake) I fed her a really large, fat, pregnant female mouse. She had a hard time getting it down and she has a huge lump. I'll be waiting 10 days before feeding her again.

During lean times with my concinnus, I fed them goldfish in a pinch but if you really get in a pinch (it happens sometimes) it's best to cool them down a bit.

[psyon]

guidofatherof5, are you permitted to keep brown snakes in Iowa? All native species except the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) are protected in the state, and may not be possessed without a permit.

[ConcinusMan]

I feed amy (born about a year ago?) at least every other day and sometimes give her a 3 day fast but she's very young and growing fast and gets fed pinky parts and a little bit of silversides meat. Takes her a week to eat a pinky mouse.

When she gets big enough to eat a whole pinky, I'll be cutting it back to twice a week, maybe 3. IF I was feeding her worms and fish only, I'd keep feeding her every other day.

[infernalis]

I feed my Dekayi snake every second day, he gets a half large worm. But he still begs and pleads for more and then sulks when he doesn't get it. I'm worried that maybe I'm underfeeding him and should be feeding him every day, or is this just a ploy from him to get more food from me?

I feel like I'm starving the little guy with the show he puts on!


I see that this is kinda old, every other day is fine.

perfect for a Dekayi, they digest fast.

[ConcinusMan]

Don't fall for the "I'm starving, need more!" act. A slight but noticeable buldge is plenty. Overstuffing at one sitting can be harmful.