how many mice should a 4ft red rat snake eat?

Question

my son and i have a 4ft Red Rat Snake (that is actually grey) that is about 14 months old. we have been feeding one small mouse once a week. it seems as though he has been getting more active in his terrarium, showing signs of hunger earlier in the week before feeding day (Sundays). should we up it to 2 small mice every week? or should we up it to 2 small mice every 2 weeks? << if we do the latter, that would just equal the same amount we are already doing and we would just be hungrier sooner as the second Sunday approaches. need serious answers please!

the head of a typical Red Rat Snake is much smaller than a Ball Python. i would say the widest point of his ead is about the diameter of a penny. i don't think bigger mice are a good idea at this point. the small mouse size he is currently on is corect, but should it be 1 or 2 a week? once or twice a week?

Answer 1

1 mouse same size as largest portion of the body, would nt hurt to give him like 2 smaller mice per week though

Answer 2

Rat snakes in general can be "mouse vacuums". A 4 foot rat snake can consume up to a dozen (full grown) mice on a 10 day cycle, depending on the temperature (80* F) of the environment and their activity.
You also seem to be concerned about meal size, don't be. I have been given rat snakes, from rabbit breeders, that have eaten new born baby rabbits (which are about 5 times the diameter of the snakes).

Answer 3

I owned a ball python for a while, about the length of your snake. She had a similar problem. I was initially surprised that she appeared to be hunting more often. My uncle (who gave me the snake and has his own) suggested that it was time she moved up to rats. That might be advisable for your snake too. It is growing, and probably requires more food. Furthermore, it would make sense to me that a developing red rat snake would eat rats. Common rats (as their name suggests) are easy to find, perhaps at a local pet store. Feed your snake a rat that is larger than the mice that it usually eats but doesn't look too big, sticking to your once a week feeding pattern. Increase the size if your snake still shows signs of hunger.

Good luck with your snake. I hope you find this helpful.

Answer 4

You should be feeding larger mice once a week. My husband is a collector of snakes. We have several boas and pythons. You should be feeding a mouse that is the size of the snakes largest body girth. Hope this helps you out.

Answer 5

My in-laws own a pet store..They would feed one that size 3 mice..or a rat...once a week..

Answer 6

around 3 small mice i had a boa constricter 6 feet and it need 4 big mice

Answer 7

i have a 2 1/2 ft ball python, she eats one large mouse every one to two weeks. try feeding it one full grown mouse every week

Answer 8

69

Answer 9

awww feed it cheese

=)

Answer 10

0ne