Powerfeeding also reduces life too. I know there was a boa breeder who did it and his boas lived to 5 years or so and then bam they were dead.

I dont know about young burms, but I do know young retics will eat more than once a week. Then again they get to 10 ft normaly in a year anyway.

__________________

I'm afraid the others are correct. No offense intended, but to point out a simple fact....just because you think you're right doesn't mean you are. Do some research on the subject and you'll find that what the rest have stated is true. A constrictor's digestive system simply isn't built to eat that often.

__________________
+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

I have done research. Just because I don't follow the "norm" doesn't mean that I am in the wrong with feeding 2x a week. Or how I judge the size of prey to feed.

Yes, my vet is well aware of what and how much I feed ALL my snakes. I am not "power-feeding" - or rather it's not my definition of feeding my animals. Just because the "norm methods" work for you and your animals doesn't make them across the board absolute.

I am not going to sit here and try to change your minds about how you're feeding your animals - nor would I apperciate you trying to change a method of care that I provide for my indvidual animals. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and to draw their own conclusions.

As for early deaths due to "power feeding" ... can you provide me with links so that I can read up on it myself and draw my own conclusions based on my own animals?

We do not feed to "over feed" nor promote growth in our animals. We employ a combination of UVB and feeding until they are satisfied - a full tummy. We would never force anyone to eat more then they want to eat. Contrary to *most* breeders of *any* animal, we don't have them to make a quick buck - they are a part of our family as much as human children would be.

But again, I do not feel the need to justify our feeding methods to anyone - our snakes are happy and healthy, our vet knows and approves, and that's everything that we need to know.

AlbinoBurmese.com Forums -> Does Anyone See Something Wrong With This
Some feeding on a burm. I dont know the site, I found it on yahoo. Like that guy said One large meal. Not several smaller ones.

Heres another from kingsnake
Re: Why powerfeeding boids is unhealthy...

One at Fauna
Power feeding - Pythons Discussion Forum

__________________

Where? Please direct me to one peice of research or literature that recommends the feeding regimine you are using and telling others to use. I highly doubt that you can. In all my years of study I have never seen anyone who recommended feeding prey items "The size of the width between the snake's eyes".
No you are just personally choosing to disregard the knowledge gathered by years of study regarding the proper means of caring for these animals. .

I am truly sorry you feel this way, both for you and your snake. It always amazes me when someone shows up who has had one snake for a few months and who then arbitrarily decides that they are far more knowledgeable than all the herpetologists, scientists, zookeepers, breeders, and researchers, who have spent the better part of their lives studying these animals both in captivity as well as in the wild.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Hey Merlin, I think there was someone else like you described, that just went poof one day lol.

Feeding more and smaller prey items will cause the digestive track to work more. SOmething that isnt ment in big snakes. They will eat one large meal and then go on for a while. Most breeders of big snake will feed it one big prey item. Goat or pig, if they are out of those. Then they will use their rabbits. If your feeding a snake the space between its eyes, youll be feeding alot of small things.

Snakes jaws were ment to unlock and stretch for a reason. A burm was ment to go months with out food. In the wild and in captive care. When they get full size you will only have to feed once a month. Which by that time could take a 20 to 25 pound pig with out problem.

I thought prey was to be twice the size of the snake, or half the size of its widest point. I forget how to say ti the right way though lol. Others use 10% of the animals weight, 96 pound snake, 10 pounds of food. So on and so forth.

I agree with what Merlin is saying though.

__________________

The basic guideline is a prey item about the size of the snake's body at the widest part, or not bigger than one and one half times that size.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

^ thats it The wording confused me lol. I didnt make sense when I kept tying it out.

__________________