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Originally Posted by reptilemama
A lot of colubrids will slow down for the winter. May I ask why you're feeding 3 pinkies instead of one larger prey item? It's easier on their system to get one appropriately sized prey item a week instead of multiple smaller ones. Look for something about as big around as she is at her largest point. That may get her feeding better. If it doesn't, keep offering food, but maybe not quite as often, like every two weeks instead of evey week. As long as she's not loosing weight, she should be ok and should feed more regularly in the spring.
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While im usually a proponent of feeding one appropriately sized prey item, im going to have to disagree that its NOT easier on their system.
Digesting several smaller food items is actually easier on a snake in many cases than digesting one large prey item.
In fact most colubrids (kings/milks/rats most notably) will often choose multiple smaller food items rather than taking on a large food item.
Simple math: this will be a wild snake scenario, not captive, but we also must recognize that captive snakes still have wild tendencies, and what works in nature often works in captivity (with a few exceptions)
large prey item: your a rat snake thats about 3-4 feet long, and you happen upon a rat nest.
the momma rat runs off to save herself (in most cases), the snake is left behind with 8 barely weened rats.
Does anyone really think that this rat snake will pass up the babies and go after the adult?
nope... when presented with an opportunity to consume multiple smaller food items that will be inherently less dangerous than an adult rat (which can defend itself pretty well against a snake, as we all know) the snake will then take on the role as a nest raider.
(which is well known in several species of snake)
Do snakes that eat smaller food items experience more health problems than a snake that eats larger prey.
I seriously doubt it, in fact, i'd lean the opposite.
Also, smaller prey items digest faster, and will turn itself back into useable energy long before a larger food item will.
now this can increase metabolism, but probably not so much so that it will constitute a health risk.
So in my opinion, if your snake likes 3 pinks (during the warm parts of the year) then keep feeding it that way.
When pinks are a ridiculously small food item for your snake, then move up to something more substantial.
But during cooler months, your snake may very likely reduce its food intake, all of mine do starting in November.
Its a much welcome respite to cage cleaning, and high rodent bills.
Hope that was all understandable.
Im not dogging on anyone, just disagreeing based on experience, and lots of reading on predator prey relationships, and foraging theory.
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