Large Overweight Snakes?

[VickyChaiTea]

Is it just me, or are most large snakes kept in captivity totally overweight? Every burm, retic, etc. in captivity I see is always full of fat rolls and looks way too thick.

Could this be because people keep them in enclosures that don't allow them any space to exercise? I think a lot of people who own these big snakes should stop and think... does their snake actually ever get to stretch out, even halfway? Is their snake thick because of fat, or muscle? Do they REALLY have the space for an animal like that? I think most who own them just don't. It's really sad since these are amazing animals that deserve great care.

 

[atmox]

I think it's not as much a lack of exercise but it is the amount of food they get, people tend to spoil there pets..

 

[Fatman608]

Hey Michael823,

Burm and Retic look fat all the time if you got them to proper size and weight. Now i am not saying that people do not over eat their pythons but I think many do because they do not want a food aggressive 8 or 10 foot python coming after them.

just my 2 cents.

Love the Fatman

 

[Nitelion94]

I agree with fataman. I would rather have a plum happy snake than a 10 foot one that all ways wants food

 

[Daenerys]

A friend of mine who has a 12 foot burm doesn't overfeed his snake, he actually looks rather lean and muscular. They let him roam around the house a lot.

 

[Tavia]

In my medical book on snakes, written by two vets, it says that the big snakes are often way overfed. They think most big snakes really should eat appropriately sized meals about 18 times a year. But I can understand not wanting to deal with a hungry 12' plus python too. However, if you aren't up to dealing with that, I don't think you should own one.

 

[tricksterpup]

Hey Michael823,

Burm and Retic look fat all the time if you got them to proper size and weight. Now i am not saying that people do not over eat their pythons but I think many do because they do not want a food aggressive 8 or 10 foot python coming after them.

just my 2 cents.

Love the Fatman

I agree with fataman. I would rather have a plum happy snake than a 10 foot one that all ways wants food

You both do not know what you are talking about at all. You do know what a fat snake at all, it is very unhealthy for them. And typically they are food aggressive in their cages, over fed or not.

And yes, I agree most snakes are way over fed, I have seen way to many in my herp keeping time.


Here is my burm around 14 or so feet at a girl scout show. She is about 12 years old.

 

[Fatman608]

Hey tricksterpup,

Ok - looks fat to me. But like a said "Burm and Retic look fat all the time if you got them to proper size and weight." Thank You very much for sharing.

Love the Fatman

 

[VickyChaiTea]

I understand that some snakes (blood pythons and balls come to mind) look "fat" if they're a healthy weight, it's just their body shape. But Burms/retics aren't like that, they should never have hips or fat rolls when they curl up.

Tricksterpup, your snake looks surprisingly healthy but still rounder. Though not unhealthily so.

I really don't know how hungry a burm would be if you fed them less often, especially if you started out with a good spacing between meals. You know how if you eat a lot then suddenly have to eat less you're hungrier more often, but you get used to it over time.

 

[Susan]

It's more than just the large snake species. I see many photos of fat corn snakes on this forum as well. Also, as a vet tech, I can tell you that a large percentage of dogs and cats are overweight...but then, so are many humans, myself included.

 

[Nanci]

You both do not know what you are talking about at all. You do know what a fat snake at all, it is very unhealthy for them. And typically they are food aggressive in their cages, over fed or not.

And yes, I agree most snakes are way over fed, I have seen way to many in my herp keeping time.


Here is my burm around 14 or so feet at a girl scout show. She is about 12 years old.

So how often do you feed a snake like that, Jim??

 

[tricksterpup]

So how often do you feed a snake like that, Jim??

Every 40 - 50 days, a 8-10 pound rabbit

 

[VickyChaiTea]

Ugh, Susan, I know exactly what you mean. I know so many people with overweight dogs it's ridiculous and sad.

 

[MegF.]

I agree that most snakes are overfed in captivity. My babies are fed weekly or every 10 days...hatchlings to young snakes alike. The yearlings and sub adults are fed every 10-14 and adults are fed every 14 to 21 days. This is cornsnakes, amazons, green tree pythons, copperheads and rainbow boas. The only exception is my false water cobras, who have exceptionally fast metabolisms and my snail eaters. No snake is more aggressive because it's fed only on this schedule. Lack of handling leads to aggression. My rainbow is as sweet as can be and he's fed every 2 weeks or so. My cornsnakes are the same. They are very food aggressive when feeding time comes around, but they are no more aggressive than a weekly fed snake. None of them have the fat pads on them and they are all active and out crawling around their cages all the time. People would actually see their snakes more often if they stopped stuffing them full of food constantly. Yes, my snakes mature more slowly...I don't breed any of them until they are 4 years old or older, but they are healthier as far as I'm concerned and my vet agrees. If you study anything about snakes digestive systems, you will learn that they are not designed to have food sitting in the stomach constantly. Even a snake that hasn't eaten in months will still crap so obviously there's content in there. Not good for them!