Munson Plan Alternatives?????

[Gulf Coast Girl]

So I've read the Munson Plan and I have a question I'd like those with knowledge opinions on.

According to the Munson Plan, I could be feeding my < 16 g snake 1 pinky every 5-6 days. This would equal approximately 6 pinkies per month (based on every 5 days and a 30 day month).


I don't like the idea of feeding every 5 days as it is a moving target, meaning it is a different feeding day every week. I prefer the fixed target of every 7 days so I can simply remember to feed on Sunday evenings.

If I feed one pinky a week then I'm at 4 per month (which is under the plan). If I feed 2 per week at that weight, then I'm at 8 per month (over the plan).

So.... what say you all if I feed 2 pinkies one week and 1 the next, 2 the next and 1 the next. At the end of the month I'd be at the 6 pinkies fed for the month... which is what the Munson plan works out to for my snake's weight.

In a nutshell what I'm asking is... are there negative affects to adjusting the amount fed each week? At the end of the month the snake will have consumed the same amount... but I'm wondering if it hurts them to feed alternate amounts on alternate weeks to achieve the monthly goal of 6 .... but on a fixed schedule.

I haven't done this yet.... I await your replies

 

[tricksterpup]

In a nutshell what I'm asking is... are there negative affects to adjusting the amount fed each week? At the end of the month the snake will have consumed the same amount... but I'm wondering if it hurts them to feed alternate amounts on alternate weeks to achieve the monthly goal of 6 .... but on a fixed schedule.

I haven't done this yet.... I await your replies

I wouldnt feed more per feeding, if you alter it, just go less. The only down side? your snake will grow slower.

 

[bkelm18]

I've always fed mine once a week (but still followed the amounts given by the Munson Plan). They just grow a tad bit slower.

 

[ratsnakehaven]

I would feed two. If your snake digests well and looks hungry, feed two more the next week. When your snake looks very full, give it a break and only feed one that week. I don't think you will over feed with only two pinks, if your snake eats them both greedily.

PS: When your snake is opaque and getting ready to shed, maybe skip that week. Things will likely average out.

 

[Gulf Coast Girl]

I wouldnt feed more per feeding, if you alter it, just go less. The only down side? your snake will grow slower.

So in your opinion it's not a good idea to alternate the number of pinkies fed each week. Interesting... I guess I was thinking that since snakes can go weeks on end without food that it wouldn't matter if I fed 2 pinkies one week and 1 the next.... as long as she was getting weekly food.

My snake can eat 2 pinkies in one feeding... but she's only 11 g so I was thinking if I fed her that much every week then I'm feeding her too much. One a week and it seems like too little.

Based on your post, I'm assuming it would be better to feed her a little less than a little more.... meaning consistently one per week until she gets passed that 16 g mark. I just can't do that every 5 days as I hate the idea of the moving target feed day.

 

[Gulf Coast Girl]

I would feed two. If your snake digests well and looks hungry, feed two more the next week. When your snake looks very full, give it a break and only feed one that week. I don't think you will over feed with only two pinks, if your snake eats them both greedily.

Your post seems to be in favor of alternating the amount. I have fed her 2 pinkies for 3 weeks straight and she ate them all with no problems and no regurgitation. However I was trying to be cognizant of not POWER FEEDING.... after all... she is only 11 g. So I want to drop back down to 1 pinky on alternating weeks. I guess I just thought if the net sum of 6 pinkies per month were met that it wouldn't matter if I alternated weekly to achieve it.

 

[tricksterpup]

So in your opinion it's not a good idea to alternate the number of pinkies fed each week. Interesting... I guess I was thinking that since snakes can go weeks on end without food that it wouldn't matter if I fed 2 pinkies one week and 1 the next.... as long as she was getting weekly food.

My snake can eat 2 pinkies in one feeding... but she's only 11 g so I was thinking if I fed her that much every week then I'm feeding her too much. One a week and it seems like too little.

Based on your post, I'm assuming it would be better to feed her a little less than a little more.... meaning consistently one per week until she gets passed that 16 g mark. I just can't do that every 5 days as I hate the idea of the moving target feed day.

16 grams isnt a big snake at all..
I do not feed double pinks until the get larger..
here is the size you are talking about and the Munson plan.

-When they're on single pinks (2-3g), I feed every 5-6 days. (Snake = 4-15g)

At this size, stick with single pinks. I suggest feeding maybe every Saturday. you have 1 snake, 1 pink takes 5 minutes to thaw in warm water.
Really this takes maybe less than 30 minutes of your time.
Double pinks is just power feeding at this age. In the wild they are lucky to get 1 or 2 pinks a month.

 

[Christen]

I think what tricksterpup is saying is that feeding 2 at a time may cause a regurge problem. Not so much that switching on and off the amount is bad. It is much better to feed less often then over feeding. You don't want to feed two pinks at one time if your snake is not really ready for it. So I would recommend sticking with the munson plan just do it every 7 days. If your snake is able to handle a little more food you could do 1 1/2 pinks every week instead of the full two.

 

[Gulf Coast Girl]

At this size, stick with single pinks. I suggest feeding maybe every Saturday. you have 1 snake, 1 pink takes 5 minutes to thaw in warm water.
Really this takes maybe less than 30 minutes of your time.
Double pinks is just power feeding at this age. In the wild they are lucky to get 1 or 2 pinks a month.

Thanks, I see what you are saying. For the record... it's not the time involved in each feeding that I don't like.... I actually enjoy feeding time. It's the moving target of 5 days I don't like.

Thank you for your advice, that's what I was looking for....advice from those more experienced than me

 

[Gulf Coast Girl]

So I would recommend sticking with the munson plan just do it every 7 days. If your snake is able to handle a little more food you could do 1 1/2 pinks every week instead of the full two.

Sounds like alternating the amount weekly is a bad idea and I should simply keep her at 1 per week until she gains 3 or 4 more grams.

Thank you all, I appreciate your help

 

[sacr3d bl0od]

Actually this might seem weird but i actually have their own personal feeding calender. Which i feed my hatch-ling once every 5 days and as i go i count feeding-1day-2day-3day-4day-5day-feeding and so on and for my other snake i use a separate calender because he eats once every 2 weeks but eats either 2 or 3 live mice. I don't know if this helps this is just what i use.

 

[Fatman608]

Hey Gulf Coast Girl,

I do not use the Munson Plan and I feed my snakes once a week.

First, thing you need to know is I keep records on what size food item my snakes eat. So lets start off with a hatchling, the hatchling will get one small pinky every 7 days. About a month later I look at my records and the size of the snake if it looks like it could eat 2 pinkies without a regurgitation then the snake gets 2 pinkies. If the snake does regurge I follow the regurge steps.

I do this every month some times the snake moves up in size some time it stays the same. It all depense on that individual snake.

Love the Fatman

 

[Fatman608]

I forgot to add that I call my plan the KISS method.

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

If I did a 5 day plan some of my snakes would not get fed because my memory is way to bad.

 

[Christen]

Hey Gulf Coast Girl,

I do not use the Munson Plan and I feed my snakes once a week.

First, thing you need to know is I keep records on what size food item my snakes eat. So lets start off with a hatchling, the hatchling will get one small pinky every 7 days. About a month later I look at my records and the size of the snake if it looks like it could eat 2 pinkies without a regurgitation then the snake gets 2 pinkies. If the snake does regurge I follow the regurge steps.

I do this every month some times the snake moves up in size some time it stays the same. It all depense on that individual snake.

Love the Fatman

I do it very similar. I don't use my records as a sign to increase but the snake it's self. If I don't notice a lump then they get a little more. I try to stick with the 1 1/2 times the snake rule.

I forgot to add that I call my plan the KISS method.

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

If I did a 5 day plan some of my snakes would not get fed because my memory is way to bad.

I have always done it every 7 days even on hatchlings cause just like fatman said My snakes would never eat.

 

[Gulf Coast Girl]

Hey Gulf Coast Girl,

I do not use the Munson Plan and I feed my snakes once a week.

First, thing you need to know is I keep records on what size food item my snakes eat. So lets start off with a hatchling, the hatchling will get one small pinky every 7 days. About a month later I look at my records and the size of the snake if it looks like it could eat 2 pinkies without a regurgitation then the snake gets 2 pinkies. If the snake does regurge I follow the regurge steps.

I do this every month some times the snake moves up in size some time it stays the same. It all depense on that individual snake.

Love the Fatman

Thanks Fatman.... that sounds like solid advice!

I forgot to add that I call my plan the KISS method.

I'm very familiar with the KISS method, I try my best to always adhere to that plan

 

[ratsnakehaven]

Your post seems to be in favor of alternating the amount. I have fed her 2 pinkies for 3 weeks straight and she ate them all with no problems and no regurgitation. However I was trying to be cognizant of not POWER FEEDING.... after all... she is only 11 g. So I want to drop back down to 1 pinky on alternating weeks. I guess I just thought if the net sum of 6 pinkies per month were met that it wouldn't matter if I alternated weekly to achieve it.

I'm not saying the Munson Plan is a bad plan at all. It's probably pretty good for someone who needs a lot of direction. I don't use it myself, but then I've been raising snakes for about forty years. My plan is to feed the snakes when they're hungry. You can tell. It doesn't always have to be 5 days or 7 days. We don't always keep to a strict schedule and neither do the snakes in the wild. There's times when the weather is bad and they can't go hunting, or when they're in the shed cycle. Also, I usually feed a snake as small as yours a very small pinky, probably not more than two grams. So two pinks would be four grams. That's another variable. If you feed it a four gram pink, that's two of mine.

Then there's winter. Snakes normally don't eat nearly as much during winter, don't shed as often, etc. Let me say this. I know the others offering help know what they're talking about; but if your snake averages about six fair sized pinks a month from now until April, I'm positive it will look good and have gained enough weight to be able to increase it's intake quite a bit in spring. Snakes put the most weight on during the warmest months of the year, about six months. This could get even more interesting, but I have to run. Be back in a few hours.

Good luck with your baby corn. They are the easiest snake to raise, so don't worry too much...