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    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

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    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Ball idiots......(sorry, another ball rant)

Show me some pinhead balls.......
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I did spend a couple minutes wandering around google image searches but it appears people don't want to post pics of anything fed to breeding size in two years, I don't have any pinheaded animals myself so I guess I'm just going to have to say... I've seen them a few times, I suspect you have as well and just don't want to admit it at this point. Maybe someone else will read the thread to this point and offer their views, although the way we've all been responding since Btaylor there decided to crawl up Beard's butt I wouldn't blame them for just closing the thread.

Your damn right I'll argue bp's won't feed every time food is offered. If that was the case - nobody would have problems getting wc bp's to eat.
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You really didn't read anything I wrote, did you? Try the part in bold here... WHEN a ball python is in such a condition as to accept food, they eat because food is present, not because they are specifically "hungry" I am not arguing that balls are strong feeders or will blow up the way burms frequently do... What I am saying is that you are taking an animal that really has a year long cycle to the strength of their feeding responses and is built in such a way as to bulk up fairly quickly when food is avaliable and drop weight fairly slowly when it is not. This means that when it's the ideal time to put on weight, initially healthy animals will POUND food and bulk up fairly quickly... they are built to take large and fairly frequent meals in order to replace lost weight. However I also contend that this can be abused by someone choosing to offer food. Seriously, when your balls are on a five day feeding schedule, I challenge you to feed every three for a few weeks. I doubt they will take *every* prey item offered but would wager you could easily see a 25-30% increase in the mass of prey accepted.

Once again... You have both stated that you feed with decent frequency to build up and maintain a decent weight, but rejected the idea of a MORE frequent feeding schedule. Why would you reject the idea of more frequent feedings if it didn't have potentially negative effects on the animal's health? All I am stating is that is IS a possibility to overfeed a ball python, I have seen the results myself. I'm not going to say it's a common problem and agree fully that underweight animals are far more likely and should not be advertised when the condition is obviously poor but simply because an alternative scenario is unlikely does not make it an impossibility.
 
I did spend a couple minutes wandering around google image searches but it appears people don't want to post pics of anything fed to breeding size in two years,
Click to expand...

HMMMM, I'm more slow than I thought.
Are we still talking about Regius? If so, I stated in THIS thread that I had 2 02 girls produce for me that were under 2 years old. I have also stated in other threads that I have bred males at 7-8 month of age.

Seriously, when your balls are on a five day feeding schedule, I challenge you to feed every three for a few weeks. I doubt they will take *every* prey item offered but would wager you could easily see a 25-30% increase in the mass of prey accepted.
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I have tried this, and they will refuse just like they did on the 5-7 day feeding schedule. That is the reason I offer juvis food every 5-7 days.
 
Come on guys.....stop jerkin each other off and *read* what Seamus said.....he has some excellent points. The only reason people power feed snakes is because of greed...they want to get their animals as big as possible as quick as possible so they can breed them.....I can almost guarantee you these animals will not live full lives, or at least as long as an animal that is fed on a more appropriate, sparing diet. Snakes are adapted to go looooong periods of time without food.....I myself have a ball python male who has not eaten since last October. You don't need to pack them so full of food and condemn them to an early grave just so you can line your pockets.
 
David you just made my point - how can you powerfeed a bp that goes off feed for 5-6 months? Its pretty clear you don't breed bp's. Females that don't eat for months while they are gravid but use their body mass to produce eggs. Males who won't eat for months because they are to worried about their ladies. Feed them and feed them good while they are eating is my whole point. I don't (what you call) powerfeed for greed. Its a return on an investment. Do you own any morphs? I do and your damn right I want a return on my investment. Is that the only reason I have snakes? No - I have a lot of colubrids - some cost a lot some are fairly cheap. I have them because I love them. Its pretty clear you don't breed snakes by your comments and judgements you cast. Do what works for you and I won't change anything I'm doing - works great for me. I'm done - all the newbie BS and comments - give me a break! Not even worth my time to respond. Nobody ever answered my question on why the big boys don't post anymore on any of the forums. Stupid comments, BS and nitpickers who don't have a clue. Ask your mom if you can skip school in August - I'll take you to Daytona with me so you can open your eyes and ears and learn from the real breeders. I'll even pay for the gas. LOL - This thread is dead!
BT
 
The only reason people power feed snakes is because of greed...
Click to expand...

So I'm greedy because I OFFER prey to my animals (juvis) every 3-5 days instead of every 5-7?
Get a grip buddy.....


..I myself have a ball python male who has not eaten since last October.
Click to expand...
You do? Thats amazing, I have about 10-12 that have not fed since Oct.

You don't need to pack them so full of food and condemn them to an early grave just so you can line your pockets.
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I'm oh so sorry. Maybe since your the expert, you can tell me how to keep my animals healthy.


Me, greedy.......FAR FROM IT.
 
LOL

Jeez, Brian.....you sure are touchy! Whats with the condescending attitude? Why can't you have a civil conversation? You talk like your some kind of Ball Python God, lol. And the "big boys" do post on forums....Kara from NERD (one of the biggest breeders of Ball Pythons in the WORLD) is a REGULAR poster on my forums. Why don't you come over some time and ask her, lol?

I do not breed Royals because they're not really my thing.....Do you want a pat on the back or a cookie because you own a morph, lol? Whoopidy doo dah! I have some morphs....just not Ball Pythons, but you don't see me walking around proclaiming that as if I'm somehow special now do you?

I'm not trying to convince you to change any of your methods....just discussing. And I plan on going to Daytona.....but I won't need my mother's permission seeing as how I'm 20 years old lol. Maybe when I'm hanging out with NERD, you can come and school us on ball pythons, ok? LMAO
 
Nahh, that seems to be y'all's specialty....I'm just trying to use terms that are comprehendable since simple biology or english doesn't seem to work. ;)
 
David you can have the last word. Attitude? BP god? Think what you want - all I did was try to make my point. Your the one with "want a cookie" or "pat on the back" - but its all good. You are the one that doesn't answer my questions or see my views. Like I said before do what works for you and I'll do what works for me. If I don't sugarcoat it for you - sorry - thats the why it is with me. Like I tried to agree with you before - I'm not into the flaming over the net. But as far as being civil - don't know what you mean? Opinions are like a$$holes everybody has one! Keep doing what you love and I'll do the same. When have I proclaimed to be someone special? Once again you take someone that disagrees with your views and try to make them into someone they not - but again its all good. Want to keep going (talking sh$t) we can pick this up Saturday or we can agree to disagree. But all your cookie and pat on the back, BP god, civil conversation is getting old.
BT
 
Brian, you're not that blind are you? You claim to not be into flaming, yet you're the one who has a nasty attitude in each post you make and who makes condescending remarks & questions such as "do you even own any morphs?" as if that matters at all.....so what if I do or don't have morphs? So what if I don't breed Ball Pythons....does that somehow impede my ability for rational judgement or husbandry? You sure sound like you think of yourself as "big boy" but IMO you sound more like an insecure guy trying to defend himself all the time. We can certainly "pick this up" on Saturday if you wish....I'll be there and you know what I look like. Feel free to come and school me on ball pythons anytime buddy. :)
 
Darn it all! I wish I had found this thread before it turned into a pissing match! I’ve got actual information to add to it!! I’m gonna post my info here~ and then over at the BP forum too~ in the hopes that a fresh thread won’t have all the pissing, just conversation!

Okay~ I’ve been keeping track of monthly weights on a group of CH 03’ BPs. I feed every 7 days (give or take, I try to feed on Wednesday~ sometimes I swap to Tuesday or Friday if I have plans on Wednesday) I feed live~ rats to those who will take rats~ mice to those who will not. Once/if the first food item is taken~ a second is offered. I don’t offer a third food item unless the first two were small (I try to feed a little more than the girth of the snake~ but sometimes I don’t have enough of the right sized rats or mice)

This is NOT a scientific study (Obviously) and the “Averages” should be compared with the individual weight charts for each animal.

AvgWeight.jpg


Look here for both charts

Now~ those charts are based on the individual monthly weights found here:

Look here for individual monthly records

As you can see Female # 1 was a monster in November at 723 grams and only 7 months old. However she then stopped feeding for the winter and has just begun feeding again recently and is now at 13 months and 767 grams. A couple others did this as well, but no others as dramatically as Female # 1.

Female # 7 was only 395 grams in November~ but she continued to feed through the winter and now weighs a hefty 825 grams at 12 months old.

Also~ all of these snakes have been offered food on EXACTLY the same schedule~ but Female # 10 is only 231 grams at 12 months old. Picky girl~ I call her Turkey Bird!

Just interesting info that I *think* demonstrates there is no “Right weight” for a growing BP and that even the heaviest feeders will regulate by going off feed the next Winter. ~Or~ I imagine as they get older then breeding will affect this as well~

We’ll see~ Cuz I’ll keep notes!
 
Great info. I really think this thread got way out of hand. David is a good guy but just misses my point - which we can discuss Sat. at the Shelbyville show. I have tried to make the same point as well about what is "powerfeeding" and bp's going off feed. All I was saying was - This is my feeding schedule - bp's eat when they are hungry and don't when they are not. When they are feeding I feed them well because they will go off feed. I don't believe ( and mine don't ) feed just because food is offered. As I've already said I've tried this to get that little bit of extra weight before breeding season and it does always work. To each his own - do what works for you. David means good and is a good guy - just different opinions on what is "powerfeeding". I don wish you would call me David - I do have a few guestions for you about your post on your site with Kara (nerd) reguarding investment animals (morphs). She basically said the same thing as me and you agree with her but bash me? Just don't get it?
BT
 
I'm not gonna get in the middle of y'alls arguement/heated discussion.........I've chatted with David~ and I think he is a nice guy as well.

I'm still a relative newbie (three years) so I can't give written in stone advice~ BUT I really think the numbers I collected demonstrate that there just is no "Right" or "Wrong"~ the animals will make a fool of you if you try to pin down what they should be doing!

I'm one of those crazy people that actually enjoy keeping track of this kind of stuff~ so it will be interesting to see next Winter if any of these girls are ready to breed~ and if so~ which ones? (I'm thinking NOT #10~ but you never know~ she could shoot right up this summer!)
 
Don't worry....I think the pissing contest has been called a draw, lol. ;)

Interesting info, Cheryl. Thanks for sharing! :)
 
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