I was just doing some bulk online shopping for more pinkies for my 7th month old MBK Lemon and I just realized I have been feeding her what is considered x-small pinkies from Petco when, according to Rodent Pro I found via Chewy, they are actually x-mall pinky mice (1.5 - 1.99g)!! And of course, Petco labels the small as medium and the medium as large per the weights I just learned about.
I fed her for the second time yesterday morning the 14th at 8:30a and before that, I fed her last Thursday the 9th at 3:30p after her first shed with me. She pooped normally a couple of days ago on schedule. Should I up to regular small pinkies? I have a bag and a half of these frozen ones in my freezer so could I feed her another one today when I get home at 1p? Or would that mess up her digestion? Here are the best pics of Lemon I could find for size reference and the bag of pinkies I have.
Even though you are feeding her x small the fact that you are feeding her every 5 days makes up for it. You can feed her 2 of the x small every 7 days until the bag is gone so you won’t waste them.
Then you can feed her a one regular pink every 7 days until she’s ready for fuzzies. She looks good in the pictures.
Thank you so much! This makes me feel so much better. I was worried that I would end up malnourishing her… I know it’s only been almost 2 weeks since I’ve gotten her, but I’m trying to tone down the nervous first time snake parent mode
No I do not. I keep forgetting to get my small food scale that I think is still at my parents’ house. I recently moved to my new place a little over 2 weeks ago. Hopefully it’ll be easier to find later today so I can get that information. Thank you so much!
Until you get a weight you can absolutely feed two at a time as @caron suggested if it seems one isn’t enough. That information will just help in deciding if small pinkies are the appropriate size to move up to, or if she needs something a bit larger.
It’s easy to overthink things when you’re uncertain. I for one don’t weigh the rodents. I just eyeball mostly. I believe in slow and steady especially when you have a consistent eater.
However others here have ways different than me so make sure you heed all advice given and then decide what is best for your Lemon.
She’s so pretty.
She looks ready to size up to fuzzy mice to me, but I agree knowing the weight will help as well since we can see the body condition here. I could be overestimating her size, but she looks around the size of my housesnakes that are eating fuzzies.
A lot of times the employees at big box stores don’t always estimate prey sizes correctly. They sometimes get stuck on that ‘the throat is the size of the space between the eyes’ metric that works for lizards and underfeed snakes. So I wouldn’t be surprised if that was an issue. Not every store has someone familiar enough with snakes to know the difference
That’s so kind of you! I’ve been reading everyone’s advice and personal preferences to their own snakes and comparing them all to see what will best suit her needs. I just discovered she pooped a couple of hours ago so I may be feeding her a day sooner than originally scheduled since her meals have been so small!
I got a food scale earlier today so hopefully I can get her weighed tomorrow, save she doesn’t move around too much I love how adventurous and curious she is, but I just know this may be a hassle I’ll have to figure out. Thankfully it’s sooner rather than later while she’s still a baby!
A tip for keeping her contained is a food storage container with a lid. You can place the empty container + lid on the scale and tare it, then place her inside. She stays secure, you get an accurate weight.
Thank you! She’s the prettiest I’ll admit, I didn’t think to ask what size feeders to get for her. I just assumed small pinkies were the correct size bcause of how small she is to me. They just asked me if I needed any feeders, and I said that I got some already and they were like awesome, congratulations on your new snake!
Hey there! Lemon pooped way sooner after her 2nd feeding than her 1st– about 1 day vs 3-4 days. Should I feed her the 2 FT pinkies a little bit sooner than I would since she relieved herself quicker this time, or should I just stick to the every 5 day feedings? She also shed on the same day I fed her the 1st pinkie, so I don’t know if that could have anything to do with her poop math
If you are going to feed 2 pinks I would keep the 7 day rhythm until the pinks are gone. As @armiyana said, she may be ready for fuzzies by then.
And yes the shed more than likely induced the poop. All that movement pushed the poop right out! Poops happen often with a shed! Sounds like you doing a great job dear!
Ok, I figured that keeping the regular feeding schedule might be the case but I just wanted to make sure! It makes sense that her moving around so much more would encourage more poops lol. Thank you so much I handled her again earlier today and I was surprised she didn’t give my hands or fingers and attempted chomp. I know she’s going to be SO happy when she gets fed in a day and a half
I had a baby MBK that was given to me and she came already eating ft pinks. I started her out on a regular sized pink once a week until she ran out of pinks so by then I figured she would be okay with fuzzies, which she was and I think she was younger than yours at that time if I remember correctly.
But I also have to say that you are blessed that she is eating ft because I believe? that MBKs start on live first as a general rule. Correct me anyone on this please?
Oh I haven’t heard of that with MBKs! I’ve only read that f/t was the best option and sizing up the mice as they grow, then vary their diet more as they get older. Thank you, I am very blessed with Lemon She’s a great eater and very curious! I’ve been handling her pretty easily and she seems to like my company
I’ll admit, I didn’t think to ask what size feeders to get for her. I just assumed small pinkies were the correct size bcause of how small she is to me. They just asked me if I needed any feeders, and I said that I got some already and they were like awesome, congratulations on your new snake!
I handled her again earlier today and I was surprised she didn’t give my hands or fingers and attempted chomp. I know she’s going to be SO happy when she gets fed in a day and a half 
