How does the required feeding frequency differ between a juvenile and a large adult rat snake?
Answer
Juveniles eat every few days/week; adults can go several weeks/month+
The feeding frequency is highly dependent on the size and caloric density of the available meals, which directly correlates with the snake's developmental stage. A small juvenile, consuming smaller items like lizards, needs to feed relatively often, perhaps every few days up to a week, to meet its continuous growth demands. In contrast, a very large adult consuming a substantial meal, such as a full-grown rat, gains massive caloric reserves. This allows the adult to sustain itself for much longer periods, often spanning several weeks, or even a month or more between feeding events, particularly when metabolic rates slow down during cooler weather.
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