Is it power feeding?

[Minja777]

Hello all

New here , first time posting.. This may be long winded but just so you get the picture...

I bought an 09 male albino ball python from a show 11-02.
Born 10-3-09 , 65grams on the 12th.

He was on live and I switched him over to f/t , first week let him settle in and didnt mess with him or try to feed him.

2nd week offered a f/t fuzzy , he refused it on a couple occasions every few days.

Anyway , I broke down and was going to get him a live pinky mouse , but no local stores sell them anymore.

So I bought some frozen ones , they are itty bitty , smallest Ive ever seen. But he ate it first try on the 17th .. Swallowed with ease , like they are a bit too small.

Because they are so tiny , I offered him another 2 days later , and he ate it too .. Its been 2 days again and he seems hungry now..

Am I power feeding him?

He seemed scared of the fuzzies , so this is all I have to offer him , at least until the next show Dec 27th, might be larger pinks there.

But until then , is this okay?


Thanks

[Mike Schultz]

Not if you're feeding him pinkies. They are honestly too small... I'd try to feed 2 or 3 each feeding on a 5 or 7 day schedule until you can get some fuzzies or rat pinks.

[greghall]

feed him live hopper mice & then mice after the first few feedings every three to five days feed him good keep him fat & healthy.pinks are way to small for even hatchlings.

[joepythons]

Hello all

New here , first time posting.. This may be long winded but just so you get the picture...

I bought an 09 male albino ball python from a show 11-02.
Born 10-3-09 , 65grams on the 12th.

He was on live and I switched him over to f/t , first week let him settle in and didnt mess with him or try to feed him.

2nd week offered a f/t fuzzy , he refused it on a couple occasions every few days.

Anyway , I broke down and was going to get him a live pinky mouse , but no local stores sell them anymore.

So I bought some frozen ones , they are itty bitty , smallest Ive ever seen. But he ate it first try on the 17th .. Swallowed with ease , like they are a bit too small.

Because they are so tiny , I offered him another 2 days later , and he ate it too .. Its been 2 days again and he seems hungry now..

Am I power feeding him?

He seemed scared of the fuzzies , so this is all I have to offer him , at least until the next show Dec 27th, might be larger pinks there.

But until then , is this okay?


Thanks

When i had babies i started them on rat pinkies.So mouse pinkies are of course smaller and will take maybe 3 or 4 to come close to a rat pinky in food value.So a mouse pinky every 2 days is not even close to power feeding him.To give you an idea of what power feeding would be here you go.A rat pup every 2 days

[redstormlax12]

Powerfeeding is usually a forced feeding. To powerfeed you feed a mouse into the snakes mouth as it swallows another. Your not forcing your snake to over eat. Not to say your snake wont pig out if you offer it to him. Haha. But you should feed your snake 10-15% of its body weight.

[joepythons]

Powerfeeding is usually a forced feeding. To powerfeed you feed a mouse into the snakes mouth as it swallows another. Your not forcing your snake to over eat. Not to say your snake wont pig out if you offer it to him. Haha. But you should feed your snake 10-15% of its body weight.

She has a ball python not a burm or retic .I dont think a ball python would allow you to get close to them while eating to put another rodent in thier mouths.

[Minja777]

Thanks everyone for your quick reply!!

Im going to still offer a fuzzy to see if he will change his mind , I dont see why hes scared of them , theyre really not that big ..and the pinks are tiny ..

But until he changes his mind I'll try feeding him 3 or so of the mouse pinks every 5-7 days.

Thanks again!!!
Really loving this site.

[BPelizabeth]

Feed him something that is the size of the thickest part of your snakes body. It sounds like you are feeding him something too small.

From what I have read and I by no means am an expert they take a couple of days to digest and it is better to feed them something that is the right size on a cycle of 5-7 days then it is to do something to small every couple of days. I have a 3 month old on 2 full size adults every 7 days. (and to be honest he would probably take a third if I let him). I also just got a 6 week old that is already on 1 adult small. We will probably offer two next week. It is better (from what I read) to offer the right size instead of a bunch of small ones more often. You can also measure it out if you do not feel comfy with the size it should be about 15% of the snakes body weight.

Now please if anyone that has had more experience please chime in if I have given off advice!!