Feeding BP's rats by weight, not size, ???........

[rj1204]

I looked for an answer to this question but did not see one on the search engine. I have seen many people say they feed there BP's small or medium rats. My question is, what is considered a small or medium rat? I bought a 15 pack of small rats and they average around 70 grams each. I also bought a 10 pack of medium rats and they average about 110-120 grams each (some bigger & some smaller for both the sm and med).

My females are all right around 1000 grams and it was recommended I feed them one small rat every 7 days by most breeders. I was thinking that maybe I should be feeding them 1 medium rat per feeding. I know suppliers vary in sizes and actual weights so maybe my medium is the same as someone elses small. The thickness of my medium rats are about the same as my snake's thickness. I also want to keep my BP's with a healthy appetite and not to get use to skipping any meals.......I understand I may not be able to control this. Would you switch to the medium 110-120 gram rats for 1000g BP's? Thanks for any advice.

[2kdime]

The smaller 70g will usually ensure more consistent steady feedings with Balls.

[RichsBallPythons]

My 2000g balls+ get nothing larger than 50-60gram small rats. Feed every 5 days this keeps them eating year round till gravid. Males are fed 35-45 wean rats every 7 days and this keeps them eating good during breeding.

[Vypyrz]

I also feed my kilo BP 1 small rat per feeding, usually in the 50-80 gram range...

[qinw]

The smaller 70g will usually ensure more consistent steady feedings with Balls.

My 2000g balls+ get nothing larger than 50-60gram small rats. Feed every 5 days this keeps them eating year round till gravid. Males are fed 35-45 wean rats every 7 days and this keeps them eating good during breeding.

I also feed my kilo BP 1 small rat per feeding, usually in the 50-80 gram range...

but is it under feed?

[rj1204]

I just bought a 3500g and 2100 gram female from a good, reputable breeder and he said he fed them one small (70 gram) rat per week and that is what he has always done........and she became a nice, healthy, large female over the course of the last 5 years. So, my 900-1000g girls get the same size rat as my 3500g and 2100g girls.

[stratus_020202]

I only use the 10% rule for the young and Juvi balls. They are growing a lot stronger at this age. Once they get close to 1000 g's they all get a big small or small medium rat. It's tough feeding a 1000 g ball python a 100 g rat. They look a little big

[Vypyrz]

but is it under feed?

Well, I would rather have a snake that consistently feeds on small rats all year long than one that eats larger prey for 4 months and then goes off feed for 7-8 months.
The thing to remember is that the snake may be growing, but their metabolism isn't going to increase. So, a 1200 gram snake may be able to fully digest and metabolize a 50-60 gram small rat in 7 days. Can they take a 120g medium rat? yes, most likely. But, because the food was basically doubled, they will need more time to process it. So my opinion is when you start getting into the 100+ gram sizes then it will be time to switch to a 10-14 day feeding schedule. Either way, They are still getting the same amount of prey each month, whether you are feeding 4 X 60g rats, or 2 X 120g rats...

[qinw]

Well, I would rather have a snake that consistently feeds on small rats all year long than one that eats larger prey for 4 months and then goes off feed for 7-8 months.
The thing to remember is that the snake may be growing, but their metabolism isn't going to increase. So, a 1200 gram snake may be able to fully digest and metabolize a 50-60 gram small rat in 7 days. Can they take a 120g medium rat? yes, most likely. But, because the food was basically doubled, they will need more time to process it. So my opinion is when you start getting into the 100+ gram sizes then it will be time to switch to a 10-14 day feeding schedule. Either way, They are still getting the same amount of prey each month, whether you are feeding 4 X 60g rats, or 2 X 120g rats...

i get wat u mean.. thanks buddy.. becos i read somewhere in this forum that is better to feed a ball a 100g prey than a 5 x 20g prey.. i dunno.. well..

[Oxylepy]

15-20% if I want a snake to grow, 10% if I am happy with their weight but want them to gain slowly, less if I want them to hold their weight which is adjusted based on if they start to lose or gain more than 50g.

As for size: Hopper Mouse, Mouse, Weanling Rat, Small Rat (45-84g). When any of them hit over 2k I may think of getting larger prey than Small Rats.

Works for me, none are too thin, they dont struggle to swallow, and they will almost always take whatever is offered to them.

i get wat u mean.. thanks buddy.. becos i read somewhere in this forum that is better to feed a ball a 100g prey than a 5 x 20g prey.. i dunno.. well..

Well, 20 is tiny... But my one female that is at 1700g (full) right now is eating 3 small rats/feeding