Feeding Size

[flatsix02]

Now before anyone jumps the gun and say's search, I did, and I can't really find a straight answer as to what I'm looking for. My girl is an Oct. 09, and honestly I'm a bit scared to move her to small rats. She's on the small side still as the P/O didn't really know the proper feeding for a growing baby.

Now that she's on a healthy diet, she's been growing like a weed. I haven't weighed her in about 3 months (have to go to the pet store to do so), but I'd say she's pushing 750g. She eats 2 large mice every 5 days like a vacuum cleaner. I know the rule of thumb is to pick prey that is as big as the widest part of their body (on empty), but for some reason, I just don't trust it. The size of her head and first few inches of her neck, make me thing she won't be able to take a small rat... or am I just being paranoid? Oh, and she's right at about 3ft, maybe a hair over.

So should I move to small rats and quit being paranoid?

Thanks!
scott

[Powerspythons]

Yes. If I was you I'd quit being paranoid and atleast try a small rat..it should go fine. However, ball pythons being the way they are...your snake might refuse a rat simply because it's a rat..and he/she only wants to eat mice, in which case, just stick with what you're doing. It seems to be working.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

A 750 grams BP is perfectly capable of taking down a small rat, I feed BP that size small rats (55-75 grams) weekly without any issues.

The head and neck size of your BP has nothing to do with the size of the prey they can swallow.

[flatsix02]

Than I'm just being paranoid. Just trying to look out for the best interest of my girl. I'd take a quick pic to show her size, but she just ate a few hours ago and I don't want to disturb her. I will try a small rat Sunday and hope for the best. I'll post up with how things turn out. If she kills it and can't eat it, will she just leave it be and go back to her hide?