Is this a normal growth rate?

[SnakeLuvnGirl]

Hi all,

I just switched my ball python Nala to weaned rats--she took her first one this past Friday, and I'll be feeding her again tomorrow. Well, when I weighed her yesterday, I couldn't believe it--she had gone from 287 grams to 321 in one week! Is this normal? Is it because of the change to rats? When she was eating adult mice she averaged a 13 gram per week weight gain. I'm new to ball pythons so I was just curious. She also hasn't pooped yet, either, she usually will "go" about 6 days after a meal. Do rats take longer to digest? Or does part of this weight gain mean she's about to drop a big load, LOL!! Any advice, as always, will be appreciated--everyone's been so nice and helpful on this forum!

[Kaorte]

They all grow at different rates. She will probably drop quite a bit when she poops.

[mues155]

Well a rat is a larger meal than a mouse for the most part. (depends what size rat you feed)
If you just fed her then yes her weight will be increased with the meal still inside her.
I don't think rats would take any longer to digest, it just depends on the size of the prey.
Once she poops she you will get a more accurate measurement of her weight.


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[SnakeLuvnGirl]

Thanks so much!!