Too much to eat?

[Fiq5545]

Hey guys I've nursing my 3 yr old ball back to health from being malnourished by its previous owner. It has almost been a year since I've had him and its been a great year. He ( I did have him probed) has worked his way up to a jumbo rat every 2 weeks. And when he poops I know he wants to eat again. Well 3 weeks ago he shed and he was fed after his shed was complete. Its only a week and he has already pooped! Should I move on to a jumbo once a week or stay at every two weeks? Ge doesn't look overweight or too fat at all. Just wanted some insight. Thnx in advance.

[WmHrbst]

What is his weight? When you say a jumbo rat, how many grams is the rat you are feeding him?

[Fiq5545]

I don't know either of those questions but the jumbo rat I am feeding him are the f/t from petco.

What is his weight?
When you say a jumbo rat, how many grams is the rat you are feeding him?

[Annarose15]

I don't know either of those questions but the jumbo rat I am feeding him are the f/t from petco.

Get a scale and weigh one. My bet is they're way bigger than needed, and you should shift to one small (50-80g) rat per week. They don't have to poop between every meal.

[Shera]

How often they poop should affect when you feed, just feed on a schedule. Jumbo rats are probably too large, it would be more healthy to feed smaller rats more often (weekly), maybe 15% of his body weight. If you don't have a scale, a kitchen scale is quite inexpensive. Also, have you tried finding your rats from somewhere other than Petco? They are typically overpriced.

[Crazymonkee]

How often they poop should affect when you feed, just feed on a schedule. Jumbo rats are probably too large, it would be more healthy to feed smaller rats more often (weekly), maybe 15% of his body weight. If you don't have a scale, a kitchen scale is quite inexpensive. Also, have you tried finding your rats from somewhere other than Petco? They are typically overpriced.

Yeh they are I paid $24 + tax for 2 boxes of six each (two different sizes) only to have her not eat any of them ouch!!! Then got 50 at a show for 25! Still have them tho lol still won't eat em!
But such a difference in price!!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

[AlexisFitzy]

Yeah I agree that jumbo rats may be a bit too large. You should post a pic of your big boy and of the jumbo rats your giving him and we should be able to help you better with feeding him a more appropriate size feeder. My biggest female girl gets a medium rat every week and she's long and nicely rounded but not fat, she's a strong muscle. I've never heard of anyone feeding their ball pythons anything bigger than a medium rat.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[Badgemash]

Yeah I agree that jumbo rats may be a bit too large. You should post a pic of your big boy and of the jumbo rats your giving him and we should be able to help you better with feeding him a more appropriate size feeder. My biggest female girl gets a medium rat every week and she's long and nicely rounded but not fat, she's a strong muscle. I've never heard of anyone feeding their ball pythons anything bigger than a medium rat.

My big girl gets large rats , but I agree with the pictures suggestion, jumbo rats at one place might be another's large.

[AlexisFitzy]

My big girl gets large rats , but I agree with the pictures suggestion, jumbo rats at one place might be another's large.

That's very true and I was thinking the same thing there jumbo rats might be our large or medium rats depending on where they are. I've heard that on different countries that their rat sizes are a little different than ours, but we will see. Pics will definitely help us determine if its an appropriate sized meal or not.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[satomi325]

15% and a jumbo are way to much for an adult male. The 10-15% rule actually only applies to babies and juvis.

Smalls would be ideal every 10-14 days or at the most, a medium.

I personally feed all my adult males smalls.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2