Ten year old ball pythons

[Brittanyhelton]

I have a pair of ten year old ball pythons (one male and one female) who were given to me by a friend a year ago. Their situation is different than any I have encountered so far because they have been raised in one enclosure their entire lives. Also, they are on a feeding schedule of one medium-large live rat per month (always out of their enclosure in separate tubs). The female has laid eggs every year for the last 3+ years. She laid a healthy clutch of 7 eggs on June 23rd and they are now incubating.
I got on this forum to research feeding schedules because the female is looking quite thin since laying eggs and I was wondering if I should feed her more often. They each missed one meal while she was very pregnant, and were fed immediately after she laid her eggs and again in early August. For reference, the male is 41" long and 6" around and the female is 52" long and 7" around. I know you will all ask questions about their habitat so here goes. They live in a 40 gallon glass tank with forest floor bedding. They have an extra large water bowl and two hides (a large flower pot with an enlarged opening on the cool side and a large "turtle shell" on the warm side). I use an under the tank heater attached the side of the glass because I was having issues with it coming unpeeled from the bottom. Humidity stays between 50-70% and temps stay around 82F. Both snakes have never bitten or struck at anyone.
I'm hoping some of you more experienced snake owners can let me know if they are being adequately fed. I'm considering switching to frozen thawed rats and would appreciate any advice you have!
Also, I know that it is not recommended to have two snakes in one enclosure, however I didn't think it would be a good idea to split these two up as they have spent their entire lives together. Thoughts?

[Archimedes]

I promise you, you eill not see them missing each other if you split them up. Snake brains don't work that way. Overall, husbandry is good, but my recommendation is to duplicate it with a second enclosure and split the pair up. They could certainly eat more frequently as well, but start with one offered meal every two weeks (small rats would be fine) and see if they take it. if they don't, then they're probably fine on their current schedule, as strange as it is for a captive snake.

[Sama]

Typically speaking most people prefer keeping them on paper towels or shredded cypress bedding as it is easier to clean, cypress is very good for holding in humidity. For many reasons it is recommended keeping them in separate cages, altho i have become very fond of tubs for my balls. 82 degrees is good for ambient temperatures as long as they have a warmer hotspot of about 90 degrees. Some people put males on a diet but typically I feed mine once a week on small or medium rats, females are always fed once a week and usually as much as they will eat, especially after laying! Hope that helps.

[jasonmcgilvrey83]

I promise you, you eill not see them missing each other if you split them up. Snake brains don't work that way. Overall, husbandry is good, but my recommendation is to duplicate it with a second enclosure and split the pair up. They could certainly eat more frequently as well, but start with one offered meal every two weeks (small rats would be fine) and see if they take it. if they don't, then they're probably fine on their current schedule, as strange as it is for a captive snake.

I kinda beg to differ about the snakes not missing each other if u split them up. I have two paired bps. one normal and one albino. My normals stopped eating when I Tryed splitting them up and the female stopped useing her hide. After I put them back together the female started useing the hide again and both ate. The albinos on the other hand could care less lol. It all depends on the snakes. I think snakes are smarter then people give them credit for. I agree with u one everything else u said tho.

[iPanda]

I kinda beg to differ about the snakes not missing each other if u split them up. I have two paired bps. one normal and one albino. My normals stopped eating when I Tryed splitting them up and the female stopped useing her hide. After I put them back together the female started useing the hide again and both ate. The albinos on the other hand could care less lol. It all depends on the snakes. I think snakes are smarter then people give them credit for. I agree with u one everything else u said tho.

are you sure he didn't stop eating because it was a change in environment? You know...like balls are known for doing...