Too Big of a Rat?

[piedpipper]

Hi Everyone,
I just joined this forum and I've been doing a lot of reading over the weekend as a first time ball python owner. I got 5 ball pythons about a week ago from a local breeder. I'm planning on breeding them in the future but I just had a question on feeding. The breeder gave me a bunch of his rats to feed them but I think they may be a little big for them. The snakes in question are around 250 g with the biggest a little over 300 g. The rats are weanlings around 38-45 g and for the couple times I've fed them they've had no problem taking them and eating them so I don't know if there's any cause to be worried. I'm getting new rats from a local breeder in about a month anyway.
I've heard of the 10-20% rule so if I go with 20% they are the right size right?
Am I over thinking this or is it really critical to go out and get smaller rats?
Thanks,
Greg

[DennisM]

it's fine, the snakes are taking them. I'd say one meal a week at that size.

[BallP]

that size is fine. Just use the size of their girth compared to the girth of the feeder animal. The animal should be around the same girth and can be a little bigger also. The snake will most likely take it!

You made a big move buying 5 before having one! It is going to be a lot of work and care

[piedpipper]

Thanks for the advice. It seemed like they could handle it just wanted to make sure. And ya I know it was a big move 😃 but after having a corn snake for a while I realized how much I love snakes and really want to get into a breeding project.
Only thing I don't know is how my mom who is deathly afraid of snakes hasn't moved out yet! 😆 but she's getting used to them.

[Albert Clark]

Hi Everyone,
I just joined this forum and I've been doing a lot of reading over the weekend as a first time ball python owner. I got 5 ball pythons about a week ago from a local breeder. I'm planning on breeding them in the future but I just had a question on feeding. The breeder gave me a bunch of his rats to feed them but I think they may be a little big for them. The snakes in question are around 250 g with the biggest a little over 300 g. The rats are weanlings around 38-45 g and for the couple times I've fed them they've had no problem taking them and eating them so I don't know if there's any cause to be worried. I'm getting new rats from a local breeder in about a month anyway.
I've heard of the 10-20% rule so if I go with 20% they are the right size right?
Am I over thinking this or is it really critical to go out and get smaller rats?
Thanks,
Greg

Well, welcome but why did you decide to start with 5 as a first time bp owner? Ok, the girth of any bp at it's widest point is the rule also but some leeway is given and it's I think,1/8 to 1/4 inch. Enough for you to see a slight bulge. The 10-20% rule is also a guideline and there is room for adjustments. 20% of 250 is 50, 20% of 300 is 60. So, if you go with the heaviest bp at 300 grams you are well under the 20%. You mentioned the weanlings are about 38-45gms. You can go with something a bit larger for the heavier bps. Actually at those weights you are safely within the 20% rule. Remember that these are just guidelines. Stay in peace and not pieces.

[piedpipper]

Well, welcome but why did you decide to start with 5 as a first time bp owner? Ok, the girth of any bp at it's widest point is the rule also but some leeway is given and it's I think,1/8 to 1/4 inch. Enough for you to see a slight bulge. The 10-20% rule is also a guideline and there is room for adjustments. 20% of 250 is 50, 20% of 300 is 60. So, if you go with the heaviest bp at 300 grams you are well under the 20%. You mentioned the weanlings are about 38-45gms. You can go with something a bit larger for the heavier bps. Actually at those weights you are safely within the 20% rule. Remember that these are just guidelines. Stay in peace and not pieces.

Thanks this definitely helps.
And I decided to start with 5 because I got a great deal buying them all together for future breeding purposes and also I figured taking care of 1 snake in a tub is not much harder than 5 snakes 😀 and so far it's been a piece of cake