Ball python feeding

[korn89]

I just got a ball last week and petco was having issues feeding him I just got a mouse today took him maybe 60 sec before latching and strangling him I was so happy such a big releife for me I thought maybe he was gonna give me issues too so I'm very happy there but my question is how do I judge or know when to stop feeding him 1 mouse a week and bump him up to 2 mice and I've herd both ways that mice are better than rats and rats are better than mice I'm not sure if my petco carrys rats but in your guys opinion mice or rats for a ball python hes only about 20 inches in length if that helps? But more concerened with knowing when I can bump him up to 2 mice I want him to grow quickly I like bigger snakes lol but I dont want to over feed him or underfeed him either you know...Thanks guys.
~Q-Ball~

[korn89]

Another thing I noticed after I fed him I gently picked him up to move him back to his cage I know not supposed to mess with em after feeding but he has held it down so far for over an hour I think he will be fine but he is super active now im not sure if he is excited that i put a log in there for him to hide in and climb on or if he is still hungry? are they usually pretty active after feeding?

[StillBP]

unless they are picky none of my ball pythons ever touch mice I feed rats form the time they hatch
a hatchling ball can take a newborn rat with ease and rats in the long run are better at least for you a a adult rat cost alot less than the 4 or 5 mice that one will eat when it is grown also this way I do not have the issues of trying to swich their prey type and have one go off feed

as for growing him quickly put put him on a once every 5 days then to once a week once he starts taking larger prey and he will grow


also is he truly a he ? as males will not get all that big in ball pythons not when compaired to a girl

[korn89]

I'm not sure if he is a he its just what petco told me I've seen a few videos on probing I have not decided if I wanna buy I kit I hear it can be bad on the snake if you dont know what your doing it looks easy but I dont wanna hurt my snake either probing looks way easyer than popping and I hear it takes more practice to learn to pop than probe

[LittleTreeGuy]

I just got a ball last week and petco was having issues feeding him I just got a mouse today took him maybe 60 sec before latching and strangling him I was so happy such a big releife for me I thought maybe he was gonna give me issues too so I'm very happy there but my question is how do I judge or know when to stop feeding him 1 mouse a week and bump him up to 2 mice and I've herd both ways that mice are better than rats and rats are better than mice I'm not sure if my petco carrys rats but in your guys opinion mice or rats for a ball python hes only about 20 inches in length if that helps? But more concerened with knowing when I can bump him up to 2 mice I want him to grow quickly I like bigger snakes lol but I dont want to over feed him or underfeed him either you know...Thanks guys.
~Q-Ball~

A general rule of thumb is that a ball python should eat 10%-15% of it's body weight per meal. If your snake weighs 100g, then a mouse 10-15g would be enough for it's weekly meal. If you search the internet for mice/rat feeder sizes, it will give you approximate weights of different size mice and rats. A scale that measures in grams is a handy tool to have around.

Also, You said you moved him back to his cage after feeding... there is no reason to move him out of his cage to feed him. Just offer the food right in his cage. He'll be happier.

As for him being active... generally, mine will go into her hide after eating and will stay there maybe a day. You should have two identical hides, one on the hot spot of the tank, and another on the cool side of the tank. What are your cage/surface temperatures? If he's moving around a lot, maybe it's too hot.

[StillBP]

I pop mine it is less stressful for me and my snakes but have been doing it a long time tho it is fairly simple to get someone who knows how to do it to pop or probe him for you

[ItsAllNew2Me!]

A general rule of thumb is that a ball python should eat 10%-15% of it's body weight per meal. If your snake weighs 100g, then a mouse 10-15g would be enough for it's weekly meal. If you search the internet for mice/rat feeder sizes, it will give you approximate weights of different size mice and rats. A scale that measures in grams is a handy tool to have around.

Also, You said you moved him back to his cage after feeding... there is no reason to move him out of his cage to feed him. Just offer the food right in his cage. He'll be happier.

As for him being active... generally, mine will go into her hide after eating and will stay there maybe a day. You should have two identical hides, one on the hot spot of the tank, and another on the cool side of the tank. What are your cage/surface temperatures? If he's moving around a lot, maybe it's too hot.

+1 get a scale (kitchen scale 14 lbs) and do 10-15%

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A general rule of thumb is that a ball python should eat 10%-15% of it's body weight per meal. If your snake weighs 100g, then a mouse 10-15g would be enough for it's weekly meal. If you search the internet for mice/rat feeder sizes, it will give you approximate weights of different size mice and rats. A scale that measures in grams is a handy tool to have around.

Also, You said you moved him back to his cage after feeding... there is no reason to move him out of his cage to feed him. Just offer the food right in his cage. He'll be happier.

As for him being active... generally, mine will go into her hide after eating and will stay there maybe a day. You should have two identical hides, one on the hot spot of the tank, and another on the cool side of the tank. What are your cage/surface temperatures? If he's moving around a lot, maybe it's too hot.

+1 get a scale (kitchen scale 14 lbs) and do 10-15%