Weight and feeding size?

[LiadanCroft]

Hey just recently Ive been seeing breeders post pictures of 10 month old ball pythons that weigh in at 700 grams, I have an 8 month old that weighs in around 190-210 grams, are they over feeding or am I underfeeding? Mine is a male and he eats very well every week he was just recently upped to large mice. Should I be concerned? Change anything?

I should add that since I moved him to large mice Ive changed the frequency from once a week to one friday yes next friday no.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

[Eric Alan]

They do grow at different rates. As long as you're feeding appropriately sized meals, there's nothing to worry about.

Here's a good guide: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ing-Guidelines.

[EL-Ziggy]

How long have you had your snake? 200g at 8 months seems a little small but if he's a new snake he should bulk up fairly quickly. Did you say you're feeding him every 14 days? I'd keep him on a 7 day feeding schedule if he's eating well. I'd also try to get him off of mice and onto rats asap. It's easier to transition them to rats when they're younger imo.

[LiadanCroft]

Ive had him since he was one msonth old. Rats are almost impossible to find here in Puerto Rico, petsmart only sells adult rats, small medium and large all way too huge for him and i tried to feed my adult ball live a few times and it was a disaster I dont want to try much of that again unless I prekill with Co2.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

[EL-Ziggy]

No worries Lia. If you can't get rats in PR you can feed your BP a couple of mice at a time. It's a pain but you can still make it work. I think your guy is a little undersized and would probably increase his meal size and feeding frequency.

[LiadanCroft]

okay thanks!

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

[melcvt00]

I would order a scale and weigh the mice, then feed the appropriate number of mice each week to reach the feeding size you meed. When he is done with the first one and starts looking again, feed the next one.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Some breeders feed heavily, some even more heavily to be able to use their animal sooner, does not mean it's right or healthy, I myself prefer a slow steady growth.

It's not about weight, or comparing your snake with someone else's, it's about health and healthy proportion.

There are a lot of different factors into play in an animal's weight, size out of the egg, how fast the animal is started, feeding frequency, prey size, fast, the animal itself.

At this size feed a prey equal the girth size once a week until the animal is 500 grams and your BP will be just fine.

And remember BP tend to be overfed in captivity.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[LiadanCroft]

If we go by that he looks very healthy no ribs showing, not too chubby, he can coil up as much as he pelases and sheds very well. Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk