Ball python may be underweight! Help Please!

[madison tucker]

I got my little guy from a local pet store in December, so I have had him just a bit over a month. Upon getting him they did not tell me his exact age, only that he was very young. I have been feeding him one frozen-thawed fuzzy mouse every week. This was recommended by the place I got him from. He always eats very well in that he takes it quickly and has no trouble swallowing it. Sometimes I think the little mice are not enough to suffice him although the next size up is WAY too big for him to eat. He is looking a bit thin in my opinion (his backbone looks very noticeable). He only weighs about 113 grams which is quite small. Although i do not know his exact age I think he should weigh a bit more or at least be gaining some weight with the feedings? What do suggest i do to help him put on some weight? I have heard people say I should feed him every 5 days instead of 7, is this recommended? Thank you in advance for any responses! I am so worried about the poor thing! (also i am new here so i cannot figure out to attach a picture i am so sorry)

[spellbound04]

Try downloading the Tapatalk app its wayyy easier to post pictures and reply/post in general

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[Craiga 01453]

Many of us use the free app tapatalk to share pictures. Super easy and free.

As for feeding, mouse fuzzies are definitely too small. BPs eat hoppers right out of the egg, only for their first 3-5 meals generally and then move up in prey size.

There are a few "rules of thumb" you can follow
1) you want to feed an appropriately sized prey item, which is 10-15% of the snakes body weight
2) you want to feed a prey item about as thick as the widest part of the snake.

This chart is also a great guideline:



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[CALM Pythons]

^^^^^ what Craig said..
If you have some of those little ones left see if he will take 2 a feeding until they're gone. Usually if i put 2 in mine will eat like a dog after the first.. They come back out of the hide (mine drag their prey home) and grab the next...

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I have been feeding him one frozen-thawed fuzzy mouse every week.

He only weighs about 113 grams which is quite small. Although i do not know his exact age I think he should weigh a bit more or at least be gaining some weight with the feedings? What do suggest i do to help him put on some weight?

It's not about feeding more frequently it's about feeding the proper size prey, fuzzy mice are in no way an appropriate size prey for a BP, even out of the egg they get something much bigger than a fuzzy, they start on hoppers and quickly move through sizes.

At 113 grams your BP can eat an adult mouse once a week, feeding fuzzies twice a week will not make a difference.

[zina10]

Everyone had great advice for you !!

It is awesome he eats so readily, he will bulk up in no time with the proper sized food.

[Godzilla78]

I use the "rodent as thick as the snake" rule of thumb, and it is very easy to visually size up the rodent. As Deborah said, feed adult mice at this point. They can even eat prey items THICKER than their body, they are truly amazing eaters, as everyone says, you are feeding way to small rodents.

[madison tucker]

Thank you all so so much for your knowledge and advice I will be sure to go out tomorrow and get him some bigger prey!!!