New BP owner question about feeding.

[Maceface21]

First off let me say Thank you to everyone who has been so helpful and answered our previous questions.
Ok question on feeding my sons baby BP. Yes I have searched the forums and there is so much I have read that i am a bit confused and overwhelmed on all thr posts. Lol

We got my sons BP at petco 3 weeks ago yesterday he is a pewter. They estimated his age to be about 4m. He is eating really well for us. Just went through his firat shed ( a little rough) but we are working though it and his first poop. I wieghed him yesterday and he is 77g. He seems small to me but isnt skinny so I am thinking he is a bit younger the she said. He fits in my hand curled up.
My question is he is eating mice Fuzzies. Should he be moving up to the next size or should I try a fuzzy rat? Today is feeding day so I just wanted to know if I should move him up one size or weight till the next feeding?

[c0r3yr0s3]

Here you go

[Craiga 01453]

Mouse fuzzies are way too small. They start on hopper mice for their first few meals and then quickly move up in size.

Whether you try switching to rats is up to you, there are pros and cons to both choices. I personally waited til my BP hit 400 grams to switch him over. But, becauseI have other snakes I had plenty of LG adult mice and fed those off before ordering more prey.

If it were me and my snake, I would get some small adult mice and feed them off smallest to largest. Then I would consider buying bulk and saving money (assuming you have a little freezer space and a few bucks for up front cost.). At that point, depending how many you buy now and the weight of the snake when they're gone, I would consider switching to rats. Rats are just easier long term. Since one rat will be enough for a BP meal for its entire life as opposed to multiple mice each feeding it is also cheaper.

[Maceface21]

Here you go

Yes I saw this but he is so small I didnt know if a hopper would be too big.

[c0r3yr0s3]

Yes I saw this but he is so small I didnt know if a hopper would be too big.

Nope, actually on the small side. When mine were as small as yours, I was feeding 2 hoppers at a time then I changed to rat pups

[Maceface21]

Nope, actually on the small side. When mine were as small as yours, I was feeding 2 hoppers at a time then I changed to rat pups

Thank you. He just ate his first hopper and handled it like a champ.

[c0r3yr0s3]

Thank you. He just ate his first hopper and handled it like a champ.

By first do you mean first time with a hopper or that was first and now it's time for seconds?

Btw, congratulations... It's such a good feeling when they eat and it never gets old, at least not for me anyways

[Craiga 01453]

Yes I saw this but he is so small I didnt know if a hopper would be too big.

It's pretty amazing the first time you see them eat a "big" meal. They're amazing animals and easily eat prey item far larger than their heads.

Aside from the feeding chart, some other rules of thumb are: a) feed prey items approximately 10-15% of the snakes weight and b) feed a prey item approx as large around as the snakes widest part. After eating you should be able to notice a subtle lump in their midesection.

[Godzilla78]

I have yet to see a rodent too large for my ball pythons to eat, and I have fed some VERY large rodents to them. I think the record was hatchling Chuck Norris, eating a small rat 26% of his bodyweight!

It was a rejected food item from an adult female, and I jokingly put it in tiny male hatchling Chuck's enclosure. I didn't really think it was possible for him to eat it. He fricking ate it! I mean over a ¼ of his body weight! It was insane. Unfortunately he was mostly out of view, when he stretched his jaws around it. I couldn't; believe it at first. Pythons are the ultimate monster eaters!


Here is the record champion, Chuck Norris, eating his way to stardom. lol. Look at the size of the rat compared to his head. Here is a male hatchling, under 180 grams eating a small weaned rat, I think it was around 48 grams!




Next photo, you can see how large the legs and rear of the rat are compared to Chuck's tiny head.
It always makes me laugh when new Python owners feed a baby mouse and are afraid a larger mouse "might be too big!"

[Maceface21]

By first do you mean first time with a hopper or that was first and now it's time for seconds?

Btw, congratulations... It's such a good feeling when they eat and it never gets old, at least not for me anyways

Sorry just saw this. It was his first time eating a hopper/small mouse from a fuzzy. He did really well with it. I seriously was so nervous I watched him like a hawk but he loves to eat apparently. Lol