when to feed new ball python.

[Nikki1292]

I picked up my new girl on Tuesday October 9th, a 3 month old mojave female named Lilith (aka Lily). The breeder said she ate 2 days prior on Sunday. My question is when can I give her the next meal? I'm aware that the rule of thumb is a week after introducing her to a new environment to reduce stress, but I was wondering if it would healthy/safe for her to wait until Wednesday only because that's the day I plan on feeding her in the future (I don't work Wednesdays or Thursdays). That would be a 10 days since her last meal. Breeder said she eats one rat pup per week (sundays) and has never refused a meal. She's been on live rat pups, but I plan to switch to live for convenience/her safety, and so my landlord doesn't get huffy about live rodents (he's ok with live, not thrilled about it). Any advice would be great.

[Techbunneh]

So if she ate on Sunday, you should keep her regular feeding schedule. Which would mean that you should wait till Sunday. How old is she? That does matter. If she is young like less than a year I would say, you should feed her on sunday...if she is an adult waiting would be ok.

[Nikki1292]

So if she ate on Sunday, you should keep her regular feeding schedule. Which would mean that you should wait till Sunday. How old is she? That does matter. If she is young like less than a year I would say, you should feed her on sunday...if she is an adult waiting would be ok.

She's almost 3 months old. Already figured I should stick to her current schedule, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. So I will stick with her current schedule. Another question that you could perhaps help me with. The shop that sells mainly feeder rodents, both frozen and live, currently has a limited number of rat pups. Its one of the few quality places to get feeders where I live, and apparently (according to the owner) he has trouble keeping up with the demand here and there. I ordered from Perfect Prey but the post office lost my order and by the time I got it they were thawing (yuck!!) so I have to go with the shop until my new order arrives Monday/Tuesday, but I'm curious if say they don't have a rat pups available, would a weaned or small rat work, or a mouse? She's about 162 grams.

[Techbunneh]

So what you could do is go with a hopper or small mouse. A good rule of thumb is that the food should be about the same width of the largest part of the snake. I wouldn't do live, but I figure you already know that. Another thing you could do, but I personally don't like to do is go to a store like petsmart if you, of course, live in the US. Theres also the option of trying to find feeder mice on a classifieds, or even find another store that sells them.

[Nikki1292]

So what you could do is go with a hopper or small mouse. A good rule of thumb is that the food should be about the same width of the largest part of the snake. I wouldn't do live, but I figure you already know that. Another thing you could do, but I personally don't like to do is go to a store like petsmart if you, of course, live in the US. Theres also the option of trying to find feeder mice on a classifieds, or even find another store that sells them.

Yeah I plan to get her on frozen as soon as possible. She's only been fed live so far, but since she's very young I'm hopeful that she'll take to it with little issue. There is a petco near me, but they only have fuzzies, large mice, and small and jumbo rats. Sucks that my order was lost and close to thawed when I did get it, 25 rat pups wasted hopefully this new order gets here in one piece.

[Techbunneh]

Yea hopefully. I wish you luck with that. Is there a petsmart anywhere near you? I know the one that is close to me does sell small mice. Either way, as you know, ball pythons are relatively picky, but there are tricks and videos on youtube that can help if she is too picky. Thank goodness for the interwebz xD

[Nikki1292]

Yea hopefully. I wish you luck with that. Is there a petsmart anywhere near you? I know the one that is close to me does sell small mice. Either way, as you know, ball pythons are relatively picky, but there are tricks and videos on youtube that can help if she is too picky. Thank goodness for the interwebz xD

Yeah, there's one about 40 minutes away. I'll go there if need be, hopefully won't have to, it's not a fun drive.

[Sunnieskys]

They are only on hoppers for maybe three feedings then adult mice. Go with an adult mouse that is 10% of her body weight. Hoppers are too small. When you get them home leave them alone for a minimum of a week to settle in and de-stress. Once you have three consecutive feedings you can start to hold.

And it it is fine to wait until wed or Thursday. She isn't going to lose weight in three days. She will just be a little extra hungry.

What is her weight?

[Sunnieskys]

If she is on rat pups then she will def be fine to wait until wed or Thursday. And you can weigh the mice at Petco. We have a scale in the back. I weigh them all the time for people for education lol.

[Nikki1292]

They are only on hoppers for maybe three feedings then adult mice. Go with an adult mouse that is 10% of her body weight. Hoppers are too small. When you get them home leave them alone for a minimum of a week to settle in and de-stress. Once you have three consecutive feedings you can start to hold.

And it it is fine to wait until wed or Thursday. She isn't going to lose weight in three days. She will just be a little extra hungry.

What is her weight?

She was weighed right before I picked her up, she weighs 162 grams.