Questions?

[ssscales]

For years I avoided BP's because of their fasting and difficult reputation!

Since getting 10 CBB females over a week ago, all 10 have eaten twice on live rat pups! All 10 of these girls just scoop up these pups within seconds of them hitting the tubs. All 10 have a great feeding response!! I'm so thrilled my BP's are feeding well!

I'm not handling them at all for at least 3-4 weeks, I'm keeping them in 12qt tubs, flexwatt set at 96F which equates to about 89-92F on the Aspen over the tape, cool side remains at 78-79F.


My question is,
I am currently feeding them every 7 days, should I feed them every 5 days? The rat pups aren't really leaving a lump in their bellies, but I don't feel they could take weaned rats yet. More or less at what weight should they be accepting weaned rats?

Also, when should I move them up to 27qt tubs?


They are 7 months old and weigh anywhere from 250-325gm. They seem to be ok in the 12qt tubs for now, but would have more space in 27qt tubs.

I'm thrilled they are eating great and am nervous about changing anything this early on.

[Adam_Wysocki]

For years I avoided BP's because of their fasting and difficult reputation!

I believe that reputation is from people that don't understand them. They definitely aren't like boas, burms, or retics when it comes to feeding.

I'm not handling them at all for at least 3-4 weeks, I'm keeping them in 12qt tubs, flexwatt set at 96F which equates to about 89-92F on the Aspen over the tape, cool side remains at 78-79F.

I'd bump those temps slightly ... temps below 80 is usually when I start to see problems with ball pythons.

I am currently feeding them every 7 days, should I feed them every 5 days?

You could, but then you might see some refusing to eat. Ball pythons tend to regulate themselves extremely well, and when given too much food, they will just shut off. (Note, this is only my opinion) ... I feel that it's better to feed smaller meals with ball pythons and let them grow the way that they want to.

The rat pups aren't really leaving a lump in their bellies, but I don't feel they could take weaned rats yet.

Again, unlike other boids, I personally don't believe in "lumping" ball pythons ... all of my snakes eat every time they are offered food and I don't have refusals ... I think that a lot of that has to do with the fact that I give them very small meals compared to what you would feed other boids.

More or less at what weight should they be accepting weaned rats?

I don't start feeding weaners until about 12 months or 600 grams give or take ... the first year they are basically on pinks and then fuzzies.

Also, when should I move them up to 27qt tubs?

When they absolutely look like they are going to explode out of the tubs that they are in now ... balls like small, tight, secure ... moving them to too big too soon and you'll have feeding problems.

-adam

[ssscales]

As always, thanks you for your input Adam!


I'll raise my temps from 79F to 80-82F, I'll also continue with one a week feedings and leave them on pups for a few more months.

Thanks again!

[Adam_Wysocki]

Anytime.

-adam

[frankykeno]

Adam's covered everything beautifully as usual. We have a male bp from Adam that's just about 7.5 months old now, weighs in empty at a nice 330 grams as of last week and is a stupendous eater. He eats live (as do all our snakes) and generally takes either 1 or sometimes 2 fuzzy/pup sized rats each Thursday night. No refusals and no obvious body lump.

We've followed Adam's guidance in this and feed even our largest female ball pythons nothing bigger than a small or very small medium rat. They might take more than one per feeding night but they don't fast or refuse and aren't distended after eating. Other than our WC rescue, Saoirse, we've not had any fasting to speak of (the occasional refusal one week or two but then back to the program).

Glad you decided to try ball pythons. Their reputations for difficulty in feeding and shedding seem undeserved. Mike and I certainly aren't long time snake keepers and we just find them a very lovely easy snake to keep once you get their enclosures set right.


~~Jo~~

[ddbjdealer]

I have just recently found a rat supplier that can supply me with all different sizes of rats, but before that I followed this, based on my own experience with ONE other ball that I got a few months before the other 14.

<200g = 1 mouse
>200g <400g = 2 mice
>400g <600g = 1 wean rat
>600g 1 small rat

Haven't gotten to the next stage yet... and probably wouldn't double anyone up until they got to around 2000g. I haven't had any refusals for those feeding on the rats, and have experienced awesome growth. I should be breeding a few 05's this year in November if things keep going this strong.

Of course, I have been warned about "teenage angst" that may put them off feed @ around 1000g... but I only have one ball that's over 1000g, and he's JUST over 1000g.

Keeping accurate feeding records of dates, weights, and what you're feeding, you'll be able to go back when you get new balls and figure out a "guideline", I've found.