How much to feed a BP

[phoenix-dancing]

Hi - I have a female BP not quite a year -- guess about 9 months old. She is about 27 inches long now (about 2 to 3 inches longer than I got her) -- okay so I must say that all that is approximate since she is not easy to measure haha. She has grown in width nicely - I think. She was skinny and now has some size to her. I guess the biggest part of her body is probably about 1.5 to 2 inches diameter -- may be (I am not good at this sort of thing). My question is - how do I know when to increase her food? She gets one rat pup every 7 days. They are prekill and she takes it quick and has no issues getting it down. They are not big but not small either.

I do not want to overfeed -- heard that can make them stop eating and well just do not want to feed her too much. She is growing and shedding so I am guessing this is a good amount for her from that aspect....but just wondering when to take it up a notch.

Suggestions on how to know?? I know someone gave he a description of sizing the food to her width but I do not really understand -- please expain.

[mr~python]

one prey item the same size as the thickest girth of your snake once a week.

[adizziedoll]

I would say at that age, you are def. ready to up the prey size. You say you don't understand the girth thing so... (this may or may not work lol)

in your head, take the center of your snake, slice it, and pretend it's like a paper towel tube or something... get a prey that will fit down into that tube perfectly. nothing smaller, nother much bigger.

At that age snake, it can probably take a couple reg. sized mice, but it's hard to tell without actually seeing it

[frankykeno]

She's feed rat pups not mice (rats pups however are about equivalent prey size to an average adult mouse). You could try giving her two rat pups per week and see if she likes that, she'll quickly let you know if she's not interested in the 2nd course or if she's still hungry enough to grab it up and snarf it down. Our male BP who is 10 months old went from 2 rat pups per week to one weanling just recently but he's a pretty big boy for his age lol. After awhile on 2 rat pups per week you could then move up to a small wean or whatever would be appropriate depending on your own particular snake's growth.

As far as judging the right size of prey you can even take a shoelace and lightly encircle your BP's widest girth then compare it to the widest part of your rat (which should be it's hips/butt end area). Aim for something that's about the same size or thereabouts. I like our snakes to look like they ate but not have a big engorged lump of prey in there.

One thing to watch is how old those rat pups are as a pup at 13 or 14 days old is a lot smaller then a pup of 20 or 23 days as it approaches the weanling stage.

[adizziedoll]

She's feed rat pups not mice (rats pups however are about equivalent prey size to an average adult mouse)

yes, I saw that she offered rat pups I said a couple of mice just because Im so used to mice around here ( i have a few VERY fussy mousers) But yes, they are both about the same size, so 2 rat pups would be about the same as 2 adult mice.. either one (or two?) will do

[elevatethis]

Here's kinda what I've went by:

baby to 200 grams - rat pups
201 to 400 - rat crawlers
401-600 - weaned rats
601 and up - small rats

Thats about a ballpark figure, usually on the upper end of the weight intervals they'll get 2 of the prey item per week if they want it. Or thirds. I just let them choose. Babies seem to do pretty good on multiple smaller prey items.

[phoenix-dancing]

Thanks all -- all of the info helps! I do understand. Sounds like the width of what I have been giving her is pretty good but may try two next week. She has a slight buldge but is not huge so sounds like the right width...they are about her width (sometimes a little smaller but not tiny).


I ordered them in bulk so have quite a few left -- so will try the two next week. When I reorder, I may do the weaned rats if she has increased in width. If not - is it bad to feed her more of the smaller -- even is some of these are not as big as her width? Like I said they might be just slightly smaller but are not tiny. The larger ones do look like the size of an adult white mouse (all of them have a lot of fur if that helps to know the size at all).

You guys are very helpful. She is my first snake and I did my homework but books do not always make it real clear. I knew it was probably getting close to time but was not sure exactly when. And some of the books say to not over feed...you get various views. I want her to be comfy and healthy...so thank you!