does feeder weight matter?

[Figure8]

I don't know if this should be in the feeder forum or here but this is a question related to the care of ball pythons so here it goes..

I was wondering how much feeder weight matters? because I buy feeder mice for my ball python at the local petstores and when I ask for small mice they have given me mice anywhere from 5 grams to 16 grams. a lot of the mice seem like a good width for my 4-5 month old bp but when I go home and weigh them they seem like a small snack - and the only time my bp hasn't wanted more 20 minutes after he's eaten was when I gave him the 16 gram one (that one knocked him out -he stayed hidden in his hide for two days after that meal ) That one was the only actual small mouse I've gotten

I'm just afraid that I may be not feeding him enough with these (probably malnourished) mice. and the inconsistency with these petstore feeders is driving me nuts (having to go out and buy another mouse because the "small mouse" I ordered was a measly 5 grams) I would love to order frozen so I wouldn't have to deal with this every week but my mom is absolutely against letting me keep mice in the freezer

So I was wondering, does weight really matter if the mouse looks to be a good width for my snake?

[frankykeno]

I really think the weight/quality of that prey item is extremely important. It is after all the only thing that supports the life and health of your snake.

If your mother will go for it, you might want to consider getting your live mice a week before feeding day and then feeding and watering them properly for that week (or even 2 or 3 days). It's not really a huge expense to do so and you'll always end up with a better quality mouse that way. In pet store feeder bins they are almost always way overcrowded, fighting for access to food and water and not in prime feeding condition.

[Figure8]

That's a pretty good idea, and I'm sure my mom would be fine with it (she just doesn't like the thought of her food near the snake's) I have a 5 gallon tank and a fresh bag of aspen laying around so I'm guessing I just need food and water? are there any other requirments?

[frankykeno]

Just some good quality food for the mice, maybe a small hide for them and things like empty toilet paper rolls to run through and chew on. I raise rats (both regular and ASF's) so my experience in keeping mice is very, very limited. There should be any number of great threads on caring for feeder mice though in our feeder forum.

[Figure8]

Thank you for the info I'll go check it out.

[Brimstone111888]

I usually eye ball good sized feeders. At the moment I am feeding my 236g normal a 25g mouse every week and my spider is eating smaller mice around 15g and she is only 136g.

[Figure8]

Just curious - how old is your spider?

[Brimstone111888]

She was hatched 7/28 so only about 3 months old at the moment.

[Figure8]

Wow, I know mine is at least 4 month old and weighs 75 grams, 49 when I first got him a month ago from a petstore.

[Brimstone111888]

49 grams is really low. Hatchlings generally weigh more. 49 grams would definitely be on the low end.