Is this ok to feed?

[cH@0s]

I have a 18inch normal ball. I heard I should be feeding him young mice, not pinkies anymore.

Anyway, the petshop didn;t have any small mice, so I bought a hamster to feed him. He has eaten 2 hamsters now, is that ok? I know they probably closer related to a gerbil, but I also don't want to get him stuck on hamsters, and when he's full grown, I have a little problem.

Thanks in advance

[LadyOhh]

Find mice. Feed mice only. That way you won't have an imprint problem

[AndrewGeibel]

They can eat it OK but honestly I would skip a week instead of feeding it something other than mice or rats. I can't remember anything specific but I seem to remember people saying they aren't as nutritious as as mice or rats.

[dr del]

Hi,

I only read this somewhere so don't take it as gospel by any means;

Hamsters also have a much higher hair to meat ratio which could conceivably cause problems.

Have you thought about possibly ordering over the net if there are no local suppliers?


dr del

[Argentra]

SIGH... ok, nothing toward the OP but it has to be said:

I am sick of pet stores telling people to feed young Ball pythons pinkies!! True, I was too nervous about larger prey and fed my first BP fuzzies when I got her instead of smalls, but I never believed that they should eat pinks.

Alright, rant over. Sorry.

Now, as for the prey item thing... Never offer your snake anything you aren't willing to keep feeding it it's whole life. Snakes imprint on food types and it's very hard to get them to switch to another source. If they are given 'exotic' prey, such as hamsters, gerbils, or even ASFs, I have heard it's even harder to get them back on rats or mice. So be cautious with everything you give your snake. If you don't have what it normally eats, skip that week rather than start something that could be a huge headache to stop later.

[SnakieMom]

SIGH... ok, nothing toward the OP but it has to be said:

I am sick of pet stores telling people to feed young Ball pythons pinkies!! True, I was too nervous about larger prey and fed my first BP fuzzies when I got her instead of smalls, but I never believed that they should eat pinks.

I totaly agree with this... My neighbor recently picked up a baby bp, and he's had no problems with his little guy eating adult mice.
This handsome little normal is not quite 12 inches long, and he
practically launched himself at the offered mouse.
(Both times) B-)

[ptate]

IMO the ideal prey size for a hatchling ball python is a hopper mouse. Sometimes an adult sized mouse can be a little intimidating in size to a baby ball and may cause them not to eat. If they are already an established feeder and have taken in several meals, then a small adult mouse may be suitable as a meal depending on the girth of the snake. Remember, not all baby balls are created equal in size. I have some fresh hatchlings as small as 55g and some as large as 95g. Obviously I wouldn't feed a 55g ball a (true) adult mouse which would be half of its body weight. Its best to judge each snake based on girth and feed an appropriate sized meal accordingly.

Just my 2 cents!