What size mice should my Ball Python be eating?

[gothkenny]

Okay, so I have an 18 inch Ball Python that has been eating hoppers (I think? Maybe weanlings?) but I'm not sure if I should up his food size or not... Oh and I have no idea what to CALL each size of mice.

The mice he's been eating were about an inch/inch and a half long and looked like tiny little adult mice by the way that they had their fur all in... What stage would that be? I don't want to look like an idiot ording mice..... again.

...I just realized I must sound like such a newbie.... Oh well, I need to know it and there isn't a better place to find out!

[ptate]

At 18" depending on the girth of the snake, you could probably feed him/her small adult mice.
The mice you are describing sound like hoppers.

[gothkenny]

At 18" depending on the girth of the snake, you could probably feed him/her small adult mice.
The mice you are describing sound like hoppers.

Ahh, okay. Maybe this time I won't sound retarded....
Thank you!

[Argentra]

Newly hatched ball pythons are given hoppers and quickly outgrow them. It's a real hair puller in the BP world that unknowledgeable people will tell new owners to feed their youngster fuzzies or hoppers when they SHOULD be on small adult mice at least.

The rule of thumb is to give the snake a prey item about as big around as they are at their widest body point. If weight of the prey can be known, then give them something 10% of their own weight.