Dumb Question About Feeding

[bella]

Okay, when choosing a prey item for my ball, I want to make sure it is no larger in diameter than the snake at his largest point correct? I'm presuming this is NOT including mouse legs etc...but rather the mouse body?

Right now, I'd say that Simon is maybe the size of a quarter at his largest point...the place where he came from was feeding him fuzzies (WAY too small) so I bumped him up to hoppers. I just fed him a few minutes ago and he ate two hoppers (I would have offered a third, but I only thawed two because I wasn't sure he would be interested in multiples.

I'm wondering what your recommendations would be for next week. I have one more F/T hopper. Should I offer that, and then one of a larger prey item next week?

I'm planning on taking him out on maybe Tuesday to actually weigh him to get a better idea on mass to feed.

Is it 10% of weight? I can't remember.

Anyway, thanks in advance. I know this is a totally stupid question, but I'd rather look stupid with a full, happy snake than look cool and have a sad snake.

[mrshawt]

10-15% of body weight is a good estimate. I'd do whatever that is equivalent in hoppers.
Sad snakes are never cool. Truth.

[th3jok3r]

10-15% and yea your right big as the biggest part of their bodies is how i do it and i have no trouble or problems with all my snakes

[bella]

Awesome!

Thanks guys, I was having one of those moments and wanted to be sure. I'll get a weight on him and some photos to post hopefully this week!

[iCandiBallPythons]

A good rule as far as size of the rodent to feed is. The hip area of the rodent should be about the same size as the widest part of the snake.