OMG! She's growing...Fast - Feeding question

Hey all,

Haven't been on for a while.

Got my "2010 baby" BP last May, she was not much bigger than a hatchling. Now she is about 600 grams! Healthy and growing fast. I was breeding mice and ASF's just after getting her, she was eating both but now I am only breeding/feeding ASF's cause the mice were getting to be more of a snack.

I have been weighing Pandora on a weekly basis, and then feeding her an appropriate sized meal. I have been using the 10-15% body weight rule, most of the time closer to 15% and feeding every seven days.

Here is my question: I find that my ASF rats are topping out between 70-90 grams. If/when Pandora gets to be 5000 grams I am not sure how to feed properly. If I continue to feed in the manner I have been, that would be about 10 rats in one feeding every seven days. I have a breeding situation which might be able to keep up with this, but I dont think I can.

I would prefer to stay with the ASF's because I keep them in my bedroom of my small apartment and their odor is very mild compared to mice or domestic rats.

What will be the best way to deal with feeding when she gets up to size?

An adult ASF is more than adequate for an adult bp. 5000g is a laaaaarge ball python! I think only a couple members on this forum have a bp even close to that! lol So I wouldn't stress out about it too much.

Can someone tell me at what age or weight an ASF is considered an adult? These rats which are about 70-80 grams must be at least a few months old.

What is the average weight of a full grown female BP, and how old would that be?

It takes about 10 weeks to get asf's anywhere close to full size.
If you have the ablility to hold over asf's till they are of size then they can feed a full grown female no problem.
I have a spider yellow belly female that only eats asf's and she is 1100 grams at 18 months old, not huge but doing well I'd say.
She eats 2 or 3 25 gram weaned asf's a week and thinks they're wonderful snacks :P

Anyone have a really big female, like 3000+?

I am curious as to your feeding practices.

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Originally Posted by Savage420Siege

Can someone tell me at what age or weight an ASF is considered an adult? These rats which are about 70-80 grams must be at least a few months old.

What is the average weight of a full grown female BP, and how old would that be?

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Here is a chart I made with information I have gleamed from all over. Hope that helps.

Sizes

I have a 3000+ gram female cinnamon. She is only three years old, and gets one large just weaned rat every seven days. May seem like a small meal, but she does great on it and is still growing. She does also bat clean up whenever someone else doesn't eat, so once or twice a month she gets 2 of the large just weaned rats. She also gave me 7 healthy eggs at 2 years old and 1800 grams though so she is pretty exceptional.

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Originally Posted by PythonChick

I have a 3000+ gram female cinnamon. She is only three years old, and gets one large just weaned rat every seven days. May seem like a small meal, but she does great on it and is still growing. She does also bat clean up whenever someone else doesn't eat, so once or twice a month she gets 2 of the large just weaned rats. She also gave me 7 healthy eggs at 2 years old and 1800 grams though so she is pretty exceptional.

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What's a "large just weaned" rat? I've heard of large rats, and I've heard of weaned rats, but never heard of a large weaned rat. :confused: Wouldn't a large, just weaned rat essentially be considered a "small rat"...?

to the OP...don't worry...she'll go on a fast soon enough and you'll have plenty of time to worry about what to feed her when she's 5000 grams! ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sho220

What's a "large just weaned" rat? I've heard of large rats, and I've heard of weaned rats, but never heard of a large weaned rat. :confused: Wouldn't a large, just weaned rat essentially be considered a "small rat"...?

to the OP...don't worry...she'll go on a fast soon enough and you'll have plenty of time to worry about what to feed her when she's 5000 grams! ;)

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Is it normal for a healthy and regularly feeding snake to fast at some point? If so, What causes this, and how long can it typically last?

I bought my 2010 baby in July and she is now 500g(also named Pandora). Eats like a champ ever time!