What rat size should I use if my BP is about 1 1/2 inches thick

Her thickest part is about 1 1/2 - 2 inches thick, which rats do you think I should be using?

How much does she weigh? weight is a much better way to determine prey size.

I go by 15% of the snakes body weight.

Haven't weighed her in a while and she just ate so I'll wait a few days.
I know for sure the rats I'm feeding her are too small, but since she's ready to eat every 3 days I think I get enough food in her cumulatively.

one of my ball pythons is about the same size around, and she weighs 460 grams so I feed her a rat that weighs about 70 grams every 8 days (I have some on a 4 day cycle and some on 8 just to simplify my life)

I'd ask about feeding her every 3 days...if she's young you should be feeding her once every week. A little bit older ones you could even do every two weeks. It's better to try a larger mouse/rat than feeding her small things too often.

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Originally Posted by Rusky

Haven't weighed her in a while and she just ate so I'll wait a few days.
I know for sure the rats I'm feeding her are too small, but since she's ready to eat every 3 days I think I get enough food in her cumulatively.

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A lot of people feed young ball pythons every 4 or 5 days with great success. 3 days does seem a bit to often but a 7 day schedule isn't required. I personally switch mine from a 4 day schedule to a 8 day schedule when they are 500-600 grams.

Just weighed her, 254 grams. So weaned rats?

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Originally Posted by Merlin

I'd ask about feeding her every 3 days...if she's young you should be feeding her once every week. A little bit older ones you could even do every two weeks. It's better to try a larger mouse/rat than feeding her small things too often.

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I would have to respectfully disagree with you. In my experience, I've had more success with smaller meals more often rather than larger meals less often. My snakes less than 800 grams or so are on a 5 day schedule, larger than that are on a 7 day schedule. Usually my snakes will tell me when they're ready to switch to 7 days, as they'll refuse approximately every other time when offered every 5 days.

To the OP: You're looking for something in the 25-35 gram range. I, personally, go more by size rather than weight. I think a weaned rat would be good. Disclaimer: one person's weaned is another's pup is another's small, so don't get too hung up on the names.

well you should feed her a rodent or multiple rodents that add up to 35-40 grams. So yes a weaned rat would be appropriate.