newb feeding question

Hi,

Had question about frozen rat size for my bp. I've been searching for the right size rat for my snake but and I keep finding "feed it a rat that is at the widest part of your snake"... that's cool but I don't know what size rat that is.

My snake is about 6 months old. I weighed it today and its at 560 grams. After reading some threads it sounds like I may have given to many treats... I feed or was feeding (rat pups) 2 times a week. My snake is a super pig and after feeding it one it didn't really have a lump and it always searches for more so sometimes it gets 2 rats per feeding. :rolleyes:

My pup supply is almost out and I know for sure the pups are way too small so what size would be appropriate?

At that size I think at LEAST a weaner rat/small rat should be about right.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by piggy

Hi,

Had question about frozen rat size for my bp. I've been searching for the right size rat for my snake but and I keep finding "feed it a rat that is at the widest part of your snake"... that's cool but I don't know what size rat that is.

My snake is about 6 months old. I weighed it today and its at 560 grams. After reading some threads it sounds like I may have given to many treats... I feed or was feeding (rat pups) 2 times a week. My snake is a super pig and after feeding it one it didn't really have a lump and it always searches for more so sometimes it gets 2 rats per feeding. :rolleyes:

My pup supply is almost out and I know for sure the pups are way too small so what size would be appropriate?

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If you are not trying to get it up to breeding size i'd back the feedings off to just once a week and only one rat per feeding. Snakes will eat whenever food is available not just because they are hungry. as for the proper size.... they rat should not be much if at all larger than the widest part of the snakes body. There are people that use a 15% rule that im not completely familar with but i believe it is the rat should weigh 15% of the snakes body weight. Not sure on that one so hopefully someone that uses that formula will chime in. I feed my girls 2x a week until they hit 1000 grams and then back them to every 5 days until 1500 grams then once a week. with an extra couple feedings just before breeding season. my males i feed 2x a week until 300 grams then every 5 days until 700 grams then once a week. I couldnt tell you if this is the best way but it seems to work for me.

I uderstand the widest part of your snake, I'm just not familiar with rat girth...
My snake's girth is a little more than a half dollar so what size rat is that? weening,small,medium??? That is basically my question.

At his current weight, I would start feeding him a 60-70ish gram small rat once every 7 days, and then repeat every week for the next 20 years or so :gj:

Rodent pro.com has weights listed with which size rat. I generally feed 10 to 15% of my bps weight. She is about 365 grams and she is eating small rats. Hope this helps

yea the rats I have now are from rodentpro and I'm placing an order today. So small size is probably what I should shoot for?

Thanks for the very fast help!