being over feed?

I have been, or been trying to feed my ball python every 5 days. - he goes no less then 7 days without eating.
He currently weighs at 240-260 grams (doesn't stay still long enough to weigh!) and about 12 inches, he feeds on Live mouses (adults I think) he drinks, doesn't seem to be dehydrated. Seems like a bp in perfect health.

But I feel I might be feeding him too much? I don't have a age on him, but he is from 2012. (when I got him the store said he was about 5 months, this was 3 months ago.)

Also another question, how many times during the year does a ball python shed? At first I thought it would only be 1-3 times, but since I've had him hes shed 2 times, and I think hes about to shed again. (Refused a meal, he did this the last time he was about to shed.)

I'll try and get some pictures up today.

That sounds fine, he's still a baby and is just using that extra food to grow. 2-3 times a year?? My juvenile BP sheds almost monthly...

Most young ball pythons will shed once a month or once every other month. So yeah, a little more than 3 times a year ;)

The snake does not sound over fed to me. Sounds perfect in fact!

Maybe just start offering once every 7 days instead of every 5 days.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Most young ball pythons will shed once a month or once every other month. So yeah, a little more than 3 times a year ;)

The snake does not sound over fed to me. Sounds perfect in fact!

Maybe just start offering once every 7 days instead of every 5 days.

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+1

It also depends on the size of mouse as well.

So at point should you start to feed once a week or so? I assume follow the weight of the snake and once it gets into wiened rats (if feeding rats) then switch to a once a week or so schedule with small rats and feed this way and follow girth of snake vs food etc??

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Originally Posted by rossko85

So at point should you start to feed once a week or so? I assume follow the weight of the snake and once it gets into wiened rats (if feeding rats) then switch to a once a week or so schedule with small rats and feed this way and follow girth of snake vs food etc??

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It isn't rocket science lol. You can feed every 5 days until you get to small rats if you really want. I just feed once a week because it is easier to feed everyone on one day rather than feed some one day, and then the rest another day.

The 2 days is not going to make a significant difference. If your snake is already eating more like every 7 days, then just feed it every 7 days.

http://i40.tinypic.com/fxtdfm.jpg

mouse is this size, The guy at the store just gave me em, Never knew the size.

Here's a pretty good idea and seems to be right in line with things to keep it simple!

http://www.ballpythonz.net/feeding.html

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Originally Posted by rossko85

Here's a pretty good idea and seems to be right in line with things to keep it simple!

http://www.ballpythonz.net/feeding.html

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I have two concerns with this link. One, it propagates the myth of tank aggression by encouraging feeding in a separate enclosure. Two, I do not feel that it is necessary to ever feed a ball python a large rat. My 3100g girl gets one small or medium rat weekly.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

I have two concerns with this link. One, it propagates the myth of tank aggression by encouraging feeding in a separate enclosure. Two, I do not feel that it is necessary to ever feed a ball python a large rat. My 3100g girl gets one small or medium rat weekly.

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Agree, I have a boa female that is larger than any ball python will ever be, and she is still on medium rats. Large rats for ball pythons sounds kind of crazy.