Feeding My New Hatchling

So, I ordered my hatchling ball python and he/she should arrive tomorrow morning. I'm very excited! However, since I ordered from online, I was not told by anyone what he/she's eating, or when he/she eats. I will try my best to find this information out, but if for some reason I cannot, how should I approach feeding this little guy? Thank you in advance and sorry for my inexperience!

Do you plan to feed live or f/t?

Live, most likely.

Yea so get him and unpack him and leave him in his home for a couple day or up to a week then offer him an appropriate size rat whenever you get one from the pet store

Rat? Not mouse? It's a hatchling...

Yea, "appropriate sized" rat. If they don't have a rat thats about the same width or a bit wider than your bp then ask for a mouse thats about the same width. Just eyeball it and you'll be all set. I usually offer the day they arrive and have a good track record of them taking it right away but i have other snakes that will eat it if they refuse. You could try that if you want but i'd only bother if the pet store is close to your house and they'll let you return it if your snake refuses.

Are you sure I don't feed pinkies? He's really small...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Abigail

Are you sure I don't feed pinkies? He's really small...

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Positive.

Pinkies are too small in like 99% of cases. You want one thats about the same width as his widest part.

Someone was kind enough to post this for me a while back so I'll pass it along. Your hatchling should be big enough for a fuzzie.

Rat progression by weight and size
Pinkies = 3-8 grams 1.5-2 inches
Fuzzies = 9-19 grams 2-2.5 inches
Pups = 20-29 grams 2.5-3.5 inches
Weanlings = 30-44 grams 3.5-4.5 inches
Small = 45-84 grams 4.5-6 inches
Medium = 85-174 grams 6-8 inches
Large = 175-274 grams 8-9 inches
XL or Jumbo = 275-374 grams 9-11 inches
XXL or Colossal = 375-474 11-13 inches
XXL or Mammoth = 475-600 grams 11-13 inches.