Too much to eat?

Hey guys I've nursing my 3 yr old ball back to health from being malnourished by its previous owner. It has almost been a year since I've had him and its been a great year. He ( I did have him probed) has worked his way up to a jumbo rat every 2 weeks. And when he poops I know he wants to eat again. Well 3 weeks ago he shed and he was fed after his shed was complete. Its only a week and he has already pooped! Should I move on to a jumbo once a week or stay at every two weeks? Ge doesn't look overweight or too fat at all. Just wanted some insight. Thnx in advance.

What is his weight? When you say a jumbo rat, how many grams is the rat you are feeding him?

I don't know either of those questions but the jumbo rat I am feeding him are the f/t from petco.

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Originally Posted by WmHrbst

What is his weight?
When you say a jumbo rat, how many grams is the rat you are feeding him?

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Originally Posted by Fiq5545

I don't know either of those questions but the jumbo rat I am feeding him are the f/t from petco.

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Get a scale and weigh one. My bet is they're way bigger than needed, and you should shift to one small (50-80g) rat per week. They don't have to poop between every meal.

How often they poop should affect when you feed, just feed on a schedule. Jumbo rats are probably too large, it would be more healthy to feed smaller rats more often (weekly), maybe 15% of his body weight. If you don't have a scale, a kitchen scale is quite inexpensive. Also, have you tried finding your rats from somewhere other than Petco? They are typically overpriced.

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Originally Posted by Shera

How often they poop should affect when you feed, just feed on a schedule. Jumbo rats are probably too large, it would be more healthy to feed smaller rats more often (weekly), maybe 15% of his body weight. If you don't have a scale, a kitchen scale is quite inexpensive. Also, have you tried finding your rats from somewhere other than Petco? They are typically overpriced.

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Yeh they are I paid $24 + tax for 2 boxes of six each (two different sizes) only to have her not eat any of them ouch!!! Then got 50 at a show for 25! Still have them tho lol still won't eat em!
But such a difference in price!!

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Yeah I agree that jumbo rats may be a bit too large. You should post a pic of your big boy and of the jumbo rats your giving him and we should be able to help you better with feeding him a more appropriate size feeder. My biggest female girl gets a medium rat every week and she's long and nicely rounded but not fat, she's a strong muscle. I've never heard of anyone feeding their ball pythons anything bigger than a medium rat.




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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

Yeah I agree that jumbo rats may be a bit too large. You should post a pic of your big boy and of the jumbo rats your giving him and we should be able to help you better with feeding him a more appropriate size feeder. My biggest female girl gets a medium rat every week and she's long and nicely rounded but not fat, she's a strong muscle. I've never heard of anyone feeding their ball pythons anything bigger than a medium rat.

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My big girl gets large rats ;), but I agree with the pictures suggestion, jumbo rats at one place might be another's large.

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Originally Posted by Badgemash

My big girl gets large rats ;), but I agree with the pictures suggestion, jumbo rats at one place might be another's large.

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That's very true and I was thinking the same thing :) there jumbo rats might be our large or medium rats depending on where they are. I've heard that on different countries that their rat sizes are a little different than ours, but we will see. Pics will definitely help us determine if its an appropriate sized meal or not.


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15% and a jumbo are way to much for an adult male. The 10-15% rule actually only applies to babies and juvis.

Smalls would be ideal every 10-14 days or at the most, a medium.

I personally feed all my adult males smalls.

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