Reducing feeding frequency for adults

I've read that one should reduce the feeding frequency for adults. At what point, by weight, is a ball python considered an adult for feeding purposes? Also, is the slowing of feeding gradual, or sudden when the snake reaches adulthood?

I think most people say when your snake hits 500g, you should reduce him/her to 1 appropriate sized meal a week. The 10-15% weight for food goes out of the window then too. So basically unless you got a large girl, one small rat a week will probably be fine but again, you got to just use judgement.

I go to two week feedings when they get to 1000g. I did this for my Ball and my young Bloods. Im slow growing them and they are all feeding and growing well. My entire collection is on a two week schedule now, which is nice. This is just what I choose to do and is working fine for me.

If I'm planning on pairing an adult female in the upcoming season, or if she's been paired and pounding food, then I offer a meal weekly. The others get offered every two weeks. Even then not all will eat every time they're offered a meal, some of my breeding males only eat once every 4-6 weeks.

Funny how I had this exact question on my brain and BAM!! Here it is on the forum. I have three beautiful kids (snakes) and they are all well over 1,000 grams. I feed them on a 10 day schedule with medium rats and they don't always eat. After reading the replies here, I'll try the 2 week or maybe even 3 week feeding schedule. Thanks for the post.

All of mine get offered food weekly regardless of size or age. There are times I don't expect certain ones to eat (I have one in shed, one being bred, and one that's just a fussy eater), so I may thaw out one food item for all of them and offer in turn to reduce the number of rats I end up having to toss.

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Originally Posted by Daigga

All of mine get offered food weekly regardless of size or age. There are times I don't expect certain ones to eat (I have one in shed, one being bred, and one that's just a fussy eater), so I may thaw out one food item for all of them and offer in turn to reduce the number of rats I end up having to toss.

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LOL picky ball pythons are a good excuse to add a boa or three to the collection. No leftovers. :)