Too Big of a Rat?

Hi Everyone,
I just joined this forum and I've been doing a lot of reading over the weekend as a first time ball python owner. I got 5 ball pythons about a week ago from a local breeder. I'm planning on breeding them in the future but I just had a question on feeding. The breeder gave me a bunch of his rats to feed them but I think they may be a little big for them. The snakes in question are around 250 g with the biggest a little over 300 g. The rats are weanlings around 38-45 g and for the couple times I've fed them they've had no problem taking them and eating them so I don't know if there's any cause to be worried. I'm getting new rats from a local breeder in about a month anyway.
I've heard of the 10-20% rule so if I go with 20% they are the right size right?
Am I over thinking this or is it really critical to go out and get smaller rats?
Thanks,
Greg

it's fine, the snakes are taking them. I'd say one meal a week at that size.

that size is fine. Just use the size of their girth compared to the girth of the feeder animal. The animal should be around the same girth and can be a little bigger also. The snake will most likely take it!

You made a big move buying 5 before having one! It is going to be a lot of work and care :)

Thanks for the advice. It seemed like they could handle it just wanted to make sure. And ya I know it was a big move 😃 but after having a corn snake for a while I realized how much I love snakes and really want to get into a breeding project.
Only thing I don't know is how my mom who is deathly afraid of snakes hasn't moved out yet! 😆 but she's getting used to them.

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Originally Posted by piedpipper

Hi Everyone,
I just joined this forum and I've been doing a lot of reading over the weekend as a first time ball python owner. I got 5 ball pythons about a week ago from a local breeder. I'm planning on breeding them in the future but I just had a question on feeding. The breeder gave me a bunch of his rats to feed them but I think they may be a little big for them. The snakes in question are around 250 g with the biggest a little over 300 g. The rats are weanlings around 38-45 g and for the couple times I've fed them they've had no problem taking them and eating them so I don't know if there's any cause to be worried. I'm getting new rats from a local breeder in about a month anyway.
I've heard of the 10-20% rule so if I go with 20% they are the right size right?
Am I over thinking this or is it really critical to go out and get smaller rats?
Thanks,
Greg

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Well, welcome but why did you decide to start with 5 as a first time bp owner? Ok, the girth of any bp at it's widest point is the rule also but some leeway is given and it's I think,1/8 to 1/4 inch. Enough for you to see a slight bulge. The 10-20% rule is also a guideline and there is room for adjustments. 20% of 250 is 50, 20% of 300 is 60. So, if you go with the heaviest bp at 300 grams you are well under the 20%. You mentioned the weanlings are about 38-45gms. You can go with something a bit larger for the heavier bps. Actually at those weights you are safely within the 20% rule. Remember that these are just guidelines. Stay in peace and not pieces. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Well, welcome but why did you decide to start with 5 as a first time bp owner? Ok, the girth of any bp at it's widest point is the rule also but some leeway is given and it's I think,1/8 to 1/4 inch. Enough for you to see a slight bulge. The 10-20% rule is also a guideline and there is room for adjustments. 20% of 250 is 50, 20% of 300 is 60. So, if you go with the heaviest bp at 300 grams you are well under the 20%. You mentioned the weanlings are about 38-45gms. You can go with something a bit larger for the heavier bps. Actually at those weights you are safely within the 20% rule. Remember that these are just guidelines. Stay in peace and not pieces. :gj:

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Thanks this definitely helps.
And I decided to start with 5 because I got a great deal buying them all together for future breeding purposes and also I figured taking care of 1 snake in a tub is not much harder than 5 snakes 😀 and so far it's been a piece of cake