BPs in the wild

I'm curious about wild hatchlings. Specifically what do they eat. Captive bred we give pinkie mice or rats but in the wild pinkies aren't just running around solo. They would have parents and a hatchling BP is no match for any mama rodent. And we know mama snakes don't provide food for their hatchlings So what do they eat? Has there ever been an animal show or national geographic on BPs in the wild lol

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Lol I can't say if there's been one on ball pythons specifically or not. But snakes are opportunistic, they eat other reptiles, amphibians, birds, rodents. Even been found trying to eat themselves. Survival rates are much lower in the wild, probably why we don't see more morphs.

Hope this helped

Since they tend to live in termite mounds and abandoned burrows, I imagine they travel around and if they happen to find a litter or rodents whose mom is out feeding, they pig out.

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Originally Posted by Hypancistrus

Since they tend to live in termite mounds and abandoned burrows, I imagine they travel around and if they happen to find a litter or rodents whose mom is out feeding, they pig out.

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I used to think that as well but I'm sure I saw something in here a few weeks ago that suggested that things maybe quite different to what was thought . Think it was something written by a Royal Python trapper or something.....

Hatchlings are still opportunistic ambush predators and will eat the obvious mice and rats, as well as lizards, birds, gerbils and gerboas.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I used to think that as well but I'm sure I saw something in here a few weeks ago that suggested that things maybe quite different to what was thought . Think it was something written by a Royal Python trapper or something.....

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This was the thread you were thinking about: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...highlight=bush

Suggesting BPs may not live in termite mounds, but more out in the open than originally thought. When they're hunting, I would imagine this is the case, though I'm still not convinced that they don't hide in burrows most of the time.

Most snakes in the wild will gorge on what's nearby and then not eat again for weeks and/or months at a time. They can slow their metabolism down to accommodate for the lack of available food. This includes babies - only in captivity do they get a regularly scheduled meal every five-seven days lol

Unfortunately, BP babies are at the bottom of the African food chain and most of them are eaten by birds and other predators before they can reach maturity. Another reason for them to find a good hole and stay in it.

insects.

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Originally Posted by JoeNapoli

insects.

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I have serious doubts on this one. Anyone witnessed a ball eating an insect?

There are many species of rodents in the ball python's native lands. Some of them are small enough as adults for a baby ball python to eat. And as the snake grows, he can take larger rodents.

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Originally Posted by paulh

There are many species of rodents in the ball python's native lands. Some of them are small enough as adults for a baby ball python to eat. And as the snake grows, he can take larger rodents.

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That's right, and the huge Rattus norvegicus that most breeders feed to captive BPs are absent from Africa. My 4 month old hatchlings can take medium Mastomys natalensis which are native to Africa.