Prey Size Question

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach....com/a/oXggCcrhttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/SchajMC.jpgI’m wondering is it’s time to scale up Lotara’s prey size. I know weight is a way to check, but based on the photo do you think my girl is getting too big for just a mouse once a week? https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach....com/a/oXggCcr
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach....com/a/oXggCcr

Also we kinda base it on age also and whether they are male and or female. Lotara appears to be eligible to handle at least weanling rats.

i’ve always followed the rule of thumb of a) prey the size of their biggest section and b) to find something that will put a small lump in their stomachs - commenting to follow mainly

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Also we kinda base it on age also and whether they are male and or female. Lotara appears to be eligible to handle at least weanling rats.

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Switching from mice to rats is a good long term move. Once she matures, it'll mean fewer feeders, so it'll same you money. Switching from live to frozen/thawed (f/t) feeders is an even better move. It's much safer for your snake. I wouldn't try switching both at the same time though. Your BP is unlikely to accept a dead rat when it's used to live mice. Switch to f/t mice first, then to f/t rats.

I agree with switching to F/T as it's much easier for all. Safer for your snake and you will always have a supply in your freezer. Plus, if your BP refuses a meal, which is not uncommon as they mature, you are not stuck with a pet mouse or rat.

If you have questions on the best ways to feed F/T or how to switch, etc. just ask.

If you choose to feed live, I would always feed a little smaller than the snake can/should take, for the safety of the snake.

Also, people often feed meals too large anyway. The girth of the snake is a good rule when the snake is younger, but for an adult that means a medium rat. Most BP's don't need medium rats unless over 2KG, and even then feeding mediums regularly could lead to more refusals. My BP female, Shayna, for example, eats a small rat every two weeks. She's 1,800g. She eats like clockwork (aside from some winter fasting) and maintains a healthy weight and body definition. When I offered her mediums, even every 3 weeks, she lost weight because she wouldn't eat regularly.

When you moved to weaned rats, you can feed every 7-10 days. Once on small rats, I would feed every two weeks.

Another one here to support the shift to f/t.
It can be tough at first if they're used to live, but you get tired of standing by with tongs and ready to pull the teeth out of your snake if a strike goes wrong. =_=

After my fussy live only male got a bacterial infection from a rat bite, that was the last straw and I fought it out with him to get him on f/t.

Lotara's a nice looking snake :)