Size difference

So i should be picking up my first ball python today, but cant decide on a male or female. Ive read some places that females generaly get larger then males(id like a male since they supposedly dont get as large). I dont know how much truth there is to that, and if the size difference is even that much.

My other concern is that the male they do have is currently frozen, and id prefer to feed live. Is it at all possible to switch a ball python from forzen to life. I mean after all, killing a life animal is instinct to them, they have just been deprived of being able to do so.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Originally Posted by iM DoCtor

and id prefer to feed live.

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Feeding live works best for me, just remove the rodent if your bp refuses. After 6 minutes I remove my feeder & offer her another day. So have a small tank or something for whatever you choose to use for his/her meals.

Especially rats I hear they go right for the eyes & start to chew on your bp. Not to mention terrify your bp.

Yea, but my concern is will he feed live after being fed frozen for around 2, going on 3 months? If theres a chance he wont go to live feed, i think i may forget the size concern and go with the female ive already handles.

I can't imagine a young snake not taking a live mouse. After bringing him home, I would wait at least a week or even two weeks to feed him (no handling either). This way he will get used to his new home and will not be stressed. After the first week he'll get used to the new enviroment and should get hungry. If you have a proper setup and don't bother him I'm betting he nails the mouse.

Also, I don't want to start a debate between live vs. frozen feeders but there are many people who would give anything for their BP to take a frozen feeder. Just think this over before tossing in a live mouse:)

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Originally Posted by iM DoCtor

Yea, but my concern is will he feed live after being fed frozen for around 2, going on 3 months? If theres a chance he wont go to live feed, i think i may forget the size concern and go with the female ive already handles.

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I'm pretty sure the live vs frozen thing works the other way around. People are usually worried they can't get their BP to eat frozen not live.

Well ive been told frozen provides less nutrients(or its lacking something the live have) and seems like more of a hassle because of the thawing before hand and whatnot.

I guess it could be argued since in the time it would take to go to the store and pick up a mouse or rat, the thawing process would be done.

A snake killing a live animal is instinct, But they don't need the hunt of live prey in captivity as some people say, they go through the same process of striking and constricting whether the rodent is defrosted/stunned or whatever.

If the snake is happily eating frozen then why not keep it on frozen.(if it aint broke, dont fix it)

Do a search on here for "BP not eating" and you will see some worried people.

May be I'm a little bias as i used to keep rodents as pets when younger:rat: I don't see the point in throwing in a live mouse when it's not necessary, although some people get off on it.If it refuses frozen over a period, then thats a different story.:soapbx:

If for any reason i have to feed live then I will, but not out of choice personally for me.

Enjoy the new experience of snake keeping ( withever way you go about it) ;)

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Originally Posted by iM DoCtor

Well ive been told frozen provides less nutrients(or its lacking something the live have) and seems like more of a hassle because of the thawing before hand and whatnot.

I guess it could be argued since in the time it would take to go to the store and pick up a mouse or rat, the thawing process would be done.

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Three is no real proof to that. Unless I don't know something.
But many breeders feed live, and many feed frozen. It's just preference. I do both, depending on size requirements and such.

Unless this snake is over 4-5 years old and has been feeding frozen their entire lives, he should be a good eater. You could give him live, and he will know what to do. I worry more about my corn snake, because being 5+ years old, she hardly constricts the frozen that I give her.

Females do get bigger than males in ball pythons. It's not as significant for balls, but it's true for boas as well which it can be a 2-3ft difference.
For corn snakes, males get bigger than females.
Just remember, to keep your two snakes in different enclosures! :]

In the frozen vs live thing.. if your picking up mice at the store, thats a very very large expense per week. Especially with 2+ snakes.. it can quickly sum up to over 20 dollars a month. I breed and buy frozen online, which is much cheaper and less of a hassle. I currently have to buy 2 live mice from the pet store a week and it's a pain in my rear. Because of this, I badly want to get my first ball python on frozen as well as my second corn, so that I can use some of my frozen products. Or at least tell my breeding mice trio to hurry the cows up.

:]

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Originally Posted by iM DoCtor

Well ive been told frozen provides less nutrients(or its lacking something the live have)

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There isn't actually any conclusive research on this. You should feed according to :
1. what your snake will eat
2. what is in the snakes best interest
3. what is easy or convenient for you to get (based on price, availability, what you want to feed, etc).

if that is live, pre-killed or frozen/thawed then so be it. just be aware of the risks of each type of prey (every prey type has them, they are different though, even frozen thawed).

Even when feeding f.t. the snake will still go through the same killing process - they just do it with an already dead rodent. Your snake shouldn't have any problems taking a live rodent - he may be a bit scared of it moving around but he'll get used to it if that is how you intend to feed. :gj:

As for the nutrient content about the only thing you loose with f.t. is a bit of water. Whether its easiest for you to feed live or f.t. is a personal choice - sometimes it's just easier to know there is a pack of 20 in the freezer rather than "will there be one the right size" at the pet store.