Feeding Size: I doubt the rule

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Originally Posted by TimmyG

I still worry, I hate seeing his neck stretched out to the point where i see the skin underneath real bad and his patter looks faded because if it.

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You may hate to see it but that is what is supposed to happen. There skin is very flexible and it is meant to stretch to accommodate large prey items.

Don't worry about it, feed one appropriately sized prey item.

Your snake will be fine.Just think in the wild they have no way to "measure" the prey items size to "fit" them :P

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Originally Posted by Minja777

Oh I don't doubt that it works , just from what I've seen from the forums is 10-15% . :)

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My hatchlings and juvies all get prey large enough to leave a small swelling, so a little bit bigger than their girth, but not by much.

Adults all get medium rats. I would have to actually weigh the snake and the rat to tell you if that's 10-15% of their weight - I don't go by weight any longer, I go by visible size with my crew. I know what they can and will take size wise and offer appropriately sized meals that will keep them feeding on a weekly basis with an occassional one week refusal.

Here is a video or two that should ease your mind when it comes to your ball python looking like its gonna rip apart. Just make sure its about the same size prey as the girth of your snake. I was shocked when I saw this

YouTube - Snake Regurgitates Hippo

YouTube - Snake Regurgitates Antelope

I'm sure your ball python wont spilt open lol

I've always wondered how snakes can eat an antelope with pointy antlers and all, but they do it. And they do it over and over again without cutting themselves open.
They are remarkable creatures. Also, ball pythons are picky enough that if it was hurting them, I am sure they would have no problem spitting it out.