Baby seems thin... Help! New ball python owner

Don't stress too much :) you're doing fine. Personally I would stick with rats and not do the mice, just incase he decides he only wants mice... in which case, they do not have as much fat in them and whatnot. If you can find f/t (or live, depending how you feed) rat fuzzies I'd start with those. That is what I feed mine, although he could go up to pups anytime - I'm just emptying out my stock. Mine was 116g when I got him, 3 months old, eating rat fuzzies.

He's gorgeous, by the way (yours)!! Best of luck.

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Originally Posted by kittymeow

Thanks for the picture comparison! I'm just being a little paranoid because I've never had a snake before. It's such a change not having to feed your animal every single day but it's definitely something I could get used to haha. Is there a way to tell when a BP is hungry? Btw very beautiful BPs!

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Trust me, I only got my first BP on the 5th October and I have learnt so much about them in a short space of time. We are here when you have questions and trust me, I use this forum any time I need help and advice :) My bumblebee was only 77g when I got him and I think he is the same age as my albino so your BP's weight is nothing to worry about! :)

I concur with trying to get onto rats if you can, they have a higher fat percentage and it can be easier to feed one item rather than multiple when they age :) you have time to switch: example; My bumblebee had been eating rat pinks, I fed him a small mouse on his first feed due to a defrost disaster and then on his second feed with me he was back onto rats with no problem whatsoever.

You will get used to your new BP very soon and anything you don't understand, ask. We all start out as newbies (I'm still very much a newbie!) and we all have to learn.

Your BP looks healthy and is a gorgeous BP! :)

I feed mine at that weight every 5 days, sometimes roaming around can be a sign of hunger but mine don't tend to roam on a 5 day schedule apart from at night in between feeds which is normal.

I tried feeding my baby a rat but he didn't take it (no surprise). I tried a mouse hopper and he took it! Although he missed on his first strike lol :P It took a lot of mouse zombie dancing though and I had to turn off all the lights :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Naom9Anne

Trust me, I only got my first BP on the 5th October and I have learnt so much about them in a short space of time. We are here when you have questions and trust me, I use this forum any time I need help and advice My bumblebee was only 77g when I got him and I think he is the same age as my albino so your BP's weight is nothing to worry about!


I concur with trying to get onto rats if you can, they have a higher fat percentage and it can be easier to feed one item rather than multiple when they age you have time to switch: example; My bumblebee had been eating rat pinks, I fed him a small mouse on his first feed due to a defrost disaster and then on his second feed with me he was back onto rats with no problem whatsoever.


You will get used to your new BP very soon and anything you don't understand, ask. We all start out as newbies (I'm still very much a newbie!) and we all have to learn.


Your BP looks healthy and is a gorgeous BP!


I feed mine at that weight every 5 days, sometimes roaming around can be a sign of hunger but mine don't tend to roam on a 5 day schedule apart from at night in between feeds which is normal.

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I figure it's better to try to switch to rats because I am not wanting to feed 5+ mice when he gets big >.< I live in Canada so the cost of mice at my local pet store is expensive! But I figured I just wanna get the weight on him at the moment so I'm just happy he ate :) Thank you so much for the help! I'm going to start feeding him on a 5 day schedule from now on. He hasn't really moved from his hide except once when I saw him get a drink of water haha.

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Originally Posted by NH93

Don't stress too much you're doing fine. Personally I would stick with rats and not do the mice, just incase he decides he only wants mice... in which case, they do not have as much fat in them and whatnot. If you can find f/t (or live, depending how you feed) rat fuzzies I'd start with those. That is what I feed mine, although he could go up to pups anytime - I'm just emptying out my stock. Mine was 116g when I got him, 3 months old, eating rat fuzzies.


He's gorgeous, by the way (yours)!! Best of luck.

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Unfortunately he does only want mice! I contacted the breeder who told me that he only fed on mice. Maybe I will try again with rats in a couple months :) Thank you!

Dude,ya snake looks good and healthy

My ghost was growing nicely while eating mice,but as soon as I started him on rats he just started ballooning up....rats are the way to go. Just got my black pastel to switch to rats,had his first one last week. Feeding him tommorow,which is 2 days off my schedule,but he was shedding last 5 days and refused a meal 3 days ago cause he was shedding...

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Originally Posted by 200xth

They grow very quickly at that size when they're fed regularly.

Just as an example, here's a few of mine and their recorded weights after two or three months. Fed every 5 days most of the time (but not always).

2013-08-22 : 83
2013-10-21 : 230


2013-09-15 : 142
2013-11-16 : 287


2013-08-16 : 97
2013-11-17 : 295

You'll probably get about the same growth.

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This is a great idea, I've never thought about posting stats I collect as an example.
Here is a female lesser. As you can see the dates fed vary mainly due to my part needing to feed a day or two earlier or a day or two later. Some of the extended feeding dates are because of refused food. In 4 months she gained just about 300g which was about 75g per month. Sorry it's a bit messy, I copy and pasted but it doesn't transfer well

Fed Weight
88g 4-28-13
4-28-13
5-6-13
5-10-13
5-13-13
128g 5-18-13
5-19-13
5-28-13
182g 5-31-13
6-9-13
6-21-13
208g 6-24-13
7-5-13
8-2-13
8-8-13
284g 8-12-13
8-13-13
8-19-13
8-24-13
362g 8-27-13

If he will only eat mice now then by all means feed him mice :) I have a hatchling on mice who I am leaving for a couple of feeds until I try to switch him over :) I totally understand putting weight on them first and then switching :)

My boy who is on mice is gaining weight and over the space of two weeks he has went from 87g to 107g so I'm much happier with his weight gain than any immediate changes to rats.

I'd change the battery in your scale. He looks much bigger than 82 grams. Some hatchlings weigh that much right out of the egg. Your guy looks just fine in those pics. :confusd:

He looks fine to me too. Grats on the new snake. :)