Help! Is my ball python overweight or underweight?!

There is also a wonderful chart online that I've used with my BP just to make sure that they're growing right and not getting too fat. Another good indication is if they have a nice decline into the tail and not a stub and then a dip and then then tail if that makes sense? Sneaky chunky noodles are cute but it is bad for them as you know! Lots of different information out there, but I know you'll have it fixed right up

Snakes, especially bulky, ambush hunters like BPs, are unrivaled masters at energy conservation and the overriding majority in captivity are overweight as a result. These animals are by design able to go months at a time without eating, and indeed even in optimal captive conditions they can willingly do so at times despite food being readily available. My 2 1/2 year old male gets 1 small rat at a monthly rate and he's still perfectly plump, but healthily so.

In my opinion, get her back to small-medium rats and extend feeding intervals to at LEAST every 3 weeks, 4 being preferable.

Don't be discouraged though, your girl looks great otherwise, she's a beauty. :gj: Sometimes we just love our pets a little "too much" per se and things can get carried away (overfeeding being among the most common, no matter the species).

Ok, thank you all for that! Gosh I feel so bad, I totally thought ‘well she’s eating them well’ and she looked fine not that long ago but geez I feel so bad that she’s overweight!! I’m going to get some more decor for her enclosure and get her out a lot for exercise and cut back her feeding. Is she going to be ok? Is it an easy to get her back to a normal healthy weight?

I really appreciate all of these! Thank you so much this really helps and makes me feel so much better :)

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Originally Posted by Claire&snek

Ok, thank you all for that! Gosh I feel so bad, I totally thought ‘well she’s eating them well’ and she looked fine not that long ago but geez I feel so bad that she’s overweight!! I’m going to get some more decor for her enclosure and get her out a lot for exercise and cut back her feeding. Is she going to be ok? Is it an easy to get her back to a normal healthy weight?

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Here's the thing about snakes- they don't lose weight easily, not even with "exercise", so prevention of excess weight is way better than trying to help them lose weight later. She's most likely "going to be okay" but don't expect to see any change soon. Sorry to say, but the best you can do is feed the right amount going forward, & try not to obsess about it. No "diets" for snakes either.

Everyone makes mistakes, at least it's the way you try and fix them that matters. I remember having to fix many of my mistakes when I was still starting out and I still do have to fix some! No one is perfect but over loving your pet I would say is better than under-loving them. Everyone in here had some great advice, I'm just trying to make sure that you know everyone does make mistakes. You aren't a bad person for not knowing. <3

Thank you all so much, this is so informative, relieving and helpful. I will be sure to make those changes right away and slowly see her get back to a normal weight. Thank you all again, this truly is so helpful <3