My Ball takes down a big rat!

a full grown ball python never needs more than a small rattie. ;)

I was recently feeding my female large smalls and mediums to help her put on some weight after all that incubating, but otherwise I would stick to smalls, and definately not feed a large small to a juvie. ;)

Savage. You missed the best part though, where he slurps the tail down like a noodle!

I normally feed him small mediums, this rat was on the bigger size... I am trying to get this guy as big and fat as possible.....

He is about 14 months olds and is growing and sheeding as I am expecting him too... Nothing wrong with that right?

I normally feed him every weekend. Are you all concerned on the size of the rat due to the fact in which the rat could fight back and hurt the snake or for health reasons for feeding a larger meal to the snake?

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Originally Posted by Hazardous

I normally feed him small mediums, this rat was on the bigger size... I am trying to get this guy as big and fat as possible.....

He is about 14 months olds and is growing and sheeding as I am expecting him too... Nothing wrong with that right?

I normally feed him every weekend. Are you all concerned on the size of the rat due to the fact in which the rat could fight back and hurt the snake or for health reasons for feeding a larger meal to the snake?

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First why would you want to make your snake fat? I personally say don't feed that big because of both reasons you mentioned. The snake is more likely to have problems with a larger rat obviously and if you are feeding the snake large prey every week the snake may go off feed because of all the built up fat in his body, a week is not enough time to digest a meal like that every week and just as with a human, built up fat is not good for them. Take a look at his tail, it seems as if a rubber band was placed around his cloaca.

That rat is way too big.
And really it's not in the snakes best interest to try and get it as big and fat as possible. Besides, feeding such large prey it's more likely that your snake will go off food and lose any weight that you so unhealthily put on it. Stick to small rats.

As for the positives in that vid... it was clear and not jumpy, I like your equipment.

I think what some are saying on here is that they simply don't need that much food to grow at their max rate - which isn't a result of total calories consumed, but more a result of their genetics.

Moreover, its been the observation of many that ball pythons that are fed very large meals on a consistent basis tend to go off feed or take breaks from eating at random times during the year. The idea is to feed small meals consistently over the whole year to keep them on their toes, so to speak.

Next time he defecates, check out his stool. Is it very black, mushy, and fatty? If so, he's probably eating more than he is using. You can learn a lot about whether or not ball is getting too much food by looking at their stools.

Nice use of "Stupify" by Disturbed ;)
And for the rat..... I would step down a size if I were you.

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Originally Posted by Rapture

Is it just me or did that rat seem huge for that snake?

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Much too large a rat for even an adult ball python. The largest I feed mine are 40-50 gram rats (thanks Adam) that average 3-4 weeks old.

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Originally Posted by Hazardous

I normally feed him small mediums, this rat was on the bigger size... I am trying to get this guy as big and fat as possible.....

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Just wondering, but why? Is there a particular reason to rush his natural growth rate?