Finally got a scale!!

just a general rule of thumb. A ball python can eat something twice its girth (trust me it's true).

ask for small. they should look about double the size of a mouse. if he doesn't take to the rat at first, try putting the rat in a box with a mouse. This will get the mouse scent on the rat. After time your bp should take to rats just fine. if your bp is still left searching after he's fed, you might want to move up to medium. i can't tell you what he would be eating unless you can post a size comparison pick ( i'm more of a visual kind of guy).

Ok! That helps me! Ill try to get a pic of him next to a lighter (thx for the pic Missi).. will that comparison work? He's beside remotes but I guess remotes are all different sizes lol

I was just worried I was going to powerfeed him.. Dont wanna do that! lol

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Originally Posted by Whittney32

Ok! That helps me! Ill try to get a pic of him next to a lighter (thx for the pic Missi).. will that comparison work? He's beside remotes but I guess remotes are all different sizes lol

I was just worried I was going to powerfeed him.. Dont wanna do that! lol

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soda can is a good one.

k! Ill get one asap! BF is working third but keep on eye out! Thanks for the help!

no prob, just pm me if you have any other Q's.

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Originally Posted by RBCpythons

just a general rule of thumb. A ball python can eat something twice its girth (trust me it's true).

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Originally Posted by RBCpythons

if your bp is still left searching after he's fed, you might want to move up to medium.

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I just wanted to add in another point of view. While a BP "can" eat something twice its girth, it doesn't mean it should. Some possible problems with feeding too big of a meal are regurgitation and feeding irregularly or even going on an extended fast. I haven't personally seen these happen; I'm just going by what I've read, but it makes sense to me.

Also, again going by what I've read, many very successful people with large numbers of BPs never feed larger than a small rat, not even when feeding big breeder females. According to rodentpro, a "medium rat" can weigh up to 174 grams. That seems like a really huge meal for a snake weighing 475 grams.

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Originally Posted by RBCpythons

just a general rule of thumb. A ball python can eat something twice its girth (trust me it's true).

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Not trying to be rude here, But your not givin good advice here.

While the "can" doesnt mean the should. A retic, not a problem to have such a large meal, but a BP doesnt have the metabolism like a tic.

Never feed anything to your bp, that is bigger around than the bp.

I agree with KC and Patrick. Food for BP's should be as round as the thickest part of the snake and at max, maybe a bit thicker. Of course, leave the BP alone for about 2 days just to make sure it is thoroughly digested.

If you are going to bounce up to rats you need to be prepared to help the snake from getting bit by the rat in the first 3-4 secs of grabbing it. A rat's teeth are much larger then a mouse and could do some heavy damage to a snake not used to larger prey.

You are doing a great job so far paying attention to all the details with your snake! We hope you take the best advice that fits you!:D

So apprarently someone got offended (JoshJP7 who didnt even comment this thread) when I discussed the size of prey.

If I offended you about talking about the food size your snake needs to eat, you have more problems that I thought.

Im not here to tell you "this is how its done". but when hundreds of hundreds do the same thing, and I introduce you to that, dont get mad! childish

If I did offend you RBCPythons (which I hightly doubt I did) was not my intentions. I think I even said that in the post I wasnt trying to be a d*ck.