live feeding

But still, since we don't know what Ball Pythons actually require nutrition-wise, what does it matter if a rat is bigger than a mouse, has more meat, has 15g of protein versus 12g, etc... If a Ball Python only requires 2-3g protein every week to maintain its energy requirements.

Like I said in a previous post, it's the weight of the prey item that should mainly matter, not the species. 2- 25g mice are the same as one 45-50g rat. Balls don't need a 400g rat every week to maintain, and would more than likely look at it and be scared, or they would eat it and fast for the next month.

400 g rat that would be huge. I just fed my 2 balls med size rats maybe about 100g is that too much?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

But still, since we don't know what Ball Pythons actually require nutrition-wise, what does it matter if a rat is bigger than a mouse, has more meat, has 15g of protein versus 12g, etc... If a Ball Python only requires 2-3g protein every week to maintain its energy requirements.

Like I said in a previous post, it's the weight of the prey item that should mainly matter, not the species. 2- 25g mice are the same as one 45-50g rat. Balls don't need a 400g rat every week to maintain, and would more than likely look at it and be scared, or they would eat it and fast for the next month.

---

Becky, you ROCK!

Pay attention kiddies, Becky has it going on!!!! :love:

-adam

Kplunk, they will eventually tell you it is too much by refusing to eat. If you "must" feed a larger rat that weighs around 100g, I would do that every 2 weeks. They just don't require that much food and will tell you that soon enough. Ball Pythons are a test of patience(raising, breeding, laying, pipping, eating, etc etc).

I would bump them down to a smallish small rat(40-50g) every week. They should eat more consistently and be more aggressive at feeding time. Not to mention, small rats usually haven't "been around the block" like larger rats have(such as being offered to a snake sometime in their life, not getting eaten, and then brought back to the store).

Think about it this way: I've adopted largish rats from pet stores and as rescues. It takes them much longer to calm down and accept things. They are usually very fidgety and are always on the go. However, most babies I've adopted have been skitty for a week, maybe, and then they settle in and are "ho hum" about everything from then on(with the exception of wrestling with you and sleeping in your shirt).

If you get a large rat from a pet store that is set in its ways, it's going to be more nervous, scared, and may be harder to take down(for a Ball, maybe not for a large boa), making the snake not want to eat(maybe, as I've never fed live large rats to my Ball Pythons..Just speculation). Whereas, if you get a young, small rat that is still all happy-go-lucky and could care less where it is. It will just check out the new environment it's just been placed in and explore, rather than cower in the corner.

The only thing I'll add having experienced live and f/t feeding in our smaller collection is that in the end as a keeper you have to make informed, knowledgeable choices for your snakes. They deserve that from us when we choose to keep them in a captive environment. That means lots of research and learning skills appropriate to our feeding choices so that whatever the method is we do it correctly for the safety of the snake and the humane treatment of it's prey item.

No matter what choice we make though we always have to be prepared for what the snake will accept. You can decide on f/t, but if your snake will only take live in the end, you'll be feeding live so it's best to always be prepared to deal with what comes along. Some snakes will switch feeding styles, some will not. Snakes don't adjust to us, we adjust to them or at least that's been my limited experience.

The goal, whatever you choose, is to have a well fed snake with a great and consistent feeding response. You do that, you've done it right. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

And if you are feeding rat pups that are larger than mice your getting more food with no danger. It helps alot with picky eaters (scardy cats) that won't eat untill they are undistubed and feel secure.

---

I agree. An adult mouse is going to be more cautious than a rat of the same size.

Thanks aalot guys for all of the advice and not yelling at me (I was already freaked out enough this being my first bite). I guess there a first time for every thing with these guys. Feeding day's tomarrow and I'm thinking about going with the rat pup. There were a few things I forgot to metion in my prev post like I always pesent the tank and I feed her in an empty tank. Anyways thanks again. :D And wish me luck

I just got done feeding I went with a rat pup. It was the same size as the mice I feed her. As soon as I got home she came out of her hide after prescenting I dropped the pup in and that was all she wrote. Thanks again guys!!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thunder Kat

I just got done feeding I went with a rat pup. It was the same size as the mice I feed her. As soon as I got home she came out of her hide after prescenting I dropped the pup in and that was all she wrote. Thanks again guys!!!!

---

Glad it went well!!!:rockon: