Another Feed Question

Im just curious as to what is the largest feeder I will ever have to give my ball python. I just started him on adult mice. His length is 22" not exactly sure what his girth is though. The adult mice give him a nice little lump in his tummy so I bought a year supply of adult mice. I would really like to only have to give one feed item per feeding so what should I get next after this years supply. I got the frozen mice from rodentpro.com.

You could stay with mice his whole life or you can slowly move up to weaned rats. It's ultimately your snake's choice though :)

Opinions on this vary, and the size of the snake matters. Some people stick with small rats--most offer medium rats to large ball pythons, and a few give large rats to the largest snakes.

Hun... Have you done a poll on the entire Ball Python community that says MOST keepers feed medium and large rats to their adults?

The majority feed weaned/small rats to their adults, sometimes even TWO weaned/smalls. I only feed mice and once of my girls(even with only 3-4 mice a week, skipping a week here and there too) is overweight and needs bumped down to 1-2 a week.

The fact is, is that the snake doesn't NEED or require that amount of food whatsoever. Their metabolism is very slow and overfeeding will just lead to fasting for months. Feeding smaller meals once per week keeps the snake feeding on a regular basis, which in turn means growing at a consistent rate.

There are many people who just feed mice, many who just feed rats, many who feed rats, mice, african soft furs, gerbils and the ocassional small child. Just because you and a few other people feed large rats to your Ball Pythons, doesn't mean the majority do. No one knows what these snakes' nutritional requirements are, so you have no basis in saying that feeding larger prey items is best for them. People with 35+ years of experience with these animals, who also only feed weaned/small rats to their biggest adults, hopefully know what they are doing by now.

I know you do, you've made that clear. However, it's important to note I did not say most fed large rats. I said that most fed medium rats. There seem to be a contingent advocating feeding only small rats or mice to ball pythons, but I don't see any evidence that it is a majority. (Might be a majority here, but not in the general herp community).
I don't personally think it really matters all that much, so long as the animals are healthy, have a healthy weight, and eat regularly (whatever the schedule).
Those are the things that matter. :)
Would you disagree with my statement that it does not matter so long as the animals are healthy?

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Originally Posted by Ringo

Im just curious as to what is the largest feeder I will ever have to give my ball python. I just started him on adult mice. His length is 22" not exactly sure what his girth is though. The adult mice give him a nice little lump in his tummy so I bought a year supply of adult mice. I would really like to only have to give one feed item per feeding so what should I get next after this years supply. I got the frozen mice from rodentpro.com.

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I would make the switch to 1 small rat a week.

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Originally Posted by juddb

I would make the switch to 1 small rat a week.

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Why? If he has a year supply of mice, then use those up. If he gets too big for one, then feed two. A male Ball honestly needs only 2 mice a week to thrive and grow at a good rate(not just survive).

I would see how big he is after you're done with those mice, then you can make the decision on what to go to next. If your snake wants to stay with mice, then order those, or if he does fine with weaned rats(40-50g) then order those since you don't want to bother with more than one prey item a week.

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Why? If he has a year supply of mice, then use those up. If he gets too big for one, then feed two. A male Ball honestly needs only 2 mice a week to thrive and grow at a good rate(not just survive).

I would see how big he is after you're done with those mice, then you can make the decision on what to go to next. If your snake wants to stay with mice, then order those, or if he does fine with weaned rats(40-50g) then order those since you don't want to bother with more than one prey item a week.

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Sorry, i didnt mean right now. But eventually :oops:

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Originally Posted by Ringo

Im just curious as to what is the largest feeder I will ever have to give my ball python. I just started him on adult mice. His length is 22" not exactly sure what his girth is though. The adult mice give him a nice little lump in his tummy so I bought a year supply of adult mice. I would really like to only have to give one feed item per feeding so what should I get next after this years supply. I got the frozen mice from rodentpro.com.

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I hope they are vacuum sealed, they will get freezer burn after 6 months if not.

Robin

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Originally Posted by juddb

Sorry, i didnt mean right now. But eventually :oops:

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OH! Ok :) No biggie. I was just about to say.. But he has a years supply of meece?

Also, if the snake doesn't want to make the switch, those jumbo mice that Big Cheese Rodents sell are HUGE. Even the mediums I buy are the size of large mice, so I don't complain(their prices are nice too). You'd likely only have to feed one jumbo mouse to equal a large rat pup or weaned rat.