Am I feeding enough?

This is my first question on here, I'm pretty new to this all. I have got a male pastel BP "bunny" who is probably about 14 months old, if the place who we got him from was right about when he was hatched. Right now his weight is at 167 grams, and he is 24 inches long. He has shed twice in the last 6 months, which is how long we've had him. I feed him one regular size F/T mouse every 7 days, is this the right amount? Should I be feeding more or bigger? He has a great appetite when I feed him, I don't want to power feeding, and don't plan on breeding, but want to make sure I'm feeding enough.

I'd put him on a 5 day feed schedule, try giving him 2 mice per feeding or a small rat

A well-fed 14 month old ball python should weigh in and around 400-800g.
Yours is underfed.

Def underfed, does his body have a triangular shape? Because i have lile 4 month olds that are maybe a little over a foot long and weigh over 250

I would feed him a rat pup or large mouse every 5 days!

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Originally Posted by llovelace

I'd put him on a 5 day feed schedule, try giving him 2 mice per feeding or a small rat

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I really dont think a 140 gram bp could take a small rat....

Wow thats not very big for a male bp that is over a year old. I got two hatchling males around february and they are both around 400g already. I feed mine every 2-3 days though because they are young growing snakes.

If I was you I'd offer food twice a week until it gets over 500g and then maybe back off to once a week.

Are you sure your scale is right?? I have a baby that hatched July 3rd that weighs 175 grams...I agree with ericzerka24...if he's hungry feed him...

and bump him up to rat pups or weaned rats...

Thanks for the help everybody. I feel dumb for listening to the people at the shop we got him from and not checking in to it alot earlier. Today I officially kicked off the Operation Fatten Bunny up campaign. He got 2 regular size mice today, and he'll get two more on wednesday night. Gonna look into the small rats and see if they look too big, if not he'll just be on 2 mice twice a week for a while until he gets up to where he should be. Does that sound right? Thanks. You guys are awesome.

I'd stick with the mice for now, since it's working. Trying to switch him could make him stop all together.

It is amazing what some good online research will get you. Finding out now that the frozen mice I've been getting that are packaged as adults are closer to the size of a weanling, only around 17 grams. Where do you guys purchase your frozen mice or rats? I've been using the freezer at petsmart, probably not a good ideal, but I don't want to order a giant bag of them online cause I'm getting ready to move in a few weeks.

That would definitely explain why he's underweight. I have some mousers who would only eat one mouse a week, and are much, much bigger than your boy at the same age. (They're actually right on par for their age--mice work well up to a year old). But, those are adult mice...

If you're moving soon, and can't take anything frozen with you, I would stick with your current plan--feeding him a couple of those twice a week should give him about the same nutrition, and as long as he keeps taking them, it will be fine until after you move.

At that point, I'd buy a 6 month supply online. MUCH MUCH cheaper than you would pay getting them from a pet store, even with the high shipping cost factored in.
He can probably eat jumbo mice for a year, then you'll have to work on him to get him to take rats. It can be challenging to get some individual snakes to switch from mice to rats.

Once again, thanks for the help you guys. You are all a great resourse.

if he gets to a point where he doesn't eat everything you offer, most likely you're feeding him enough then. there is a big debate on power feeding. I would rather feed a little too much than not enough.