How much to feed?

http://http://ball-pythons.net/galle...8/sdc10539.jpg
http://http://ball-pythons.net/galle...8/sdc10538.jpghttp://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...8/sdc10538.jpg
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So this little boy/girl is my first BP. Im currently feeding 1 adult mouse/week; however, im concerned that s/he is still hungry because after a few days he seems to be on the lookout for food (you know how u can kinda tell when ur snakes are hungry?) and in hunting mode. The yellow tape is 1 foot in length. Anybody out there have any idea how much he 'should' be getting.

Also, the anal spurs on this guy are tiny and very difficult to see, we're talkind very thin and maybe 1 mm in length. I know probing is the only sure way to tell, but would the size suggest a girl?
Thanks all

I'd try weaned rats.

I have a female about the same size. She was eating 2-3 mice a week. She has grown 150 grams in the last 3 weeks. I am switching her to rats that are about a week old ofter they have been weaned. They have their eyes opened and are a bit bigger than a full sized mouse.

How much does she/he weigh? I would feed her/him 10% of the body weight.

10% man, just like teresa said. Go to walmart or someplace and find a cheap digital scale, then keep the box your pet store gave you. Drop the box on the scale and zero it out, then drop the mice in the box and close it.

I've gotten some weird looks but I used to take my scale with me to petco that way I new I had the right amount of food. :cool:

ok. and how often should he be eating 10% body weight?

I feed my young ones under 500 grams every 4 days. Over 500 grams every 7 days,or when they start to refuse the 2nd every 4th day feeding.

Small weanling rats once a week :gj:

ok so he weights 206 g. The mice are about 20 g. So about 10% of the body weight! So every 5 or every 7 days?? Which is better?
Thanks

Feed every 4-5 days 10-15% of the body weight until 500g, then every 7 days.

Personally,,, I don't put that much thought into feeding my snakes, especially Balls. The only concern I have with feeding is getting them used to F/T meals over live, sooner or later they will take a feeding break, specifically males... With a snake that size I would have to agree with the weaned rats as an ideal size for him, at least once a week. You can't go wrong with once a week... And if he wants more, give it to him, "listen to him" if he is moving he still hungry....

As for the spurs,,, you are 100% the only way to be sure is probing. Good luck and have fun with him...

pick a food that is as wide as the thickest part of your snakes belley