Feeding pics?

Might I request any feeding pics-not for the purpose of entertainment, but I'm kinda hovering on moving up my ball python to a larger rat size. He's about 550 grams (need a new scale) and the rats are 130g. The thing is he's always hungry 2 dang days after I feed him a 60g rat. I've been known to underestimate the prey size snakes can take...thanks! :D

A 60g rat, is more than adequate for your bp

Agreed.

i've been told it's easier to gauge the rat's size by the size of the fattest part of the snakes body and so far it's been good going here. i dont do well with a bunch of numbers anyways, especially percentages...
i go :rolleye2: trying to figure all that out.
when i buy my feeder rats i just tell the guys to give me the smallest of their smalls and & when i feed 'em to my girl they leave a small but still noticeable bulge in my girl's belly.

It took me a long time to figure out that BPs really can eat some pretty big rats, as long as it's not too much bigger than their thickest point. Having figured that out I stepped up earlier than expected, not only to rats, but something quite a big bigger than what she'd previously had.

This was the result:

http://fire-eyes.org/gal/v/ob/n/rep/sn/m/j/fr/

It may look extreme, especially when she's getting it past her mouth, but she really had no issue with it. By the way it is not a good idea to feed them simply because they act hungry again -- Unless you are feeding them obnoxiously small meals, which is what I was doing when I was inexperienced: http://fire-eyes.org/gal/v/ob/n/rep/...h8056.jpg.html

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Originally Posted by omnibus2

Might I request any feeding pics-not for the purpose of entertainment, but I'm kinda hovering on moving up my ball python to a larger rat size. He's about 550 grams (need a new scale) and the rats are 130g. The thing is he's always hungry 2 dang days after I feed him a 60g rat. I've been known to underestimate the prey size snakes can take...thanks! :D

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Not sure I'd jump up to a 130g rat just yet, but it could probably do one in the 70-80g range.

That said, no need to feed a male huge meals... they aren't gonna be developing any eggs!

My 2000g girl gets rats in the 150g range and grows just fine. :D

my girl just WONT touch the rat if it's even SLIGHTLY bigger then her fattest part...but offer her one equal to the size of her fattest part or slightly smaller & she's all over it like white on rice on a paper plate in a snow storm :rofl:...
she'll show interest in it, hunt it, all that, but then at the last second she'll go...
:colbert: "nope not this one" & turn her little nose up at it.

I think a small rat is more than adequate, you could try 1 SM and a RP (rat pup). Or try to feed him more often. Every 5 days maybe.

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Originally Posted by fredanthony

I think a small rat is more than adequate, you could try 1 SM and a RP (rat pup). Or try to feed him more often. Every 5 days maybe.

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Sorry meant to say 1 SR not SM and 1RP

whats a fuzzy considered?

Fuzzy rat? Well that's pretty much a rat pup. A little bigger would be crawler..

Hmm okay thanks everyone, and thanks for those pics. The rat is a tad bigger than the widest part of my bp, but its very long and just huge. I think I'll stick to feeding small rats every 5 days. It's just that the next size up from 60g rats is 130g, which sucks.
I know not to give in when he's hungry all the time...but I also need a new scale.

ON THAT NOTE: Anyone know where I can get some good scales for measuring snake weight???

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Originally Posted by omnibus2

I know not to give in when he's hungry all the time...but I also need a new scale.

ON THAT NOTE: Anyone know where I can get some good scales for measuring snake weight???

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Check reptile basics, they have some nice scales.