How much to feed???

My dad wants to start feeding our ballpython, every 2 weeks, and we can only feed him mice since the store is chargind 8 bucks a rat. And only 1:50 a mouse, how much would u suggest every two weeks? On mice? Thanks!

No offense, but if I couldn't afford to feed him properly, I'd adopt him out 2 someone who could. That being said, how old is he and how much does he weigh?

Hes very healthy, but he wont eat f/t and i heard its better for them to eat many smaller items the one big rat anyways. And we think hes almost 3

I would search online classifieds for local rats breeders. I was about to order another batch of frozens from rodentpro, but ended up finding a guy that lives about 45 minutes from me so I'll get to save a good chunk of cash and be able to get some live from him too. He also just so happens to be a member on here... what a coincidence.

i think im just going to feed him 3-4 mice every Two Weeks.

It is actually easier on the snake to eat one appropriately sized prey item than several smaller items. Go on CL in your area and ask for feeders. I found my current supplier on there and his are much cleaner than rodentpro's.

agreed. i was stuck paying $9 for frozen rats, but i finally got around to going to a show and bought in bulk. so in the end, frozen medium rats equaled about $1.50 a pop. Its a bit of an investment up front, but you save a ton in the long run. Now the trick is making sure nobody opens the multiple bagged item in the back of the freezer....


edit: oops sorry i didn't see that he doesn't eat f/t. But pretty much the same recommendation. how hard have you tried to switch to f/t? and honestly if youre still going to feed 3-4 mice every two weeks at $1.50 each, you're not saving much money by not getting a single larger rat. Plus, at petco i got a $2 off coupon almost every other visit that could be used on rats by having the petco card

ok, so if i feed one large rat once every 2 weeks that would be ok??

It's hard to tell you the size of rat without knowing the size/weight of your snake. My 4.5ft girl weighs almost 1000g (she was a rescue and way underfed) and she takes a med rat.

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Originally Posted by BlueTongueBallPython

ok, so if i feed one large rat once every 2 weeks that would be ok??

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I highly doubt hes eating a large rat.

And if you want my honest opinion. Sell your snake. Or give it to someone who can provide for it. Feeding it 3 mice every 2 weeks or simply every 2 weeks because you dont want to spend the money (obvious thats the reason) then please do your snake a favor find him a better owner :gj:

I agree^^^

Its ot the money. My parents are divorced, i luve at my moms. The snake is at my dads. I go there everyother weekend. Thats when i can feed it. Im feeding it 3 mice every 2 weeks idc what u guys say. And everyone on this forum you guys all need to be a little more nice!

Maybe you guys shouldnt just go assuming crap!

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Originally Posted by BlueTongueBallPython

Its ot the money. My parents are divorced, i luve at my moms. The snake is at my dads. I go there everyother weekend. Thats when i can feed it. Im feeding it 3 mice every 2 weeks idc what u guys say. And everyone on this forum you guys all need to be a little more nice!

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Thanks you just proved my point. Congratz.

IF U CANNOT PROVIDE FOR THE ANIMAL DO NOT HAVE IT.

Feed it 3 mice every 2 weeks! Goto bed at night knowing u are not providing what is needed for your snake. This is not the wild. When in captivity you feed them right.

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Originally Posted by BlueTongueBallPython

Maybe you guys shouldnt just go assuming crap!

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Im not assuming anything. Its OBVIOUS you cannot provide for your snake, end of story!

Case closed.

Oh this just came to me. You only go over your dads every other weekend?

You give it water every other weekend? LOL?

What if your heating devise messes up and goes all crazy? Its just going to burn your snake for 2 weeks before you notice it?

You know what ill say this from experience. Let me tell a little story.

I used to live with my mom and dad when i was little. I had a ball python. I was an ok owner. Didnt know much about how to take care of them. He had a heating lamp. Didnt watch humidity. But was always fed right. I could of taken care of him a bit better. I didnt know better tho.

Well my parents split up. I went to live with my dad. My snake stayed at my moms. Like you i only went over there every other weekend. Well... My mom would not do anything with it. So like you i had to feed every 2 weeks. She would pour water in through the top screen.

Well one weekend i went over there was poop in cage had been sitting i there like a week and a half. And the light was out. He was freezing. I was so mad at my mom for not checking it. Well she told me i had to get rid of it, i was so mad. This was about 11 years ago. Now i think back on it and it was by far the best decision. I was not caring for my snake for my own personal satisfaction to have him every other weekend.

Thats my story :) Not sure if your dad cares for him while ur there or not.

I just love the way some of you guys JUMP before knowing the whole story.:mad::mad:

I dont know the whole situation either BUT I would push the issue with your mother to let you bring YOUR snake home so you can take care of it the way it should be. Is it that she doesnt want the snake in her house or does your dad not want to let it go there?
How old are you? BTW
Dont let these people get you down, there are pricks everywhere you go:gj:

I dont understand why he got all mad? everyone was asking you a simple question how big is the snake and such while you came on here with little to no knowledge asking if its ok to give your snake 2 small mice every 2 weeks? that alone you could have read online and found that's not good for your snake...

I love these forums and have learned so much from my time being here but have gotten sick of seeing these kinds of post and scale rot post.... people really need to take care of there :snake: or give them away to someone who will


- Corey

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Originally Posted by SiQ'

I dont understand why he got all mad?

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Could be the fact that everyone starts on the "you cannot take care of it so give it to someone who can" OR "if you dont want to buy food then give it to someone who can"........either one rubs me the wrong way without asking the WHY FIRST?!?!?!

Well, in all fairness to the other posters on her the OP did state they were switching to mice because rats were too expensive. On the other issue maybe you can convince your parents to let the snake come live with you for the health of the snake?
-Jimi

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Could be the fact that everyone starts on the "you cannot take care of it so give it to someone who can" OR "if you dont want to buy food then give it to someone who can"........either one rubs me the wrong way without asking the WHY FIRST?!?!?!

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I agree with that but there where 4 people that asked the size and weight of the snake but he didnt respond to that. I feel like if people want a good answer and the help they are seeking take some pics of your snake... if they are to lazy to do that then keep feeding into what awful situation they have made it out to be they deserve the harsh criticism. No one is attacking him people on here only care about the well being of the snakes

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Originally Posted by SiQ'

if they are to lazy to do that then keep feeding into what awful situation they have made it out to be they deserve the harsh criticism.

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Now we know it is a kid, havent gotten an age or any other information but whos to say they didnt just get run off because some peoples mouth can our-run their brain? What good does that do for any animal or reputation of any site??

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Originally Posted by SiQ'

No one is attacking him people on here only care about the well being of the snakes

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First post was to get rid of it, How is that not going to piss someone off and get defensive?? 2 of our 10 balls are rescues and I am sure we will have more to come! I could have had 3 more rescues BUT I dont have space for them right now and I know that wouldnt make their situation any better.
It is better it inform people on what to do than tell them to give it up! Just like reptiles, go look in your shelters and see how many "pit-bulls" are in there and why. No one realizes the amount of work ANY pet takes and they just want one to say they have "cool name of animal" This kid seems to want to try so our help IS WHAT IS NEEDED.

I agree with you there but if your doing something wrong you need to be rdy and willing to take criticism in some shape or form but like you said he is prob young.

Ok, hes about 3ft 10in. And i can barley get my fingers to touch around him. And its that my mom doesnt want the snake. And my dad will change the light bulb and clean poop and change water, hes just to busy to do the whple feesing thing, he does the water at like 2am. anything else? and thank you to the people who stuck up for me! O, and im 13. Sorry i didnt respond soon, i waa at soccer

Im sorry im 14 now . Lol

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Originally Posted by BlueTongueBallPython

Im sorry im 14 now . Lol

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if your going to keep him, feed him 2 to 3 adult mice every 2 weeks and make sure ypur dad can keep a good eye on him. read the care sheet on ball pythons and make sure u get is habitat in good shape . good luck

You should be able to get away with 1 sm rat every couple weeks as long as your dad keeps an eye on everything else.
I know rats are not as cheep as mice but if you feed 4 mice @ $1.75 ( to be conservative) you are already up to $7.00 so you might as well spend the extra buck and get one rat.
Feedings will go faster and be a lot easier than trying to feed multiples.
What city are you in, there might even be someone here that would be willing to help get you rats, maybe one of our people in your area that breeds:cool:

Im in northern chicago

Im sorry im in northwest suburbs of chicago

I know there are a lot of members in Chicago.......................can anyone give this kid a hand on a rat every couple weeks? One of you has to be breeding rats and could sell him one cheap on feed weeks.:community:community:community:community:community

Plz?? It would be helpful!

Don't forget to size the prey. The mouse/rat should be about the size of the thickest part of the snake.

All im gonna say is give the kid a break. Key word there is "kid" let's not discourage a kid to not want snakes. I love to see kids that are interested in snakes. This kid is the future of the BP world. Not so say in a few years he won't be. But we don't know that. We all stated off not sure of what we were doing. Thats what makes this site so nice. Now a few of you have made it look bad. The kids today are the Ralph Davis , NERD, Royal Constrictors ect.... Of the future. Ever look at it that way? ...... Didn't think so. BTW this is Becky of the Scott n Becky so if you wana be mad at the writer is this post, now you know who it is. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone and I'm sorry if I upset any of you I'm just glad to see a kid that's into the same thing we all are. I know we all want the best for the snake.... But it's a KID. They don't know what we all know.

CHR?

Chicago reptile house is a very good store.

Also you guys get a reptile show every 2 weeks(I think? Laura told me 2 weeks so if im wrong blame shescountry89 :P). You can get live feeders/frozen.

And trust me im sure if u did it the RIGHT way your snake would prolly take f/t. I say right way because if its not hot enough/too hot the snake will not take it.

Iv never had a snake not switch to f/t. Sometimes it takes a bit more work but they generally all goto f/t.

My advise? Dont feed him. Offer f/t. He dont take it.. Sucks to be him. Wait till next week. Offer again. He dont take.. Sucks for him again... Eventually he will start to take them. Generally he will take it after missing 1 or 2 feedings.