Baby ball python feeding question

I've been on the fence trying to decide what to offer my new bee for her first feeding next week (going to give her a week to settle in). She's a tiny little thing and all of my other BPs I got when they were over 150g, she's only 72g. The breeder I got her from was feeding her live hopper mice, should I offer her a hopper for her first meal with me? She's almost 2 months old, she was tiny when she hatched. I'm going to be offering her f/t, but I have a freezer full of rats, so I'm wondering if I should try to get her to take a rat pup. I do have some frozen hoppers that I got for my KSB, but I'd really like to get her on rats. I know there is a good chance she won't take f/t right away so I may have to find some live, but it's not going to hurt her to try.

I know I'm supposed to go by girth not weight, but in some of the pictures I took when she arrived she looks like she would be fine taking them but in others she doesn't. I've been trying not to bother her so pictures are what I have to go by for now.

I'd say for f/t start off small and maybe try a hopper? They have a stronger scent and aren't much smaller than a rat pup.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I'd say for f/t start off small and maybe try a hopper? They have a stronger scent and aren't much smaller than a rat pup.

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Okay, thank you! :)

How many meals did she have with the breeder?
You want to make sure that she is a consistent eater before switching to f/t.
I'd give her a rat pink or fuzzy, and when she has taken a few consistent meals then try switching to f/t.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

How many meals did she have with the breeder?
You want to make sure that she is a consistent eater before switching to f/t.
I'd give her a rat pink or fuzzy, and when she has taken a few consistent meals then try switching to f/t.

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I don't have a count of how many meals she had with the breeder. I got her from Garrick at Royal Constrictor Designs and he made it sound like he doesn't ship snakes until they are good eaters. I know she was only 45-50 grams when she hatched, so in two months she has gained some good weight. He said he was going to feed her last Wednesday or Thursday.

I've been pretty lucky when it comes to switching from live to f/t and from mice to rats. Not one of my BPs so far has so much as blinked when I changed it up on them so I'm prepared for her to give me some trouble. My luck has to run out eventually. :P

I'm going to try f/t next week because I have them on hand and if she takes it great, if she doesn't I'll drive across town for live next time.

My little bee girl was 49 grams out of the egg and she takes hoppers, to sm adult mice. I got my girl before she even started eating just waited for her first shed and I got her, but shes from a buddy of mine who is only 15 minutes away. She ate the very next day.

Hopper mice are perfectly fine for bbaies up to 100g. Once over 100g they can take sm adults no problems


I have hatchlings from 40-80grams right now pounding Hopper mice.

Dont be surprised if she dont take a frozen as they take time as babies to switch over. First try few pre kill mice to wean her off live. Once thats successful then go to frozen. This is how i do all my hatchlings i hold back and never fails.

If you want her on F/T rats eventually, just remember to make one change at a time. Live mice to frozen mice to frozen rats, or live mice to live rats to frozen rats (a few meals of each in either scenario).

I got my '10 pastel and 11' fire pair from Garrick and they are my best eaters! Never missed a meal for me. Garrick produces healthy animals.
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A hatchling can take a hopper rat no problem. It seems like a mad idea, because the hopper rat is pretty large compared to a hatchling.... But they do take them without any issues. I've fed hoppers to bp's as small at 55g.

I ended up giving her hopper mice her first few feedings. After she shed on 7/25 I offered her a f/t rat pup and she took it no problem. She's taken one other since then and she didn't seem to mind the switch from live to f/t or mice to rats. :D

Minus my pyb who went on a 2 month hunger strike I have a collection full of pigs. :P