Feeding tips?

Ok, so I'm getting my baby normal ball python from PetsMart on the 3 or 4 of October, i know its not the greatest place to get a reptile, but, hey, there cheap. im 13, i need to conserve money, anyway, i NEED to knows whether to give f/t or live mice to a baby bp, well at petsmart they only have frozen and the smallest i think is like a fuzzy or hopper, so anyone that could recommend :please: help!

If it is eating Frozen, I'd stick to it.
Start it with Rat Fuzzies.

rat fuzzies? why not mice fuzzies, im sure tht the lady said they were on fuzzies, or was it pinkies, hell idk, ill find out next week when i go get it, is a 20 gal. long ok for a 2 and a half month old.?

I've always fed mine live mice.. petco sells them for like 2 bucks. But a male and female and breed them.

i dont live near a petco, and im 13, i wouldnt know how to breed :p

The odds of the babies at Petsmart actually eating reliably are not great. And most babies start off on live and then are converted to F/T. At least at MY Petsmart, they end up assist feeding most of the ones that they have, because they won't take f/t for them. I know this, because their staff are always stopping me when I come in to ask bp related questions and ask for advice.

Part of that has to do with the fact that they're already pretty stressed being on display, and then being moved to be fed.

You could get a well started animal for less than what you pay at Petsmart if you just look for an upcoming reptile show near you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jasonx

Ok, so I'm getting my baby normal ball python from PetsMart on the 3 or 4 of October, i know its not the greatest place to get a reptile, but, hey, there cheap. im 13, i need to conserve money, anyway, i NEED to knows whether to give f/t or live mice to a baby bp, well at petsmart they only have frozen and the smallest i think is like a fuzzy or hopper, so anyone that could recommend :please: help!

---

As for size - if you're feeding mice, I wouldn't feed smaller than a hopper mouse. Even those are pretty small for a hatchling ball python. I only feed those like 2 meals, then move up to a small adult mouse for most of mine.

If rats, I'd go with a fat rat fuzzy, or small rat pup.

I got my BP from there too. Started on frozen fuzzies and have recently switched to the frozen small mice.

I also recommend the rat fuzzy because sometimes they get hooked on just eating mice. When they are full grown it's a pain feeding them four mice at a time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

The odds of the babies at Petsmart actually eating reliably are not great. And most babies start off on live and then are converted to F/T. At least at MY Petsmart, they end up assist feeding most of the ones that they have, because they won't take f/t for them. I know this, because their staff are always stopping me when I come in to ask bp related questions and ask for advice.

Part of that has to do with the fact that they're already pretty stressed being on display, and then being moved to be fed.

You could get a well started animal for less than what you pay at Petsmart if you just look for an upcoming reptile show near you.

---

This... Petsmart BPs aren't the best option around, and you can get a HEALTHY normal BP for like 10-30 bucks on a show(so people say).

I have a close friend that works at a local petsmart and she has told me about lots of people trying to return their Bps because they haven't eaten for over a month (and some say that they were even trying with live). And they cost $90 here... O.o






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The few I have bought from petsmart and they always end up dead on me in just a couple months. I would do what everyone else is telling you, go to a show and you could even pick up a nice pastel male for what you would be willing to pay at a petco or petsmart.

Petsmart/petco cheap?? Wth!! Unless they are 25 dollars id go with a breeder!!! Petland here sells norms for 125 and the local mom and pop sells them for 99.. A breeder is 50

well i live in wv, and im 13, so i cnt drive to a near reptile show, and i think ill just stick with buying from petsmart, and feed rat fuzzies, thanks guys <3

You're going to spend 3x the amount of money on just the snake at Petsmart than you will from a local breeder, reptile specialty store, or expo. Nevermind the supplies that are going to be double the money too...if it's about saving money then you should research more in your area instead of jumping to the closest crappy chain pet store. Not to mention, you'll have MUCH better luck feeding a baby from a breeder than a baby from Petsmart...just my :2cent:

Edit: Even buying from a reputable breeder and paying shipping, will still cost less than Petsmart...and at least you know they're reliable as long as you do your research on them. I can give you a few suggestions if you want to PM me. I have worked with quite a few, and know most of them have very pretty normals.

I bought mine from Petco and my BP ate a f/t fuzzy just fine...i've held him everyday since i got him except after feeding (48 hrs). When i open his tank, he wasn't shy to come out. Maybe you get lucky like I did. (got mine for $40...)