Question about feeding 2+ rats

I think eventually I will need to feed my BP 2+ rats per week to satisfy her, but my question is how do I do that? She usually strikes and coils around the rats I feed her now, then swallow it. So if she already ate one, wouldn't it be too stressful for her to strike and "strangulate" a second rat? Would that cause her to regurgitate? Or do I just leave the second on in here? I feed f/t rats by the way. Thanks :)

When I offer seconds, I either leave it in there with them if I don't feel like waiting or I will offer it as soon as they are finished with the first. I haven't any problems doing either of these things.

After she eats the first one just a few mins for her to start cruising around again then offer the other. I do this with mine and have never had a problem.

I always just feed one rat and once they get it all the way down I offer another. I never had any trouble and usually they are in feeding mode already so they strike right away. If you are feeding a ball python do you have access to larger rats? You can get them pretty big and that should do it instead of feeding two.

i had to feed 2 adult mice and took them just fine and the next week was waiting for me to drop a 2nd rat in

Feeding two isn't a problem with me. When I'm thawing them out or buying live I always get 1-2 extra. Usually at least one of the crew is up for seconds.

i prefer using mice over rats. The smaller potion size with multiple helpings helps them bulk up quicker and eat better from what ive seen

I stick with rats. A pound of rat is considerably cheaper than a pound of mouse and the rat doesn't stink as bad.

A bp should never eat 2 rats per week since rats can get bigger than a bp should eat. Mine weighs 1800 grams pounds 200-250 gram rats and in no way wants another for 10 -14 days.

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Originally Posted by rperry03

A bp should never eat 2 rats per week since rats can get bigger than a bp should eat. Mine weighs 1800 grams pounds 200-250 gram rats and in no way wants another for 10 -14 days.

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Because that is a huge rat. My biggest girls only get two, sometimes three 60 gram ASFs a week, and they're ready for more the next week.

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Originally Posted by spitzu

Because that is a huge rat. My biggest girls only get two, sometimes three 60 gram ASFs a week, and they're ready for more the next week.

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Yea and its still 180 grams of rats, unless he rejects rats why not just feed him a med once a week instead of 3???

My point was that it is not necessary to feed multiple rats when their range is broad enough to feed once every week or two.

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Originally Posted by rperry03

A bp should never eat 2 rats per week since rats can get bigger than a bp should eat. Mine weighs 1800 grams pounds 200-250 gram rats and in no way wants another for 10 -14 days.

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Of course... your feeding pretty much retired breeders.
A ball python of atleast 4 foot should have no problem consuming 3 small rats or 2 mediums in one feeding. But I'm like you I'd perfer to feed large or xtra large rats. But If you dont have them then of course it will take 2-4 rat(depending on the size) to satisfy a BP.

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Originally Posted by BrianD

Of course... your feeding pretty much retired breeders.
A ball python of atleast 4 foot should have no problem consuming 3 small rats or 2 mediums in one feeding. But I'm like you I'd perfer to feed large or xtra large rats. But If you dont have them then of course it will take 2-4 rat(depending on the size) to satisfy a BP.

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Yup, I have a female that probably weighs 450+ grams and I have no snake that should eat that.

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Originally Posted by rperry03

Yea and its still 180 grams of rats, unless he rejects rats why not just feed him a med once a week instead of 3???

My point was that it is not necessary to feed multiple rats when their range is broad enough to feed once every week or two.

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A theory that is passed around occasionally is that smaller meals more often will result in the BP being less likely to fast. And that smaller meals are easier to digest.

And I said my biggest girls sometimes get three, and that's usually only if they miss a week or two due to shed. Males only get one a week.

let her live out her life then. Thats huge... a medium size boa that would be a good meal.

I have tried both methods, big meals less often, and smaller meals more often.

For me at least, smaller meals more frequently results in fewer feeding strikes and less wasted food, so that is what works for me and my snakes.

That being said, feeding two rats one after the other should not be a problem, once the first is gone and the snake has re-aligned it's jaws a little, offer the second.

Gale