Opinions on feeding my baby ball

Hey guys, so I went and picked up a scale today for Sativa, I weighed him and he is a whopping 74 grams. He is currently feeding on F/T hopper mice, but I would like to switch him to rats. I know he is supposed to have meals that are 10-15 percent of his weight (7.4 to 11.1 grams), and I have found this chart. I have a few questions, the chart says a hopper is 7-12 grams, whereas the rat equivalent is 9-20 grams. Should I still go with the rat ? What is an average growth rate for ball pythons when they are this little? I just don't know how many I should get, I want to get enough rat fuzzies (it is a longish drive to get them), but not so many that I have a ton of extras when he gets to rat pup size. Also, how often should I feed him? I have heard every 5, 7, and 10 days. I would like him to grow at a decent, healthy rate. Any recommendations would be great! Thanks for the help :) This forum is an awesome, very helpful community!

Every ball python is different as far as growth rate is concerned. I feed all of my snakes under 350g a rat pup every 5 days and some of them have gained 30g in one month where others have gained 90g in one month. I would get a pack of 20 fuzzies and feed them off on a 5 day basis and then check weight and adjust accordingly...

I agree with the 5 day feeding. That seems to help put on the healthiest weight.

Definitely feed on a 5 day schedule at that age. 10 days is far too long for such a young snake. We don't even feed our adults on a 10 day schedule. Growth rates vary depending on a lot of factors like gender, feeding response, genetics, etc. A good eater with a proper feeding regimen you can expect between 800-1,200g for a female and 500g+ for a male by their first birthdays. The general rule of thumb that most breeders swear by is 10-15% of your snake's body weight every 5 days for younger snakes and every 7 days for older snakes.

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Originally Posted by Andybill

Every ball python is different as far as growth rate is concerned. I feed all of my snakes under 350g a rat pup every 5 days and some of them have gained 30g in one month where others have gained 90g in one month. I would get a pack of 20 fuzzies and feed them off on a 5 day basis and then check weight and adjust accordingly...

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Originally Posted by EAC Reptiles

I agree with the 5 day feeding. That seems to help put on the healthiest weight.

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Originally Posted by AK907

Definitely feed on a 5 day schedule at that age. 10 days is far too long for such a young snake. We don't even feed our adults on a 10 day schedule. Growth rates vary depending on a lot of factors like gender, feeding response, genetics, etc. A good eater with a proper feeding regimen you can expect between 800-1,200g for a female and 500g+ for a male by their first birthdays. The general rule of thumb that most breeders swear by is 10-15% of your snake's body weight every 5 days for younger snakes and every 7 days for older snakes.

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Thanks for all of the responses :) I will be picking up 20 rat fuzzies tomorrow and feeding him on a 5 day schedule! Also, he has been climbing up on the vines and trying to get out of his enclosure, is that normal? Haha, never thought BPs were arboreal :p

It's not unheard of. One of my bps sometimes curl upon the branch in his tank. Only at night though.

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Originally Posted by grizzjr1

Thanks for all of the responses :) I will be picking up 20 rat fuzzies tomorrow and feeding him on a 5 day schedule! Also, he has been climbing up on the vines and trying to get out of his enclosure, is that normal? Haha, never thought BPs were arboreal :p

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Double-check your temps. Climbing could be a sign that he's too hot and trying to thermoregulate. How/where/with what are you measuring your hot spot? He could also just be exploring.

I would double check temps as well. What do you have for hides? They typically don't climb, he could be hot or stressed out.

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

It's not unheard of. One of my bps sometimes curl upon the branch in his tank. Only at night though.

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He also only does this at night. Odd.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

Double-check your temps. Climbing could be a sign that he's too hot and trying to thermoregulate. How/where/with what are you measuring your hot spot? He could also just be exploring.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

I would double check temps as well. What do you have for hides? They typically don't climb, he could be hot or stressed out.

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My set up is below, the hot side is always 90-92 degrees with 43-50 percent humidity, the cold side is 78-81 degrees with 53-60 percent humidity. He has a hide over the heat pad which is being measured by the thermometer probe (94-96 degrees) and a hide on the cool side that is partially buried. He uses the hides during the day but seems to like slithering in the vines at night. He always looks like he is trying to escape. I fed him last night after he was in the vines and he hit the mouse right out of the tongs Last time I had to lay it on a log and he just slowly went up to it, smelled it for a few minutes, then slowly grabbed it and ate it. Now he has calmed down, maybe he was just hungry? I have only taken him out twice and have done everything I can not to stress him out. He just seems like he likes to explore. Crazy guy.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0...710_194556.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B...713_181035.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f...713_181050.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h...713_181045.jpg

Him in the vines

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-v...713_212010.jpg

I'd turn your thermostat down. That's a bit too hot.

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

I'd turn your thermostat down. That's a bit too hot.

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x2 It should be 91deg INSIDE the hide, not on top of it. 96deg is way too hot. You should also add another cave hide to the cool side of the tank, so he can thermoregulate and still feel secure.

Yup, you need to turn it down. It's a bit too hot in there. He is probably so active because he is trying to find a cool enough spot and can't. If you haven't already, check out the care sheet on this site. I haven't figured out how to link them on my phone, or I would for you.

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

I'd turn your thermostat down. That's a bit too hot.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

x2 It should be 91deg INSIDE the hide, not on top of it. 96deg is way too hot. You should also add another cave hide to the cool side of the tank, so he can thermoregulate and still feel secure.

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The thermostat probe is on top of the glass (underneath the substrate) along with the thermometer probe, the thermostat is set to 92/93 degrees, but goes from 91 to 96 degrees since it is an on off. What do you mean it should be 91 inside the hide and not on top of it? I'm confused ha. There is an upside down paper bowl, the white thing that is partially buried in the pictures, on the cool side. I have seen him switching between the two.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

Yup, you need to turn it down. It's a bit too hot in there. He is probably so active because he is trying to find a cool enough spot and can't. If you haven't already, check out the care sheet on this site. I haven't figured out how to link them on my phone, or I would for you.

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I've read it, I have the two hides, I will turn down the thermostat and see if that helps. The cool side is about 78 to 80. He hasn't been out since he ate now, he may have just been hungry.

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Originally Posted by grizzjr1

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h...713_181045.jpg

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This pic is why I thought your hot side ambient was reading 91, with 96deg under the hide. Definitely tweak the hot spot down. A range of 87-92deg is much safer than 91-96deg (assuming a 5deg variance). You might get lower swings if you wedge the thermostat probe between the UTH and the tank bottom glass (under the tank), so it isn't as impacted by ambient temp changes. And sorry, I didn't realize the white thing was a hide, also. :)

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

This pic is why I thought your hot side ambient was reading 91, with 96deg under the hide. Definitely tweak the hot spot down. A range of 87-92deg is much safer than 91-96deg (assuming a 5deg variance). You might get lower swings if you wedge the thermostat probe between the UTH and the tank bottom glass (under the tank), so it isn't as impacted by ambient temp changes. And sorry, I didn't realize the white thing was a hide, also. :)

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Okay, I just turned it down. Thanks for the help! When I was setting up the tank I had planned on putting the probe in between the glass and heat pad, but of course I got too anxious and threw it on too soon... I tried to remove the heat pad but that thing is stuck on extremely well. Sorry about the confusion! I need to get another actual good hide, but he seems to like the bowl just as much as the hot hide. Thanks again :)