Feeding my new bp

Ok, so I'm new to the snake world. Got my first bp and a albino motley corn as well. My question is regarding feeding Maya (my bp) the guy I got her from told me he was feeding her every other Sunday so I've read in various places that it should be every 5-7 for babies and every 10 for adults. I don't know if she's under weight, I took her to a reptile store and got the sex confirmed and he did tell mme she looked good. So basically the previous owner told me she eats one rat pup every 2 weeks. So my question is, should I keep her on that schedule or change it to weekly or every 10 days?
Once I figure out how to put pics up I'll get some of her up :)

How old is the snake? What is its weight? I would just go with every 7 days.

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Originally Posted by Maya2012

Ok, so I'm new to the snake world. Got my first bp and a albino motley corn as well. My question is regarding feeding Maya (my bp) the guy I got her from told me he was feeding her every other Sunday so I've read in various places that it should be every 5-7 for babies and every 10 for adults. I don't know if she's under weight, I took her to a reptile store and got the sex confirmed and he did tell mme she looked good. So basically the previous owner told me she eats one rat pup every 2 weeks. So my question is, should I keep her on that schedule or change it to weekly or every 10 days?
Once I figure out how to put pics up I'll get some of her up :)

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How large is she?
For hatchlings, I feed every 4-5 days and bump them to a 7 day feeding schedule once they hit 500 grams. My adults get fed every 7 days. But these are breeders or intended breeders.

But if Maya is intended to be a pet, a 7 day feeding schedule should be fine.

As long as your little girl has good muscle tone and body condition, I wouldn't worry too much.

In order to attach photos, you need to upload them onto a photo hosting website like Photobucket.com. Then copy and past the image link here.

I was told she was about a yr old. Shes about 23 inches in length, I'm gonna see if I can way her tomorrow (Sunday) and I'll work on getting the pics up. She's a pet at the moment I don't intend on getting into breeding any time soon.

If she is a subadult, then a 7 day feeding schedule is just fine :)

7 days is fine, but every two weeks really won't hurt her either if the prey item is the appropriate size. Most people simply feed more often with the aim of breeding.

Ok, so just weighed her and shes 194g and 24" long, and I was told she was a year old or so. I'm attaching some pics, she's use to eating every two weeks, I know BPs can be picky eaters so I don't want to change anything that is going to cause her to not eat. She was eating rat pups or small mice i was told. The reptile store I went to, to get her sex verified, told me to feed her rat pups. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
~Gabi~
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...1344793259.jpghttp://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...1344793266.jpghttp://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...1344793274.jpghttp://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...1344793256.jpg

If she is only 194g and is really a year old, that's pretty small. You'll want to feed her an appropriately sized (15% of body weight, or as big around as she is at her widest point) prey item. And with her being so small, I'd suggest every 7 days for a bit.

Wow, yeah, she looks like she needs some groceries! Small mice are waaaay too small for her, especially being only one every other week. She should be fed 10-15% of her body weight every 5-7 days. Rats would be better. I would probably start her off on a 7 day schedule feeding appropriate sized prey and after a couple feedings when her body gets used to having more food I would bump her up to a 5 day schedule until she puts on some good weight and catches up.

To give you an idea on how small she is, you said she was 194g and about a year old. Our female balls usually range between 800 and 1,200g by their first birthday and our males, are usually at least 500g.

Is that a normal ball? My new python looks just like her!

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Originally Posted by AK907

Wow, yeah, she looks like she needs some groceries! Small mice are waaaay too small for her, especially being only one every other week. She should be fed 10-15% of her body weight every 5-7 days. Rats would be better. I would probably start her off on a 7 day schedule feeding appropriate sized prey and after a couple feedings when her body gets used to having more food I would bump her up to a 5 day schedule until she puts on some good weight and catches up.

To give you an idea on how small she is, you said she was 194g and about a year old. Our female balls usually range between 800 and 1,200g by their first birthday and our males, are usually at least 500g.

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WOW, i thought she looked small from all the pics I've seen but damn not that small. Ok, i guess ill start her on a rat every 7 days starting today. I'll monitor her weight and see how she does with more food. Thanks for the comparison, that helped a lot.

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Originally Posted by FireStorm

If she is only 194g and is really a year old, that's pretty small. You'll want to feed her an appropriately sized (15% of body weight, or as big around as she is at her widest point) prey item. And with her being so small, I'd suggest every 7 days for a bit.

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Thanks, Yeah im going to start her on every 7 days, starting today.:)

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Originally Posted by Xazereth

Is that a normal ball? My new python looks just like her!

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As far as I was told, yes she is. A co worker of mine got one as well and she looks about the same as mine so I'll be passing down the advice I've been getting.

I figured it was a normal. They look pretty cool for being a "normal", huh? :P
I just got my ball python last week, she's a little tiny one too, probably younger than yours but about the same size. Unless anyone would like to correct me? My snake's between about 13 - 16 inches long. Don't have a weight at the moment. I'm assuming she's pretty young but I'd like to know how old she actually is. I read that ball pythons hatch around 15", is that true? Also, at what age do most breeders sell their baby BP's?

Sorry to jump in this thread and start askin questions :P

Keep that gal on a steady schedule and she'll thicken up! Always fun to watch em eat too! :D

Is there any way of knowing her age? by her length or anything? even an average at least?

A valid question, I'm also curious!

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Originally Posted by Xazereth

I figured it was a normal. They look pretty cool for being a "normal", huh? :P
I just got my ball python last week, she's a little tiny one too, probably younger than yours but about the same size. Unless anyone would like to correct me? My snake's between about 13 - 16 inches long. Don't have a weight at the moment. I'm assuming she's pretty young but I'd like to know how old she actually is. I read that ball pythons hatch around 15", is that true? Also, at what age do most breeders sell their baby BP's?

Sorry to jump in this thread and start askin questions :P

Keep that gal on a steady schedule and she'll thicken up! Always fun to watch em eat too! :D

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Definitely pretty cool looking for a norm, i love her markings, I think shes as beautiful as the morphs in her own way:snake:
Jump in any time, i don't mind at all :) I just get to learn more.
It was definitely unique seeing her eat for the first time, nothing compared to my baby corn.:P

I don't think there is anyway to tell a snakes age, where did you get your ball from?

Yeah I don't mind having a normal at all.

Although...I DEFINITELY would not mind picking up this snake!
http://pythonregius.com/blackeyedleu...ire-12f15.aspx

It just looks sooo cool :O

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Originally Posted by SRMD94

I don't think there is anyway to tell a snakes age, where did you get your ball from?

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I got my ball from a local reptile/fish store, he told me she was a baby. I'm gonna weigh her when I get home!

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Originally Posted by Xazereth

Yeah I don't mind having a normal at all.

Although...I DEFINITELY would not mind picking up this snake!
http://pythonregius.com/blackeyedleu...ire-12f15.aspx

It just looks sooo cool :O

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I agree, I like the Piebald and the black pewter pastel, but there are so many beautiful ones out there :)

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Originally Posted by SRMD94

I don't think there is anyway to tell a snakes age, where did you get your ball from?

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Me, I got her off of a guy on Craigslist that was moving and couldn't take her with him.