being over feed?

I have been, or been trying to feed my ball python every 5 days. - he goes no less then 7 days without eating.
He currently weighs at 240-260 grams (doesn't stay still long enough to weigh!) and about 12 inches, he feeds on Live mouses (adults I think) he drinks, doesn't seem to be dehydrated. Seems like a bp in perfect health.

But I feel I might be feeding him too much? I don't have a age on him, but he is from 2012. (when I got him the store said he was about 5 months, this was 3 months ago.)

Also another question, how many times during the year does a ball python shed? At first I thought it would only be 1-3 times, but since I've had him hes shed 2 times, and I think hes about to shed again. (Refused a meal, he did this the last time he was about to shed.)

I'll try and get some pictures up today.

That sounds fine, he's still a baby and is just using that extra food to grow. 2-3 times a year?? My juvenile BP sheds almost monthly...

Most young ball pythons will shed once a month or once every other month. So yeah, a little more than 3 times a year ;)

The snake does not sound over fed to me. Sounds perfect in fact!

Maybe just start offering once every 7 days instead of every 5 days.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Most young ball pythons will shed once a month or once every other month. So yeah, a little more than 3 times a year ;)

The snake does not sound over fed to me. Sounds perfect in fact!

Maybe just start offering once every 7 days instead of every 5 days.

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+1

It also depends on the size of mouse as well.

So at point should you start to feed once a week or so? I assume follow the weight of the snake and once it gets into wiened rats (if feeding rats) then switch to a once a week or so schedule with small rats and feed this way and follow girth of snake vs food etc??

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Originally Posted by rossko85

So at point should you start to feed once a week or so? I assume follow the weight of the snake and once it gets into wiened rats (if feeding rats) then switch to a once a week or so schedule with small rats and feed this way and follow girth of snake vs food etc??

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It isn't rocket science lol. You can feed every 5 days until you get to small rats if you really want. I just feed once a week because it is easier to feed everyone on one day rather than feed some one day, and then the rest another day.

The 2 days is not going to make a significant difference. If your snake is already eating more like every 7 days, then just feed it every 7 days.

http://i40.tinypic.com/fxtdfm.jpg

mouse is this size, The guy at the store just gave me em, Never knew the size.

Here's a pretty good idea and seems to be right in line with things to keep it simple!

http://www.ballpythonz.net/feeding.html

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Originally Posted by rossko85

Here's a pretty good idea and seems to be right in line with things to keep it simple!

http://www.ballpythonz.net/feeding.html

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I have two concerns with this link. One, it propagates the myth of tank aggression by encouraging feeding in a separate enclosure. Two, I do not feel that it is necessary to ever feed a ball python a large rat. My 3100g girl gets one small or medium rat weekly.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

I have two concerns with this link. One, it propagates the myth of tank aggression by encouraging feeding in a separate enclosure. Two, I do not feel that it is necessary to ever feed a ball python a large rat. My 3100g girl gets one small or medium rat weekly.

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Agree, I have a boa female that is larger than any ball python will ever be, and she is still on medium rats. Large rats for ball pythons sounds kind of crazy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

I have two concerns with this link. One, it propagates the myth of tank aggression by encouraging feeding in a separate enclosure. Two, I do not feel that it is necessary to ever feed a ball python a large rat. My 3100g girl gets one small or medium rat weekly.

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Three, anything that uses a z instead of an s to denote plural is not worth its weight in poopz.

I appreciate the insight...that's why I posted:-) I thought that was a little high in the spectrum! I've always been told a nice small-med rat was perfect for most young adult and adult snakes especially balls....taking this with a grain of salt! I too agree with the tank aggression being out of this world! My snake is still young like 5-6 months and I've had her a month now and I can place my hand inside and move things around or pet her and she will poke out of one of her hides and flip her tongue and start to move toward my hand and just kind of grays by it or check it out and just get back to what she was doing...as soon as I drop the feeder in she is on it!! The snake knows the diff between food and hand as lomg as you handle regularly and expose your scent in the enclosure and just keep the odor of the food off your hand...they are scent oriented creatures among other things...as most animals are...it's just the instincts they follow I would say?


Good input guys and gals! It's much appreciated! I don't care for the rest of the stuff in it as the same as you 2, I just wanted to post that link for the chart:-)

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Three, anything that uses a z instead of an s to denote plural is not worth its weight in poopz.

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Right?!! Lol oh boyz lmao

http://i44.tinypic.com/30ct3j8.jpg


http://i40.tinypic.com/1i0l4.jpg


http://i39.tinypic.com/5umkx0.jpg


here is my baby, how does he look?

He looks like a perfectly healthy weight to me.

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Originally Posted by Capray

He looks like a perfectly healthy weight to me.

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does he look well rounded enough? that's my only concern with him, other then that he hasn't given me a reason to be worried.