small rat too big?

For a 6 month old bp?

Because BP's grow at vastly different rates it's impossible to say based solely on age.

You want a rodent that is as wide as the widest part of your BP. You can also use the 15% rule as a very general guideline.

The 15% rule is to feed a rodent that weighs 15% of the weight of the BP. So a 100 gram BP would eat a 15 gram rodent (100 grams x 0.15 = 15 grams)

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Because BP's grow at vastly different rates it's impossible to say based solely on age.

You want a rodent that is as wide as the widest part of your BP. You can also use the 15% rule as a very general guideline.

The 15% rule is to feed a rodent that weighs 15% of the weight of the BP. So a 100 gram BP would eat a 15 gram rodent (100 grams x 0.15 = 15 grams)

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I'm not sure how much he weighs. I don't have a scale (Other than a human weight scale). He's been taking hoppers for the last 2 months, no problem, and they BARELY leave a bump in him (even 2 at a time). Someone said Rat pups, to weaned rats, but this site I was at said 5-6 months should be devouring small rat's, no problem.

he's just under 2 feet.

Without seeing pictures and knowing weight it's going to be a shot in the dark but assuming that he's been properly fed for the last 6 months he should be able to knock down a rat pup to a weaned rat. I have a ball python that has only taken one meal take a rat pinkie today. Then I have another that has had a couple of meals and weighed in last at 100g that ate a rat fuzzy.

Just a guess, but I would say that he should easily take down weaned rats and quite possibly "small" small rats too.

One of my girls is now almost 7 months old, is at 598g, and takes down small rats no problem. I have another girl who is 8 months old, is hanging tight at 465g, and takes down small rats also. Just one month ago they weighed the same, and got the same sized rats on the same feeding days between then and now. They just put on weight at different rates and have different "body types". It's the smaller, older girl that is actually more "fluffy" and the larger, younger girl that is solid as a rock.

Eric

Side note: a gram scale is a useful tool to have around - either a good kitchen scale or one meant for your collection only (my wife made sure I had my own ;)).

Yeah. I know i need to get a gram scale. I Keep meaning to, but..bills... ><

So far, he's ONLY ever ate hoppers for me, which are way too small and never leave a bump

You don't need a scale. Feed him a meal thats about the same size as the widest part of his body. Just eyeball it. :gj:

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Originally Posted by greenacid

Yeah. I know i need to get a gram scale. I Keep meaning to, but..bills... ><

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Yeah - I understand. I did just say useful tool though - not a required purchase. :) As Mike said, you should just be able to eyeball it without one.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Yeah - I understand. I did just say useful tool though - not a required purchase. :) As Mike said, you should just be able to eyeball it without one.

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Well, I'm assuming he's either on a hunger strike, or the small rat was too big for him (which means I'm out 12 bucks)...

I Tried feeding him a live hopper on Tuesday, and he was afraid of it, and kept hissing at it and curling up whenever it'd come near. I usually feed him frozen/thawed but both places were out until Tuesday.

Ugh.. >_>

Do you feed him in his enclosure?

$12 for a small rat?!?!?! Did it come with a free drink or was the rat gold plated?

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Do you feed him in his enclosure?

$12 for a small rat?!?!?! Did it come with a free drink or was the rat gold plated?

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That was for two small rat's. Sorry. Petsmart crap..

Yeah, I normally feed Him in his enclosure. I Tried a Sterlite tub the other day, and he was just trying to escape the whole time. Usually I Dangle it, and he strikes, or I leave it, and he eats it while I'm not in the room.

I didn't catch if you prekill or not, but it's best not to dangle a live rodent. It freaks them out and puts them on defensive mode, more likely to bite your snake. Set the prey in gently so it stays calm.

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Feed him in his enclosure, and as coleslaw said, dont dangle the live feeders.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Do you feed him in his enclosure?

$12 for a small rat?!?!?! Did it come with a free drink or was the rat gold plated?

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Omg I thought the exact same thing!! Maybe he didn't eat it due to the gold plating!! :D

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