Hyper feeding -- how do I break the cycle?

Ok I just bought a ball python from a couple and they hyper fed it .. It's massive and I don't want to continue the habit . ( they fed a rat a week) can I just modify feeding or do I have to do it gradually ? I never hyper fed any reptile before and personally don't agree with it . She's my scale baby and we want the best for her any advice is appreciated. On a another level she's apt to bite I know that pythons aren't normally like that but I was told she bites a lot .. ( she's only got me once when I caught her unawares)

There is nothing wrong with feeding a rat a week. That's what mine get. None of mine are obese. They will stop eating when they don't want anymore. Ball pythons have a way of going on food strikes, at which point it's good that they have some weight on them. I suppose what size rat bears mentioning though. Because if it's too small, could help explain the biting if she's hungry...?

Can you post a picture? Depending on its size and the size of the rat, one per week may have been an appropriate meal.

Also, ball pythons are supposed to be a little on the plump side, unlike colubrids and boas.

I feed mine a rat a week and don't have an obese problem, mine is 900 grams and gets 1 small rat per week.

With the biting... never ran across a BP that was continually snappy. Be sure you don't hold the rat before you go to grab the BP and as Doolittle said, if you are feeding too small, it might be hungry. Snapping isn't a defensive response for a BP, so it is usually attached to hunger.

One appropriate size rat a week is fine and actually depending on the age of the animal you can even feed more. ;)

And I think you mean power feed. ;)

Now for the biting it can be stress related or food related she actually might not eat enough?

Anyway if you could give us more info, animal's age and size, enclosure size, husbandry (temps, humidity etc) sire of the rat offered, how often the animal is handled and for how long....

I don't think BP's bite out of hunger. They are pretty good at telling what is potential prey and what isn't. They have a strong sense of smell. Also one prey item a week is completely fine. I have even seen people feed an appropriately sized prey item twice a week and I have never noticed anything negative on the snake, such as, too much weight gain. I have noticed that BP's will eat if they want to. Some snakes will supposedly overeat, but I haven't seen this with BP's. At least not yet.

Once a week is not overfeeding. If you feed once ever 2 weeks, make sure the meal is on the larger side. As for the biting, it's new... give it some time to settle in. Can we see the enclosure you have it in? Biting ball pythons are usually very insecure, so if it's your 'scaly baby' you may want to change your enclosure to provide more security.

HUSBANDRY!

My bet goes to, the husbandry in the previous owner's place was off. Did they have a thermostat for the UTH?
Do YOU have a thermostat for the UTH?

That's what I say. Only time I've ever been bit by my ball was when I spooked it while cleaning it's vive, and I splashed it with vinegar water that was on my hand. We got past it. He bought me flowers.

As for the feeding, x2 what others have said. Ball pythons are FAT snakes :rolleyes: they aren't supposed to be lean. They are chunkers.
But, I will say that they can become obese. If it is an adult, you can feed every 10-14 days, based on what size rat you are feeding and the health of the snake. :snake:
I also suggest you check out the care sheet on the main forum! I say this to all new BP owners, just to brush up on info that may have been misunderstood or left out... or wrong. By no fault of your own.

All the best, and CONGRATS!

They fed huge rats not so much mice . She's very comfortable here only bit once when I startled her when before they said she bit a lot she's hefty but if you guys think it's okay to do one a week I can't really argue though I think her temperament change with me is interesting they said she hardly moved when they had her but with this being a multi snake household we keep the temp more suitable I think . She explores outside with me and loves hanging out if I leave her cage top off she will peek her head out looking for me. I have photos on my page and all I know is she's a ball python and is 9 months I have no other info she came from a overwhelmed owner who had numerous snakes -- excessive numbers-

get a scale, give us numbers in grams :)

one rat per week sounds fine... unless its a gigantic rat and a tiny BP.

a scale is needed to see if there is a problem, and pictures are needed to see if the BP is currently overweight or just fine.

If the snake in question was eating one rat a week, every week for the last owner........................... I would bet to say their husbandry was spot on. :gj:
What you think is "huge" might not be. Most people cannot tell a weaned rat from a small or a small from a medium until you weigh it out in front of them.
If it is eating let it feed, in time you will be asking why your ball wont eat. Its in their nature even if you don't think its right.
Photos would be nice to see so we can make a more educated guess.
Also keep in mind they are just like people, each eats and grows at their own pace.

also: I haven't seen anyone mention it yet but you want a rat that is about as wide around as the thickest part of your snake.

If she's the one on the blue sheet in your pics, don't worry, she's not too big. Great that she's a strong feeder - enjoy it while it lasts! ;)