Would gerbils make a suitable diet for my ball python?

My boyfriend and I have been looking for a sustainable way to feed our ball python. We tried breeding rats and failed, I don't care to breed mice they're too small and most of the time the Pet store only has tiny rat pups. My SNAKE is almost 4ft long but not very thick. He needs something bigger than a feeder and smaller than a young rat. We feed him multiple feeder mice ad he likes to hunt and baby rats aren't feisty enough. Last night my boyfriend went to pet barn for feeders and they told him they had a gerbil problem someone had brought them a couple and they multiplied quickly my boyfriend brought two home a boy and girl hr wants to feed our snake their offspring. I never thought to feed him gerbils because they're so expensive.

He's not a picky eater as long as it's alive and can move about on it's own.

Well if he starts eating gerbils then he may not eat anything else.

Sure, as long as you can provide a sustainable supply for the snake. Ball pythons are notoriously picky eaters, and would possibly become fixated on gerbils as a prey source. If you are going to do it, just make sure you can provide gerbils for the rest of the animals life if necessary.

My adult BP had no problems eating a gerbil the one time I offered one. :tombstone

As a one-off thing it's no big deal BUT if you ever have to rehome your ball python, and remember that they can live for decades, it will be difficult to find a keeper willing to take it if all it will eat is gerbils.

I have a few ball pythons willing to take pinky or fuzzy rabbits, but I am careful to make sure that they continue to take rats, as I could just imagine trying to rehome one where my ad states "eating well on f/t rabbit fuzzies" and having people think what-the-fruitbat!

Hahaha "what the fruitbat" had me dying with that line

My 4 foot eats medium rats

Gerbils are related to the African Jerboa, so it is more of a natural prey item for bp's. The fact is that gerbils are more hair than nutritional content and rats are a better choice to grow out your bp. Hair is pretty much a undigestible part of prey items.:cool:

My concern would be expense. Gerbils aren't often sold as feeders, so they command a higher price if you're getting them from a store. I think they have smaller litters than rats or mice too, which means they won't produce as much for you if you go the route of running your own breeding pairs.

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Originally Posted by JoshSloane

Sure, as long as you can provide a sustainable supply for the snake. Ball pythons are notoriously picky eaters, and would possibly become fixated on gerbils as a prey source. If you are going to do it, just make sure you can provide gerbils for the rest of the animals life if necessary.

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If they can reproduce as quickly as the guy in the store said then it shouldn't be a problem. I'm still learning about Gerbils, I'm from California and I'm pretty sure they're illegal to own there.. I'd never really seen them before I moved here.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

As a one-off thing it's no big deal BUT if you ever have to rehome your ball python, and remember that they can live for decades, it will be difficult to find a keeper willing to take it if all it will eat is gerbils.

I have a few ball pythons willing to take pinky or fuzzy rabbits, but I am careful to make sure that they continue to take rats, as I could just imagine trying to rehome one where my ad states "eating well on f/t rabbit fuzzies" and having people think what-the-fruitbat!

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I cant imagine rehoming my snakey! But I suppose in real life things happens and I should keep that in mind. Thanks! I'll just have to rehome the gerbils with him, like that's any better!

If the snake readily eats why is it not able to eat what most Balls near 4ft can? My Ball is not even 4ft but takes medium rats every two weeks and they usually don't even make a bulge.

I doubt the store is going to continue to allow them to reproduce and sell them to you as feeders.

I have a chest freezer full of all sizes of rats. Its the easiest way to go.

If you had trouble breeding rats I imagine you'd have just as much trouble breeding gerbils. As a one time thing there's no harm in it but it'd really be a pain if your BP got fixated and decided to only eat gerbils.

They are more aggressive then your average feeders, have longer teeth, are more expensive and are like crack for BP, hopefully you will have a steady supply, and will never have to re-home your BP, now that you know all that it's YOUR choice.

Also check if they are legal where you live responsible pet ownership is important even when it comes to feeders.

Gerbils are just as prolific breeders as rats and mice. Nutritional content is fine. If that's what you need to feed them it's ok, just be prepared to manage gerbil populations.