Does this guy look too small to eat f/t rats?

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he always takes his f/t large adult mice so well. He's been getting hungry quicker and quicker though (once ever four-five days he acts hungry) so I decided to try a small f/t rat. He acted like he was gonna take it but eventually gave up. does he look too small still to eat it?

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...ge_494703.jpeg

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weigh the snake, then weigh the ft rat, and if the feeder weighs between 10 and 15% of the snakes weight its ok. My guy is 1100g so my feeders are 110g-150g, but since hes a big boy and 3 years old i feed him every 2 weeks, unless he shows me hes really hungry, and he'll let me know by telegraphing at the cage door when i sit by his viv.

thanks! The rats are still a bit too big, I think. I'll keep him on mice for now! Thanks again! :)

you can switch to rats just go down a size to wienlings, and if they are still to large, feed rat pups. I get my feeders from big cheese, and when you order they will give you the weight range for each size, so you can order the correct size.

I don't think that rat looks too large. I do agree that feeding 10-15% of body weight is a good guideline to follow. Is that the first rat you've offered your BP? If so, sometimes it just takes a little work to transition them over to rats.

Doesn't look too big my girl isn't as big as yours an has eatin larger rats then that

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Originally Posted by blue roses

weigh the snake, then weigh the ft rat, and if the feeder weighs between 10 and 15% of the snakes weight its ok. My guy is 1100g so my feeders are 110g-150g, but since hes a big boy and 3 years old i feed him every 2 weeks, unless he shows me hes really hungry, and he'll let me know by telegraphing at the cage door when i sit by his viv.

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So what do you recommend someone feeding a ball python over 2000g do? Over 3000g? Larger than that?

In practice, the 10-15% "rule" is only intended to be used for hatchlings until they are large enough for small rats - at about the 500g mark. It's a tool/guideline for keepers unfamiliar with being able to eyeball appropriately sized prey to be able to pick out appropriately sized meals for their little ones. When applied to larger animals, the "rule" becomes ridiculous.

Adult males do quite well eating no larger than small rats for their entire life (50-90g). Adult females do quite well eating no larger than medium rats for their entire life (90-180g). Feeding ball pythons prey larger than that is generally unnecessary - especially if the goal is getting them to eat consistantly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blue roses

weigh the snake, then weigh the ft rat, and if the feeder weighs between 10 and 15% of the snakes weight its ok. My guy is 1100g so my feeders are 110g-150g, but since hes a big boy and 3 years old i feed him every 2 weeks, unless he shows me hes really hungry, and he'll let me know by telegraphing at the cage door when i sit by his viv.

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Feeding 400 grams to a female is gonna be fun, funny I have 1500 grams males that never saw a rat larger than 75 grams.

People need to stop with that 10/15 percent rule it's ridiculous, instead they need to start having a better understanding of the animal they own and understand are efficient they are, how they are overfed in captivity, how they fast to catch up and how fatty liver diseases is gonna be more and more common.

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Are small rats the only size you can buy? You can buy rats in multiple sizes, possibly a weaned rat may be better.

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If he's been on mice, he may not be too sure about whether a rat is good food or not ;). Next time scent the rat with the mouse (thaw them in the same bag, rub the mouse all over the rat, etc.). My little guy is a great eater but even he didn't take a rat the first time I offered.

That rat looks just slightly too big---he could probably take it but it might be uncomfortable for him. If you can find a smaller rat that would be best.

The reason he didn't take the rat is most likely he needs some scent transitioning, which a lot of ball pythons do. Mice apparently smell a lot nicer than rats, so you need to roll the F/T rat in mice scent (such as dirty substrate that mice have been living on) to "scent" the rat like a mouse first.

It may only need to be done a couple times or a few months for some to eventually take rats without the mouse scent. It doesn't look like the size was an issue, though I also think weaned rat is a better size.

This is the second rat I've ever tried to feed him, the first being around a month ago and he didn't seem interested at all like he did this time. I'll scent the next one with mice. And I'll try a weened rat as well, if he doesn't take the last small rat I've got. :)