New here with baby BP

Hey all, new to the forum of course. Have had Hades for about 2 weeks now and she's done 2 feedings already. First one i had to assist feed slightly and the second was a normal feeding. Thinking she's a bit thin, got her from Petco, although she has not been aggressive one bit and pretty docile. Petco said she was a morph but she looks pretty normal to me(but this is only first BP so not sure), also have 2 bearded dragons at this time as well.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...psbgejy5nv.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...psi6c7m9mf.jpg

She's cute! Does look a tiny bit thin, but babies can often just look that way for their first 4 months of life. I'd suggest checking a feeding chart to her exact weight and prey size and feeding every 7 days.
She is some sort of morph, a normal has most of their "alien heads" with two eyes on them. See how she has a lot with not even one eye?
Congrats on your new family addition. Remember to constantly stress to your child not to touch her head or the first 3 inches of her neck. These areas can set off her fight or flight senses if grabbed or bumped too hard. I have 2 boys, 7 and 10, and sometimes they still forget that mom is the only one allowed to scritch heads and give nose nuzzles. Also, remember to have him wash his hands before and after the snake. :)
I wish you luck on your journey! Welcome!

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Thank you, oh i have stressed a good bit to him about touching near her head and not putting hands in front of her face(i hardly do myself either, dont want her associating my hand/fingers with food lol). He does good tho about when just touching its mid body to tail.

First feeding(assisted) i done a pinkie mouse for her and this last feeding done hopper mouse, she was thinner before these pics so that one hopper added a little weight to her.

welcome!!! i'm on Tapatalk and can't see the pics unfortunately, but i'm sure donnadudette2003 is right with her assessment!

i have a new hatchling too and she looks thin, but they're young and will fill out before you know it. here's a feeding guide that a lot of us use to properly feed our noodles.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...380802e261.jpg

EDIT: i'm able to see the pic in the thread preview and the snake does look very thin. keep up with feedings and the snake will do just fine.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

welcome!!! i'm on Tapatalk and can't see the pics unfortunately, but i'm sure donnadudette2003 is right with her assessment!

i have a new hatchling too and she looks thin, but they're young and will fill out before you know it. here's a feeding guide that a lot of us use to properly feed our noodles.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...380802e261.jpg

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Is it recommended to choose a rat over a mouse if both are listed and is there a transition from one to another? I've been told that you can remain on mice for the life of the snake as long as your not intending to breed (speaking on the male that I have).

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Is it recommended to choose a rat over a mouse if both are listed and is there a transition from one to another? I've been told that you can remain on mice for the life of the snake as long as your not intending to breed (speaking on the male that I have).

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rats are preferred only because, once the snake is bigger, a rat is larger and will provide a proper meal versus having to feed multiple mice for one good meal, plus feeding multiple feeders is more expensive.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

rats are preferred only because, once the snake is bigger, a rat is larger and will provide a proper meal versus having to feed multiple mice for one good meal, plus feeding multiple feeders is more expensive.

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ok, good to know. so is there any trouble switching or is it usually seamless? I guess what I'm getting at is it better to do it now while they are still young or wait until they are older and I think they need the extra size of food.

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

ok, good to know. so is there any trouble switching or is it usually seamless?

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my personal experience has been seamless, but it's better to switch them as early as possible to avoid any issues. "mousers" is a term in this hobby for a reason.
Coffee Bean is on mice right now and i have too many feeders still to justify a $150 PerfectPrey order right now, so i hope her switch will be easy when the time comes!

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

ok, good to know. so is there any trouble switching or is it usually seamless? I guess what I'm getting at is it better to do it now while they are still young or wait until they are older and I think they need the extra size of food.

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Agreed, switch over as soon as possible, BP imprint on a specific prey, and it's hard to break it when they're older. All my boys are on rats now, again the transition was seamless cause of the transition at a younger age. Perfect Prey I completely recommend. Great customer service and delivery. In this Florida heat they were completely frozen and that was small rats and weaned rats. An adult BP should eat nothing larger then a small rat...unless otherwise stated according to my research. That chart is the best to go by.


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Originally Posted by Aerries

Agreed, switch over as soon as possible, BP imprint on a specific prey, and it's hard to break it when they're older. All my boys are on rats now, again the transition was seamless cause of the transition at a younger age. Perfect Prey I completely recommend. Great customer service and delivery. In this Florida heat they were completely frozen and that was small rats and weaned rats. An adult BP should eat nothing larger then a small rat...unless otherwise stated according to my research. That chart is the best to go by.


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Ok, so I have new almost one year old BP (200 grams). Fed him once so far (box of 4 f/t med mice). So you think it's best if I find a rat in the size recommended and start sooner then later?

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Ok, so I have new almost one year old BP (200 grams). Fed him once so far (box of 4 f/t med mice). So you think it's best if I find a rat in the size recommended and start sooner then later?

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Finish the box, ur BP has time lol I didn't feed my BP rats till he was 400g cause I watched his growth....the feeder should be larger then the thickest part of the mid-section of ur bp. That's how I honestly gauged it with the chart in mind. Use your discretion...my dumb ass fed my 620g a med rat three weeks ago and he hasn't fed since then....but it is as a lesson I learned. He's now in shed so it'll be a month before he feeds again

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Ok, so I have new almost one year old BP (200 grams). Fed him once so far (box of 4 f/t med mice). So you think it's best if I find a rat in the size recommended and start sooner then later?

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yes :)

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Originally Posted by Aerries

my dumb ass fed my 620g a med rat three weeks ago and he hasn't fed since then

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:O:O:O
omg!!!

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

yes :)

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:O:O:O
omg!!!

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Yea didn't realize it till it was too late....I told my husband to pick up a rat and granted he didn't really check it and then I noticed how big it was and well....I checked the box he threw out after it....luckily Ramsey is good....he honestly had no problems with it.....which REALLY surprised me


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Originally Posted by Aerries

Yea didn't realize it till it was too late....I told my husband to pick up a rat and granted he didn't really check it and then I noticed how big it was and well....I checked the box he threw out after it....luckily Ramsey is good....he honestly had no problems with it.....which REALLY surprised me


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I bet he was like JACKPOT! [emoji23]

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

I bet he was like JACKPOT! [emoji23]

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He's a trooper, he was my early anniversary present two years ago and my first....my husband to this day hasn't held him but I be damned he won't hold by BCI LOL makes no damn sense[emoji23] won't hold a three foot BP but sure lemme hold ur Boa that's only a foot shorter [emoji23]


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Originally Posted by Aerries

Agreed, switch over as soon as possible, BP imprint on a specific prey, and it's hard to break it when they're older. All my boys are on rats now, again the transition was seamless cause of the transition at a younger age. Perfect Prey I completely recommend. Great customer service and delivery. In this Florida heat they were completely frozen and that was small rats and weaned rats. An adult BP should eat nothing larger then a small rat...unless otherwise stated according to my research. That chart is the best to go by.


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Perfect Prey looks like they have a great selection but that shipping is pretty steep. I previously bought a box of Artic Mice from Petsmart but I'm not so sure they carry the rat pups (only small and medium). Silly question but do the F/T from Perfect Prey come in a cardboard box so the rats are not visible? I'd like to shelter my wife and kids from the sight when opening the freezer..haha

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Perfect Prey looks like they have a great selection but that shipping is pretty steep. I previously bought a box of Artic Mice from Petsmart but I'm not so sure they carry the rat pups (only small and medium). Silly question but do the F/T from Perfect Prey come in a cardboard box so the rats are not visible? I'd like to shelter my wife and kids from the sight when opening the freezer..haha

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the shipping is expensive because it's overnight. they come in a box packed with dry ice. the rats themselves are vacuum-sealed and packaged onto a styrofoam tray, so yes they are visible.

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Perfect Prey looks like they have a great selection but that shipping is pretty steep. I previously bought a box of Artic Mice from Petsmart but I'm not so sure they carry the rat pups (only small and medium). Silly question but do the F/T from Perfect Prey come in a cardboard box so the rats are not visible? I'd like to shelter my wife and kids from the sight when opening the freezer..haha

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No they don't lol that's why I have a small freezer in my reptile room. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ddf067f35f.jpg

That's how they're packed, small rats are on styrofoam and the smaller rats are not.


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Again it's ur best choice cause these amounts will last you MONTHS so think about the gas your spending and the marked up price for just a few rats/mice....in the long run your saving.


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I go though the rat pups faster cause I have a BP that feeds weekly and then my Boa every 10-14 days


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Originally Posted by Aerries

Again it's ur best choice cause these amounts will last you MONTHS so think about the gas your spending and the marked up price for just a few rats/mice....in the long run your saving.


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you're absolutely right....I just need to buy a 'F/T freezer now'...haha

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

you're absolutely right....I just need to buy a 'F/T freezer now'...haha

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It takes me 30 mins to get to a petsmart I'm in the middle of nowhere so the struggle is real lol


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Good info here, mine is on hoppers right now and petco is only 15 mins away haha, hopefully get that high spined triangular shape out of her soon, not sure how good she ate while at Petco. Any recognize any kind of gene/morph in her?

Pic from last feeding

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...psurlhzr6s.jpg

I'm lucky to live in a city with a pet supply store nearby. I looked up getting them delivered and found nothing with a delivery fee of less than $40 usd. I understand that the dry ice and all that shipping actually costs that much... but its not worth not personally driving in my case. Living in Wisconsin not near any of these places that ship also raises my online price.

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Originally Posted by oodaT

Good info here, mine is on hoppers right now and petco is only 15 mins away haha, hopefully get that high spined triangular shape out of her soon, not sure how good she ate while at Petco. Any recognize any kind of gene/morph in her?

Pic from last feeding

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/...psurlhzr6s.jpg

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Hoppers are too small for a ball python. Check the feeding chart that tttaylorrr posted on the first page of this thread. Hoppers are only fed for the first few meals, generally 3-5. After that, it's on to adult mice and once they are big enough switching to rats is just easier and cheaper.

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

I'm lucky to live in a city with a pet supply store nearby. I looked up getting them delivered and found nothing with a delivery fee of less than $40 usd. I understand that the dry ice and all that shipping actually costs that much... but its not worth not personally driving in my case. Living in Wisconsin not near any of these places that ship also raises my online price.

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what part of Wisconsin are you in with the pet supply store? I also live in Wisconsin near IL border and am having the same dilemma with the online prices.

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Originally Posted by spazy2290

what part of Wisconsin are you in with the pet supply store? I also live in Wisconsin near IL border and am having the same dilemma with the online prices.

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West Milwaukee. I buy from petworld since they tend to get in their mice send rat refills way sooner than others and its only a 5 min drive with the freeways.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

rats are preferred only because, once the snake is bigger, a rat is larger and will provide a proper meal versus having to feed multiple mice for one good meal, plus feeding multiple feeders is more expensive.

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tttaylorr, I though I read some where that rats are more nutritious? I may be mistaken though. What are you thoughts on it? Rat vs. Mice nutrition wise.

I would buy mice or rats in bulk if you're looking online. Places like LLLReptile have some good deals on mice and rats if you buy in bulk. I guess that would only work if you have room to store them!

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

I'm lucky to live in a city with a pet supply store nearby. I looked up getting them delivered and found nothing with a delivery fee of less than $40 usd. I understand that the dry ice and all that shipping actually costs that much... but its not worth not personally driving in my case. Living in Wisconsin not near any of these places that ship also raises my online price.

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I would buy mice or rats in bulk if you're looking online. Places like LLLReptile have some good deals on mice and rats if you buy in bulk. I guess that would only work if you have room to store them!

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Originally Posted by dylan815

tttaylorr, I though I read some where that rats are more nutritious? I may be mistaken though. What are you thoughts on it? Rat vs. Mice nutrition wise.

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according to RodentPro.com nutrition guide, they're fairly close in what they offer the snake. since there is no scientific evidence on the nutritional needs of snakes, we can't say whether that 5% difference in protein is actually beneficial or not.

okay, thanks for the clear up. Another question, are feeding F/T less nutritious than live? I was told that by a local pet shop that its up to half the nutrients. I don't really trust this pet shop so....

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Originally Posted by dylan815

okay, thanks for the clear up. Another question, are feeding F/T less nutritious than live? I was told that by a local pet shop that its up to half the nutrients. I don't really trust this pet shop so....

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LOL that is entirely false! there is no nutritional difference between f/t and live; they're literally the same thing except for their temperatures!

EDIT: you could almost compare it to fresh and frozen fruits and veggies. you could say frozen fruits and veggies are better than fresh because they last longer and are frozen at the exact peak of their freshness and nutritional value.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

LOL that is entirely false! there is no nutritional difference between f/t and live; they're literally the same thing except for their temperatures!

EDIT: you could almost compare it to fresh and frozen fruits and veggies. you could say frozen fruits and veggies are better than fresh because they last longer and are frozen at the exact peak of their freshness and nutritional value.

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I thought it was "BS". thanks taylor!