Feeding Size

Hi everyone,
I'm new here and just got my first ball python a little over a week ago. Everything is going great and I've learned a lot from these forums as well as reddit. My BP, Dorissssss was fed for the first time since I got her this past Saturday. After she ate I noticed she was active after. I have read that these are signs of still being hungry so I figured I would go with a bigger mouse or rat next time I feed her. To be honest the mouse I fed her did seem a bit small. Is there a way to determine the size of what you should feed your BP. I read that people say 15% of their weight but I don't have a scale to weigh her. Is there another way or a place I can post a picture of her so people can see? Some other information if it helps, I was told she is around 8 months to a year old when I got her!
Thanks for the help!

Download tapatalk and post pictures directly from your phone. I don't weigh my prey. Instead of weighing I go by the thickest part of the snake. The proper prey size should leave a slight lump

Go by weight, not age. And I think you're looking for this. And get a scale, it will be useful for keeping snakes. I just a simple kitchen scale.

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Originally Posted by MD_Pythons

Go by weight, not age. And I think you're looking for this. And get a scale, it will be useful for keeping snakes. I just a simple kitchen scale.

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I saved that chart for this kind of thread and forgot all about it https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3853c7c9e8.jpg

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Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3

Download tapatalk and post pictures directly from your phone. I don't weigh my prey. Instead of weighing I go by the thickest part of the snake. The proper prey size should leave a slight lump

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Didn't know there was an app, thanks. Here's a picture. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9ecb8992dc.jpg

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Nice!!!

What size did you feed last time?

Congrats on your first snake!!

The chart posted above is a great reference. You want to aim for 10-15% of the snakes body weight. Or, something roughly as wide as the snakes widest part. After the snake eats there should be a slightly noticeable lump.

Grab yourself a kitchen scale, $20 or less from Wal-Mart, Amazon, etc...

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Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3

Nice!!!

What size did you feed last time?

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Normal sized mouse. I go to a local pet store and get them weekly and that's what they said she would be good with. For comparison it was slightly bigger than her head which is why I feel I should go bigger.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Sounds like a "hopper" mouse. Definitely go bigger.

Edit: I can't really tell the size of your snake in the picture but I would suggest no smaller than a rat pup

We stole this scale from our kitchen. You can buy it on Amazon for $18.99.

It works great for our baby boi (now 470 grams).

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-FS-.../dp/B00KICLN4C

I sometimes weigh the rats, but 90% of the time i just pick a rat whose belly is the same girth as my ball pythons belly. It is a very easy rule to follow and will always work to be a properly sizes meal.
Ball python’s belly as thick as a golf ball? Then feed it rat with a belly as thick as a golf ball.

there really is no need to weight the rat, as long as its in the right size range. Pythons eat all different size prey, and using the “thickness” rule of thumb is plenty accurate ebough as a gauge.

Based on the photo, a young “weaned rat” will be the perfect size.
edit: but then again I have large hands, i am judging the snake size relative to your hand, if you have medium/small hands, then rat pup would be a better choice) lol