Feeding too small rats?

Hey guys I’ve got a ball python, and he’s around 11 months old, I’ve been feeding him small rats because I had heard that males don’t typically move on to medium rats unless they’re breeding. I feed him once a week and every time he gets one down instead of sleeping it off or going into his hides he stays out and goes into the position that he’s in when he is hungry. Should I move on to medium rats for him I’ll attach some pictures. The small rats are thinner than the thickest part of his body if that makes sense. Sorry I know this is basic stuff just need a little help

I’ve thought of the possibility that maybe he was sexed wrong and is a female not sure please let me know your opinions and sorry for the pics He’s always moving around

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2083ad37cf.jpg982g

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5d74986fde.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a24a3efdcf.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My bp is about the same size, maybe a little bigger. He gets a single small rat (40-80 grams) every 2 weeks, and I was even thinking of spreading that out to every 3 weeks. 3'7" and 1,200-1,400 depending on how well he's eating. YMMV, but my bp will start to refuse food on mediums, even on as little as one medium rat, he will begin refusing food on the next rat, even if I wait 3 weeks. I've experienced this, and the person caring for him has noted similar behavior.

I say "he," but he's really unsexed. Recently, he's been a suspected female, and the one time I tried to probe, he probed female. I would rather have an expert sex him before I say for sure. lol

He's not currently with me, so here's a few old pictures. He'll be 13 this year, and hasn't really grown even an inch from what I can tell since he was 3 years old, so even though the pics are a few years old, the size should still be the same.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/x9LlKHe.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Ht1VpHB.jpg

Personally, I'd probably stay on smalls, but you could offer the occasional medium rat to see how he'd handle it if you wish. I'd give him extra time between meals when you did feed a medium, though.

http://i65.tinypic.com/2ias6dl.jpg

Try the above guide. This will cover 90% of the This size every This Duration questions.

Just because the snake thinks they should eat doesn't mean they should. Even snakes can become obese in captivity through over feeding, and this will shorten their life spans.

Best,

Paul

Stick to smalls.

Do u sell shirts or something?? Just curious with all those boxes. The only person I know with that many gildan box’s owns a shirt shop.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa

My bp is about the same size, maybe a little bigger. He gets a single small rat (40-80 grams) every 2 weeks, and I was even thinking of spreading that out to every 3 weeks. 3'7" and 1,200-1,400 depending on how well he's eating. YMMV, but my bp will start to refuse food on mediums, even on as little as one medium rat, he will begin refusing food on the next rat, even if I wait 3 weeks. I've experienced this, and the person caring for him has noted similar behavior.

I say "he," but he's really unsexed. Recently, he's been a suspected female, and the one time I tried to probe, he probed female. I would rather have an expert sex him before I say for sure. lol

He's not currently with me, so here's a few old pictures. He'll be 13 this year, and hasn't really grown even an inch from what I can tell since he was 3 years old, so even though the pics are a few years old, the size should still be the same.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/x9LlKHe.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Ht1VpHB.jpg

Personally, I'd probably stay on smalls, but you could offer the occasional medium rat to see how he'd handle it if you wish. I'd give him extra time between meals when you did feed a medium, though.

---

He’s so cute! Does he ever seem hungry in between the feedings or is he fine? I’m thinking of staying with small rats now for sure


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pbenner

http://i65.tinypic.com/2ias6dl.jpg

Try the above guide. This will cover 90% of the This size every This Duration questions.

Just because the snake thinks they should eat doesn't mean they should. Even snakes can become obese in captivity through over feeding, and this will shorten their life spans.

Best,

Paul

---

I’m afraid of obesity for sure I constantly weight him, thank you that’s great help


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Danger noodles

Do u sell shirts or something?? Just curious with all those boxes. The only person I know with that many gildan box’s owns a shirt shop.

---

Lol yes! My boyfriend owns a little shirt company that supports Alzheimer’s awareness, you can check it out if you like it’s vankats.ca :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dorsa

Lol yes! My boyfriend owns a little shirt company that supports Alzheimer’s awareness, you can check it out if you like it’s vankats.ca :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Sweet! I used to go to their shop and screen my own custom tees. I’ll definitely order a shirt soon too

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Danger noodles

Sweet! I used to go to their shop and screen my own custom tees. I’ll definitely order a shirt soon too

---

Thanks!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That snake looks to be a good weight, so I would stay the course for now. Many snakes will eat as much as they can hold, and allowing them to eat that much on a regular basis isn't good for them in the long run.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alter-Echo

That snake looks to be a good weight, so I would stay the course for now. Many snakes will eat as much as they can hold, and allowing them to eat that much on a regular basis isn't good for them in the long run.

---

Thank you appreciate the help :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk