Help! Is my ball python overweight or underweight?!

Hi! I got her in 2020 and she was about 9 months then. She eats a large rat about every 2 weeks and I was researching ball python body sizes and I thought that she was underweight but then after looking at pictures wonder if she is overweight. What do you think? Anything helps :)
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That looks like a hefty girl! She definitely has a bit of rolls and the way he sides come up above ber spine is a sign for being overweight. Underweight snakes will look more like a triangle shape where the spine is pointing out as a point.

How much does she weigh? I don't typically offer large rats to my girls unless they are still building back weight from egglaying. Most do just fine on medium sizes, even my 2600gr girl or my monster male.

I actually haven’t weighed her yet. I’m going to tomorrow though. And yes, for some reason I thought the scrunched up sides meant she needed more food but then quickly found out it was quite the opposite and they were fat rolls!

Also, she didn’t eat the last 2 times I tried to feed her. She struck at it and poked around at it and didn’t let me take the rat away for a while but eventually gave it up. She seems healthy but I wonder why she didn’t eat it. Could it be she just got picky and didn’t want it after inspection. She’s never given me any problems and is the easiest feeder in the world.

I started feeding her large because the large rats were the size of the biggest part of her body. Plus an experienced reptile keeper friend of mine said she would do well on large rats. She’s eaten them fine but if it’s causing her to be overweight then I will definitely go back to medium.

If I go to medium should I continue to do it once every 2 weeks or more often to once a week?

Here are more pictures (not sure if this is needed)https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f789342754.jpg
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You can try cutting her back to 1 large every 2 weeks.
I mostly do one medium for my girls weekly and 1 medium for my largest 2300 gram male every 2 weeks.
All the other boys are on bi-weekly smalls. hahah

Haha, ok! I will do that. And as far as her not eating these past 2 times do I need to worry about that? I mean like I said, she took it but never actually started eating it, she only poked around at it before finally giving it up. This happened both times. Should I be worried or is this just typical ball python pickiness?

She probably wasn't all that hungry considering she's been massively overfed for so long, I wouldn't worry about her refusal. Given how bad obesity is for snakes, I'd drop feeding down dramatically and try to get some of that excess weight off her. Ball pythons do not need large rats really ever.

IMO she's overweight. Her spine shouldn't be sunk in like that. I would cut her back to one medium monthly or a small every two weeks, and get her out for lots of exercise on the days she's not digesting or in shed.

I have 2000+ gram breeder females maintaining weight just fine on a small live rat every two weeks.

Considering how big she is and that it's winter, don't be surprised if she fasts well into spring.

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Originally Posted by Claire&snek

...If I go to medium should I continue to do it once every 2 weeks or more often to once a week?

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First off, there's no point changing to mediums if you feed more of them, is there? ;) I agree with GoingPostal & bcr229's posts above. Her refused meals are telling you something- it's up to you to listen.

"Scheduled feedings" are only a reference point for snake owners- it's not how snakes eat in the wild, & remember that in captivity, your snake is far less active than they'd be in their natural world.

If your pet refuses a meal, go longer between meals. It's no problem for yours to eat once every 2 or 3 or 4 weeks apart- ie. when they need & want to. Pushing larger rodents on your pet than they should be eating often results in them fasting, which is frustrating for the one feeding them- especially since you'll be buying & wasting a lot of food- not to mention, worrying. Feeding small or at most, medium rats for adult BPS seems to work well for most keepers.

There is also a wonderful chart online that I've used with my BP just to make sure that they're growing right and not getting too fat. Another good indication is if they have a nice decline into the tail and not a stub and then a dip and then then tail if that makes sense? Sneaky chunky noodles are cute but it is bad for them as you know! Lots of different information out there, but I know you'll have it fixed right up

Snakes, especially bulky, ambush hunters like BPs, are unrivaled masters at energy conservation and the overriding majority in captivity are overweight as a result. These animals are by design able to go months at a time without eating, and indeed even in optimal captive conditions they can willingly do so at times despite food being readily available. My 2 1/2 year old male gets 1 small rat at a monthly rate and he's still perfectly plump, but healthily so.

In my opinion, get her back to small-medium rats and extend feeding intervals to at LEAST every 3 weeks, 4 being preferable.

Don't be discouraged though, your girl looks great otherwise, she's a beauty. :gj: Sometimes we just love our pets a little "too much" per se and things can get carried away (overfeeding being among the most common, no matter the species).

Ok, thank you all for that! Gosh I feel so bad, I totally thought ‘well she’s eating them well’ and she looked fine not that long ago but geez I feel so bad that she’s overweight!! I’m going to get some more decor for her enclosure and get her out a lot for exercise and cut back her feeding. Is she going to be ok? Is it an easy to get her back to a normal healthy weight?

I really appreciate all of these! Thank you so much this really helps and makes me feel so much better :)

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Originally Posted by Claire&snek

Ok, thank you all for that! Gosh I feel so bad, I totally thought ‘well she’s eating them well’ and she looked fine not that long ago but geez I feel so bad that she’s overweight!! I’m going to get some more decor for her enclosure and get her out a lot for exercise and cut back her feeding. Is she going to be ok? Is it an easy to get her back to a normal healthy weight?

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Here's the thing about snakes- they don't lose weight easily, not even with "exercise", so prevention of excess weight is way better than trying to help them lose weight later. She's most likely "going to be okay" but don't expect to see any change soon. Sorry to say, but the best you can do is feed the right amount going forward, & try not to obsess about it. No "diets" for snakes either.

Everyone makes mistakes, at least it's the way you try and fix them that matters. I remember having to fix many of my mistakes when I was still starting out and I still do have to fix some! No one is perfect but over loving your pet I would say is better than under-loving them. Everyone in here had some great advice, I'm just trying to make sure that you know everyone does make mistakes. You aren't a bad person for not knowing. <3

Thank you all so much, this is so informative, relieving and helpful. I will be sure to make those changes right away and slowly see her get back to a normal weight. Thank you all again, this truly is so helpful <3