One more question for today: 2 rats vs. 1

My guy's getting close to 4 ft long now I believe, with a nice girth to him. I usually feed him one $2 live rat every week..they tend to be, oh, I dunno 1.5 -2 inches in diameter? Osiris is a good 2.5 - 3 inches in diameter, so I was thinking about moving up to the $4 (large) rats. However, those suckers can get pretty big, and even my local pet store (not a chain) suggested 2 regulars instead of 1 large one. I'd just need to wait for him to swallow the first, go into that 'seeking' mode right before the (slide back to hide), and drop the second one.

Doe anyone have advice going for larger feeds in their adults? Osiris isn't a picky eater, (well, except for those agonizing f/t attempts), but I don't want him to become intimidated by his meal! So do your scalyteens prefer 2 med. rats or 1 large one? And do you still feed once a week with 2?

Thanks guys! I love this site, the collective advice is always so helpful.

-Jenna

I think you'll find that "most" of the rat feeders here feed no larger than a small/small rat, even for their largest ball pythons. They may feed two at a sitting, but the size of the rat is never larger than small/small (40-50 grams in weight, I believe).

Even my largest adult female breeders get nothing larger than a "small small" rat (approx 40 - 50 grams).

No need to ever feed a ball python a med or large rat ... my opinion of course. ;)

-adam

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Even my largest adult female breeders get nothing larger than a "small small" rat (approx 40 - 50 grams).


-adam

---

Damn I'm good - right down to the weight! :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

Damn I'm good - right down to the weight! :D

---

I had no doubts. ;) :love:

-adam

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

I had no doubts. ;) :love:

-adam

---

I pay attention, Sensei! :wuv:

Back when I used to use the "girth rule," it seemed I'd always end up with picky eaters in my collection.

Funny, since I got some great advice for a certain someone and switched to feeding smaller stuff, those "picky" feeders now slam food week after week and have grown faster than when I fed them larger items.

Interesting, huh?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Even my largest adult female breeders get nothing larger than a "small small" rat (approx 40 - 50 grams).

No need to ever feed a ball python a med or large rat ... my opinion of course. ;)

-adam

---

I may have my sizes mixed up, since the local pet store does not carry pet size large rats...
let's say small versus medium then?

so, 2 smalls or 1 medium?

2 smalls - small small (40-50 grams is a very small, small)

Edit - ever notice what a funny word small looks like when you write it over and over? OK, back to your regularly scheduled program!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

I think you'll find that "most" of the rat feeders here feed no larger than a small/small rat, even for their largest ball pythons. They may feed two at a sitting, but the size of the rat is never larger than small/small (40-50 grams in weight, I believe).

---

So I can feed 2 small rats a week? Do I even need to increase the number right now if he seems content/healthy with just one? I mean, I know they're opportunistic eaters, so if I drop a second one I'm sure he'll eat it but does he need it weekly, or can it be an extra treat once a month or...??

How old is he, and do you know his weight?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

How old is he, and do you know his weight?

---

He's at least 2 years old, maybe nearing 3 (I saved him from a moving college student). I haven't tried to weigh him yet...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jenakle

So I can feed 2 small rats a week?

---

That would be way too much food IMO ... I small rat per week is more than enough food for an adult male ball python.

-adam

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by elevatethis

Back when I used to use the "girth rule," it seemed I'd always end up with picky eaters in my collection.

Funny, since I got some great advice for a certain someone and switched to feeding smaller stuff, those "picky" feeders now slam food week after week and have grown faster than when I fed them larger items.

Interesting, huh?

---

:bow: http://www.8ballpythons.com/uploads/smilies/8ball.gif

:clap: http://www.8ballpythons.com/uploads/smilies/8ball.gif

:love: http://www.8ballpythons.com/uploads/smilies/8ball.gif

;)

-adam

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

That would be way too much food IMO ... I small rat per week is more than enough food for an adult male ball python.

-adam

---

Ok! I'll keep him to his usual routine then.

Is there ever a need to feed more than 1 per session? Missed feeds or after fasting?

I think, as humans, many of us feel a strong emotional urge to express our love for something by feeding it. Not just feeding it what it needs, but by giving it extra "treats." We think we're "enriching" its life with extra food...but its really just something we do to meet our OWN emotional needs to try and express ourselves.


This may work great for dogs or cats or horses....they'll appreciate the sentiment (in as much as animals can)...they'll at least appreciate the treats. But snakes don't need treats and wouldn't feel any more "loved" if you gave them.

nope. they don't need to 'make up' a meal ;) stick with adam's advice... he is the GURU :bow: in my opinion!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jenakle

Ok! I'll keep him to his usual routine then.

Is there ever a need to feed more than 1 per session? Missed feeds or after fasting?

---

Not for a boy ... but if you're doing it right, there shouldn't be any missed feeds or fasting ... that's the point of staying small.

-adam

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jenakle

Ok! I'll keep him to his usual routine then.

Is there ever a need to feed more than 1 per session? Missed feeds or after fasting?

---

After missed feeds or an extended period of fasting, feeding large or multiple prey items may do much more harm than good.

Keeping ball pythons is a marathon, not a sprint. You've been given some good advice. I was skeptical at first, but only after a long stretch of time did I see the difference that feeding smaller prey items offered.

Great! No worries then. Thanks everyone for the quick responses!

:sweeet:

hey that's us... quick on the draw!

or is that... we draw quick? :confused: