Quick question about a rat i fed to my ball

I gave it a large rat two days ago.. it was about twice as thick as my ball.. so today i took it out just to check it out make sure it was okay.. and it had red marks on the underside of its body.. especially by its spurs.. is this a sign of something

A picture would be very helpful in giving you detailed and more accurate feedback. If this isn't possible, can you explain what these 'red marks' look like in greater detail? Do they look like stretch marks? Is there any bulges in your snake now? If so, where? etc. Any other details you can think of will help people give you more feedback.

I agree, pictures would help. Also, why did you decide to feed it such a large rat?

Twice as thick is too thick.

most people even for their big girls dont feed bigger than small rat

I dont have my camera with me right now so i cant take any pictures.. i just wanted to give a big one to see if it can handle it because i heard its has more nutrients... and yes it does have a buldge in about the middle of its body.. the buldge was bigger a few days ago but it got smaller... i mean if it was too big for the snake wouldent it have just not eaten it?

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Originally Posted by 51-50 Python

I don't have my camera with me right now so i cant take any pictures.. i just wanted to give a big one to see if it can handle it because i heard its has more nutrients... and yes it does have a bulge in about the middle of its body.. the bulge was bigger a few days ago but it got smaller... i mean if it was too big for the snake wouldn't it have just not eaten it?

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I expect the snake will be fine, but I don't feed my snakes anything that's bigger than their max thickness. I fed something bigger once, and the snake got it about halfway in and then pushed the mess back out. From then on, any rat that gets too big gets to live a full life rather than being fed off.

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Originally Posted by 51-50 Python

I gave it a large rat two days ago.. it was about twice as thick as my ball.. so today i took it out just to check it out make sure it was okay.. and it had red marks on the underside of its body.. especially by its spurs.. is this a sign of something

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Your first post made it sound like you knew that a large meal was a risky move. That's why you were checking to make sure it was "ok".

Why would you feed an animal prey that is too large for it on purpose? :confused: You were experimenting?

I can't imagine a snake sizes up what's offered to it if all it's ever gotten was an appropriately sized meal.

Snakes will eat something that's too large for them. Ever see the picture of the burmese snake that ripped in half when it tried eating an alligator? Yea...

Trust me when I say an animal that is twice the size of your snake is too big. Snakes have slow metabolism and don't need huge meals unless they will fast for months. Feed too much, and they can get fat, or will go off feed.

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Originally Posted by 51-50 Python

I gave it a large rat two days ago.. it was about twice as thick as my ball.. so today i took it out just to check it out make sure it was okay.. and it had red marks on the underside of its body.. especially by its spurs.. is this a sign of something

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:colbert: Stuffing your snake with an oversized prey is not really a smart move, try to think about this next time you feed!

Feed your animal an appropriate size prey, there is not rush let your snake grow at his own pace and avoid this kind of experiment in the future for the sake of your snake!

yes i realize i made a mistake now but i thought if it was too large the snake wouldent have eaten it so i tried it out.. ill try to get some pictures soon.. im not gonna feed it again for about another 11 or 12 days

i just took it out again.. the red marks went away

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Originally Posted by 51-50 Python

i just took it out again.. the red marks went away

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You are basically doing everything wrong. First you asked if it was to big then fed it anyway... Why? Maybe you would understand the consiquence once you have to deal with a regurge. Try reading even the basic snake care sticky on this forum before stating crazy stuff:gj:

All good criticism. But to answer your question. Is any spot in your cage over 95 degrees? Ball pythons can get burned and are most likely to burn by they're vent area.

So it may be that. Or it may just be that he/she is getting ready to shed. My snakes get the reddish pink belly for a few days. Then start clouding they're eyes. Then the shed.

I'd check your temps. And if your good there. It may be a shed.

Good luck to you.

I understand how not to feed it anything larger than its thickest part. But I've seen plenty of videos of wild snakes with something almost 4x's the thickest part. I'm sure not condoning it but I guess the snake wouldn't have too much of an issue. But make sure not to feed it something if you are going to get even a bit worried about it. Just feed it something you are confident that it will be able to digest no problem.

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Originally Posted by WellyBelly

You are basically doing everything wrong. First you asked if it was to big then fed it anyway... Why? Maybe you would understand the consiquence once you have to deal with a regurge. Try reading even the basic snake care sticky on this forum before stating crazy stuff:gj:

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what the hell are you talking about.. i said i fed the snake three days ago i didnt ask and fed it anyway

I agree with everyone that it was too large of a meal; with that said, the pink belly could be signs of a shed induced by such a large meal. Sometimes snakes will immediately go into shed when they eat a very large meal.

Sounds like all's well now!

- Just a general rule...feed no prey items thicker than the thickest part of your snake!

Stick by this & you'll never have a problem! :gj:

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Originally Posted by mr86mister

I understand how not to feed it anything larger than its thickest part. But I've seen plenty of videos of wild snakes with something almost 4x's the thickest part. I'm sure not condoning it but I guess the snake wouldn't have too much of an issue. But make sure not to feed it something if you are going to get even a bit worried about it. Just feed it something you are confident that it will be able to digest no problem.

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Those snakes are also retics or another big breed of snake which are capable of doing so. Good luck finding a BP in the wild eating 20 pound meals....