rat size question

When a BP reaches adult size, what size rats do they eat. Cuz im looking at rodent pro right now, and there a lot of different sizes. Just wondering what everyone uses. Mine are still eating mice, I just wanna know for further reference.

also, once there on rats do they still eat every 5 days, someone told me every 14 days once they hit like 1500 grams or so. I just want my snakes to be ready, but not rushed to breed weight. So again, what size, and how often is what I need to know, thanks!!

I'm going with one small rat (or a medium ASF) every 5 days until 300 grams, then go to every 7 days. Medium rat (or large ASF) when they get 600 grams every 7 days. Once they reach 1200 grams (I'm not at that point yet), they might go one large ASF every 14 days, we'll have to see.

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Originally Posted by dsmalex97

When a BP reaches adult size, what size rats do they eat. Cuz im looking at rodent pro right now, and there a lot of different sizes. Just wondering what everyone uses. Mine are still eating mice, I just wanna know for further reference.

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I feed my adult females one small rat once a week as an adult, and a male gets a rat closer to a weaned sized. Be aware that sometimes bps will imprint on their prey and you may find that your bp will not take rats. You may end up having to feed multiple mice. If you are interested in getting them to rats, I'd suggest you start trying to get them on them now.

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Originally Posted by dsmalex97

also, once there on rats do they still eat every 5 days, someone told me every 14 days once they hit like 1500 grams or so. I just want my snakes to be ready, but not rushed to breed weight. So again, what size, and how often is what I need to know, thanks!!

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Again, I feed once a week and every now and then I do skip a week. (usually that's the week I'm on vacation ;) ) I think it helps to establish a very clear routine that your snakes will learn. They seem to know what day is feeding day and are more than ready to eat.

I totally agree with Christie, and I also learned this from Adam Wysocki. Feed every week on a regular schedule, and your BP's will learn the schedule over time. Also, taking a week off a couple times a years isn't a bad thing.

As for rat size, I have mostly males, so I don't forsee ever needing to feed anything larger than small rats in the 60ish gram range.

I feed my adults rats that are about 65/85 grams (males get the smaller ones, females the bigger ones) - Those are 4 weeks old rats.

i have always been told don't feed them anything bigger then there girth of the widest part of there belly

for instance my boa is about with with of a coke can and half so he can eat a LX rat just fine without having any bumps in his belly

you gotta remember a boa and a Bp mouth can open up 3x the sizes of there head so like i have been told feed them something that about the same width as the belly

if im wrong please correct me

so even when there fully grown, always need to be fed weekly right(just making sure)?

Also, rodentpro kinda varies a lot in weights. The small rats to me look to small for a fullgrown ball, the medium ones looks fine, but there weight looks to high for males. If someone could look on there site and tell me whats the best to order from them I would appreciate it. Also if you know anyone that has better deals then these guys let me know.

I feed each of my sub-adult and adult ball pythons one small rat every seven days.

Hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by zombie&lemons

i have always been told don't feed them anything bigger then there girth of the widest part of there belly

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I understand this to refer mostly to young, growing BPs. Once they approach full adult size, they keep growing, but at a much slower rate, so you do not need to continue to increase the size of their prey.

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Originally Posted by dsmalex97

so even when there fully grown, always need to be fed weekly right(just making sure)?

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They do not "need" to be fed weekly, but I think it is a good practice. People have had success feedly every other week or even less than that. However, I've seen enough people that I trust recommend that smaller and more frequent meals seem to work better, so I plan to continue to feed once a week.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dsmalex97

Also, rodentpro kinda varies a lot in weights. The small rats to me look to small for a fullgrown ball, the medium ones looks fine, but there weight looks to high for males. If someone could look on there site and tell me whats the best to order from them I would appreciate it. Also if you know anyone that has better deals then these guys let me know.

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I believe the small rats would be fine. If you find it isn't enough, you could always offer a second prey item.

if you cant increase the size increase the amount. for instance

my 1.0 pastel wont eat rats so i have to feed him like 3 or 4 large mice

my 0.1 normal can eat 2 small rats

my boa i feed him a XL rat every 2 weeks

the older they mature you feed them bigger but less often.



hey slim am i right on this one or did i just knock my self in the head haha