What size food?

[EWC88]

My BP is in the biggest part of him 1.25" wide, what size rat should I get? I am looking at ordering some from a website (getting 100) Also how often should I feed that size?

[notmyfault]

Gram weight would be a better indicator for finding out an appropriate sized feeder. As for eye balling it, I'd approximate a rat pup/weanling would fit your needs.

If you are planning to order in bulk I suggest getting some of the next step up sized feeders. Buy from a supplier that vacuum seals their rodents to prevent freezer burn from long storage.

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[Ihaveworms]

don't order 100 he will grow to fast and by the time you get half way though that order he will be on 2 size larger rats. ususally u want to give them a meal no bigger than its widest part so probably a rat crawler would work for him. You can also try this i will offer them smaller than usual rats but i will give them 2 instead of one larger rat, i have a late 2012 female that i got in feb at 200 grams she is now 1100 grams and growing using this method. I have two hatchlings my lesser pastel is 170 grams and my firefly is 155 both empty and they are eating 2 rat crawlers every 5-6 days.

[ewaldrep]

@notmyfault how do you go about using gram weight as an indicator for prey size? Thanks

[notmyfault]

Take the gram weight and multiply by 0.1 and 0.15. That will give you the gram weight range of the rat you should be feeding.

Feeding smaller you can feed more often.
Feeding larger you can feed less often.
Give or a take a few days from your normal schedule.

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[MrLang]

I agree you would not want to order 100 of that size. They will outgrow that size in maybe 10 feedings tops.

[EWC88]

I'll try to get the snakes gram weight in so that would be easier. I have been feeding the snake the same size mouse for a year now cause he hasn't seemed to grow that much since I owned him. I was getting small frozen mice from petsmart. Are there online vendors who sell a large quantity of mice various sizes?

[notmyfault]

I would try to get him on rats, especially since you said you've been feeding the same size for a year. You could be underfeeding your little guy since you haven't seen much growth on him. As for online vendors you could order feeders from various sources on the web shipped to your door. The shipping will usually kill you but if you buy enough, it will still be cheaper than at the pet store...unless you can pick up directly of course. :-)

If you can't get your guy on rats, or you choose not to, please feed multiple mice equivalent to your snake's gram weight.

Ones that I like to use are:
Big Cheese Rodents
http://www.bigcheeserodents.com/

Loxahatchee Rodents
http://loxahatcheerodents.com/estore...=index&cPath=1

[EWC88]

Would there be any reason why the snake wouldn't eat a frozen rat? Maybe I can try to find a frozen rat somewhere to see first? Could the snake not be growing cause of tank size as well? I do need to get food right now because I ran out, a local petsmart is all I have that I know, what size should I get?

[S.I.R.]

We generally go by the animals body size. I usually feed a rat the size of the widest part of the snake. We feed on a weekly schedule and has worked very well for us. We start our hatchlings on rats from the very start.