Hoppers

[First_time_herp]

Well last tiem I fed link a fuzzy mouse seemd to be the ideal food item size for him. Most say to start bigger but he was a little underweight I think.
But now it looks like he's big enough for a hopper and I was just wondering how long I should wait before upsizing to full grown mice. Thanks guys!

[led4urhead]

When he is big enough for them, go for an adult mouse. Are you picking out your own over at the store, or do you get f/t? If you are picking out your own, i would get a quick eyeball of how big Link is before you go to the store so you can get the correct sized rodent. There is no catch all age/length to start feeding a certain size prey item ... its all about the girth of the animal in my opinion.

[First_time_herp]

Cool! He looks like he could take down an adult mouse, I think I'll get one to see if he'll eat it.

[sk8er4life]

yea they usually can take adult mice down as hatchlings

[First_time_herp]

Really? Wow. Convinced my mom to buy a full grown mouse after the fuzzies of done.

[Jase]

yea they usually can take adult mice down as hatchlings

a neonate attempting to ingest an adult mouse (usually in the range of 25-30g from most local suppliers) is a meal i would say is to large, and most likely unhealthy for your snake. Lots of people have different feeding strategies and size rules...but believe me...a 25-30g adult mouse is definitely bigger than the fattest part of a hatchling BP.

[First_time_herp]

Yes, but he's not a hatchling he's about an 1 1/2 inches thick right now so I think he could take down an adult mouse.
How long after he has been taking adult mice should I wait before switching to rats?

[Schlyne]

Some say after he's thick enough to start eating them to go for it. According to the caresheet, you should wait until he's 28 inches long.

I've been feeding mine small adult mice (or, at least what's being sold to me as such..the mice are acutally about 10 to 15 g in weight, I think). I won't be switching him over to rats for quite a while.

[First_time_herp]

Cool, my guys about a a foot long so I have a while to go before rats come. Thanks!

[Jase]

Yes, but he's not a hatchling he's about an 1 1/2 inches thick right now so I think he could take down an adult mouse.
How long after he has been taking adult mice should I wait before switching to rats?

my statement was directed to sk8er4life - and what he said about hatchlings eating an adult mouse.

I'd just say try to feed prey items that are about as big as the thickest part of your snake