Another Weight Question.

[B0618]

Have a Male BP who is 1hr 5months old and is close to eclipsing 1000gs. He’s over 3 feet long measuring his last shed and is Fed once every 7 days. Meal sizes have been around 60g and I have bumped him up to around 100g. For his size and Age is he technically overweight? Should I slow down on Feedings?

[Homebody]

For his size and Age is he technically overweight? Should I slow down on Feedings?

Slow down on feedings. He looks a little round to me, not too bad. I'd feed him every 14 days. I'd also feed smaller rats (45g to 90g). Male ball pythons do well on small rats for their entire lives.

[dakski]

I totally agree.

For what it's worth, my female BP, Shayna, (12 years old) eats a small, or small/medium rat, every 2 weeks. She is 1,800G. Not growing much at this point, but eats like a champ. Her biggest meal is about 80G.

In the wild, BP's eat African Soft Fur rats. They top out at about 90G. BP's are designed to have that sized meal. They are also not stretchy. Never feed more than the width of your snake.

I will add that Shayna used to skip meals when I offered medium rats. She grew to about 1,600G and then would fluctuate a little and fast in the winter, etc. Now, she fasts less in the winter and never misses a meal except in shed. She is also one of my most enthusiastic feeders. She grew to 1,800G once I offered smaller meals. Why? She ate regularly.

As your BP grows, he is more likely to fast, especially in winter. That's fine, but BP's are the only snake I know that will be selective/elective with food. Try to avoid it by keeping meals appropriately sized and regularly offered.

[Mr. Misha]

I will add that Shayna used to skip meals when I offered medium rats.

You know, I had the same experience with mine. Every time I would feed my girls mediums, they would go off feed so now I only give them all small/medium rats from Layne Labs and it's been perfect.

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