Feeding My Balls

[HooverDan]

First of all I apologize for the title but I couldn't resist. Anyway I have a ball python that I assume is about 2-2 1/2 years old (I'm not sure because I bought him at a Petco that long ago and they don't know anything in this store) and I am not sure what to feed her and how long to wait between feedings. She is currently eating 4 adult mice in one sitting (she won't take rats, I've tried before) but I feel as if that's not right. She's alittle over 3 feet long. I found a feeding recommendation at this URL https://wwwinfo.esf.edu/student/ (which I am sure many of you are familiar with) that I thought was a nice explanation of feeding a boa throughout its life. I was wondering if anyone had a similar "schedule" for ball pythons or if perhaps can recommend a plan that they have used and found effective.

[withonor]

She should probably be eating small rats, ~50 gram range. Two things to try and convert her: Don't offer her food for two weeks and pre-scent the room by leaving the rat in the room for 30 minutes to an hour before offering it.

[ScubaDiver007]

I have one stubborn feeder as well. She will only take mice. She eats 6 a week. I broke it into two feedings. Monday and Thursday. I've tried rubbing dead mice all over a rat. Left a rat in with mice for a couple of days ( Live ones). The only thing that I havent tried which I am doing this week is offering her a ASF ( African Soft Fur Rat ). Good Luck!

Scuba

[zantedeschia]

That url is only for students at that university, would you repost the pertinent info here?

[HooverDan]

Sorry I posted the wrong URL, this is the right one: http://www.redtailboas.com/general_c...eral_care.html

And I've tried leaving the rat in there an hour before feeding and she just wasn't having it. I haven't tried rubbing a mouse all over the rat though so I'll try that one next time I feed her.

[zantedeschia]

Huh, doesn't apply to my boa at all. Not sure how old he was when I got him first week of September, he was tiny, maybe 14 inches. Makes him about 5-6 months old or so now? And he's about 23 inches currently. I'm feeding him small mice (hoppers). And while I can find mice of all sizes locally, live and frozen, the smallest rat size I've found is small rat - 40-50g. And I live in a big city! Mail order amounts for only 5 snakes doesn't seem practical, either, esp given I'm feeding 3 different sizes of prey. Bleh.