How much should I feed?

[KatStoverReptiles]

Alright, now that my ball has kept her 1st meal down about 24 hours I'm going to go ahead and consider it a success and assume that she's not going to throw it back up (although I can't be sure, she's been in her warm hide since she ate). I know that theories on feeding amounts vary, but I wanted to get ya'lls opinions. She's ~140g and ~22in long. She's maybe as thick as a half dollar at her thickest point. I haven't actually measured so I'm guessing at the thickness.

I fed her 2 hoppers (~8g each) last night and she ate them both right away. I offered a 3rd, but she wasn't interested. So here's my question: how much, how often? I don't want to just "keep her alive" but I'm not interested in breeding so I don't need to gain weight in any certain amount of time.

I was thinking that next time I'd bump her up to weanling mice since the hoppers definitely weren't as big around as she is. What are ya'lls thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

[RichsBallPythons]

8g is about the size of a fuzzy mouse. Wean mice aka sm adult mice are more perfect for balls in the 150-200g range. Once 200g you can start to offer rat pups if wanting to or stick with mice.

[LeviBP]

The general rule is 10-15% by body weight. Two hoppers is spot on, I would feed this around every 5 days until she is between 200g and 290g then I would start her on rat pups, and after 300g you can go ahead and up her to a weaned rat.

Good luck! Hope she gets nice and plump

[RichsBallPythons]

The general rule is 10-15% by body weight. Two hoppers is spot on, I would feed this around every 5 days until she is between 200g and 290g then I would start her on rat pups, and after 300g you can go ahead and up her to a weaned rat.

Good luck! Hope she gets nice and plump

Weaned rats are typically 35-45 grams and way too big for a 300g ball. I dont start mine on weans till thier 6-700g. This is when they start to pack on the weight and growth spurts happen.

[KatStoverReptiles]

So try to get her to eat 10-15% every 5 days? Or 7? And is it better to try to get that percent in 1 mouse (aka larger mouse) or multiple mice (aka more, smaller mice?)