Progressing to a larger prey size - when?

[JamminJonah]

Howdy everybody. My BP is about a year and maybe a month old and I just got him switched over to rat pups about two or three feedings ago. Thing is, he just took a rat pup down tonight with the greatest of ease and the lump it makes is nowhere near as large as it once was. I need to get some f/t rats before I go home and I'm trying to figure out how many of what to get - I was thinking maybe six rat pups (that's six more weeks,they should be too small for him by then at this rate) and like six small rats - What would you guys do? I don't mind getting extra but I don't want to feed him a meal that won't fill him up. How long would you estimate it takes a BP once on rat pups to move to the next prey size?

[gozetec02]

It all depends on the size of the snake. My oldest ball python is between 2-3 years old and takes small rats with no problems and last week he took a medium sized rat. The basic rule of thumb is that they can eat the same size prey as the widest part of thier body. Jojo is about 30" long. I say get a small rat and see what happens odds are is that he will be able to take it down. They wont try to eat anything that is too big. Its absolutely amazing how much these guys can eat.

Also feeding a juvenile rat instead of a baby rat offers more calcium. And when you start feeding rats Icculus will start growing like a weed.

Happy snake keeping.

[The_Godfather]

I'd say he's ready for juvie rats by now.

[JamminJonah]

sweet! Thanks guys!

[rex322]

my BPs girth is about 1in and he eats weaned rats with no problem. just find something close to his girth, briong it with you to a store, and look for a size of rats that are around the same size

[Wizill]

ive got one about the same age that is huge right now. i've been feeding her one med. rat every 10 days.