feeding question

[jc0716]

IT's been a month now since i got my ball python and he's been great and growing fast! he just shed a couple of days ago and refused f/t only ate after i got him a live mice, i know BP can be very picky eaters. I usually feed him 1 adult mice every 5 days. I want to ask if it's okay to feed my snake a small rat nowor should i just feed him a extra mice? he is about 36 inches and 190 grams i don't know how old he is because i got him from a pet store.

[tmlowe5704]

IT's been a month now since i got my ball python and he's been great and growing fast! he just shed a couple of days ago and refused f/t only ate after i got him a live mice, i know BP can be very picky eaters. I usually feed him 1 adult mice every 5 days. I want to ask if it's okay to feed my snake a small rat nowor should i just feed him a extra mice? he is about 36 inches and 190 grams i don't know how old he is because i got him from a pet store.

seems real underweight just by hearing it. 36 inches and 190 g seems tiny. got any pics? i would not go with a small rat, but a weanling or so maybe? feed as thick as the snake at it's largest point

[joepythons]

seems real underweight just by hearing it. 36 inches and 190 g seems tiny. got any pics? i would not go with a small rat, but a weanling or so maybe? feed as thick as the snake at it's largest point

Yea the length and weight just do not register as being possible:eek:

[tmlowe5704]

Yea the length and weight just do not register as being possible:eek:

yes seems deathly thin if that is right. I hope for the snake's sake it is not though. My 2 footer is right at 205 empty. what did you use to measure the weight?>

[Sadie]

If the weight is correct...

My 200g girl is eating one rat pup twice a week, and I think she'll be ready for weaned next month. As someone said, go by the largest part of his body.

As for feeding mice or rats, that is your choice, but rats are usually more economical in the long term (one rat vs. 3+ mice when your snake is bigger). Some people will tell you that rats are more nutritious. Personally I can't get live rats so mine have to take f/t rats or mice.

Feeding f/t or live is also a personal choice, there is plenty of info on this forum and elsewhere to help you make an informed decision.

[jc0716]

i don't think my snake looks thin at all maybe i got the lenght wrong let me double check

[jc0716]

LOL sorry he's more like 26 inches!

[frankykeno]

IT's been a month now since i got my ball python and he's been great and growing fast! he just shed a couple of days ago and refused f/t only ate after i got him a live mice, i know BP can be very picky eaters. I usually feed him 1 adult mice every 5 days. I want to ask if it's okay to feed my snake a small rat nowor should i just feed him a extra mice? he is about 36 inches and 190 grams i don't know how old he is because i got him from a pet store.

Okay first you need to understand that technically a "small" rat is a LOT bigger than an adult mouse. An adult mouse is generally about the same size as a rat pup (which is still nursing from it's mother) so a small rat is way too large for your BP in my opinion. Especially if you are considering live feeding. My adult BP's take small rats (sometimes more than one). My younger BP's take much smaller and younger rats. Perhaps having a look at the mice and rat charts at www.rodentpro.com will help you. There is also a description in a sticky in the Feeder Forum that describes the developmental stages of both rats and mice.