Quick question about a rat i fed to my ball

[51-50 Python]

I gave it a large rat two days ago.. it was about twice as thick as my ball.. so today i took it out just to check it out make sure it was okay.. and it had red marks on the underside of its body.. especially by its spurs.. is this a sign of something

[NightLad]

A picture would be very helpful in giving you detailed and more accurate feedback. If this isn't possible, can you explain what these 'red marks' look like in greater detail? Do they look like stretch marks? Is there any bulges in your snake now? If so, where? etc. Any other details you can think of will help people give you more feedback.

[rabernet]

I agree, pictures would help. Also, why did you decide to feed it such a large rat?

[Texas Dan]

Twice as thick is too thick.

[jdmls88]

most people even for their big girls dont feed bigger than small rat

[51-50 Python]

I dont have my camera with me right now so i cant take any pictures.. i just wanted to give a big one to see if it can handle it because i heard its has more nutrients... and yes it does have a buldge in about the middle of its body.. the buldge was bigger a few days ago but it got smaller... i mean if it was too big for the snake wouldent it have just not eaten it?

[JeffFlanagan]

I don't have my camera with me right now so i cant take any pictures.. i just wanted to give a big one to see if it can handle it because i heard its has more nutrients... and yes it does have a bulge in about the middle of its body.. the bulge was bigger a few days ago but it got smaller... i mean if it was too big for the snake wouldn't it have just not eaten it?

I expect the snake will be fine, but I don't feed my snakes anything that's bigger than their max thickness. I fed something bigger once, and the snake got it about halfway in and then pushed the mess back out. From then on, any rat that gets too big gets to live a full life rather than being fed off.

[littleindiangirl]

I gave it a large rat two days ago.. it was about twice as thick as my ball.. so today i took it out just to check it out make sure it was okay.. and it had red marks on the underside of its body.. especially by its spurs.. is this a sign of something

Your first post made it sound like you knew that a large meal was a risky move. That's why you were checking to make sure it was "ok".

Why would you feed an animal prey that is too large for it on purpose? You were experimenting?

I can't imagine a snake sizes up what's offered to it if all it's ever gotten was an appropriately sized meal.

Snakes will eat something that's too large for them. Ever see the picture of the burmese snake that ripped in half when it tried eating an alligator? Yea...

Trust me when I say an animal that is twice the size of your snake is too big. Snakes have slow metabolism and don't need huge meals unless they will fast for months. Feed too much, and they can get fat, or will go off feed.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I gave it a large rat two days ago.. it was about twice as thick as my ball.. so today i took it out just to check it out make sure it was okay.. and it had red marks on the underside of its body.. especially by its spurs.. is this a sign of something

Stuffing your snake with an oversized prey is not really a smart move, try to think about this next time you feed!

Feed your animal an appropriate size prey, there is not rush let your snake grow at his own pace and avoid this kind of experiment in the future for the sake of your snake!

[51-50 Python]

yes i realize i made a mistake now but i thought if it was too large the snake wouldent have eaten it so i tried it out.. ill try to get some pictures soon.. im not gonna feed it again for about another 11 or 12 days