ball python feeding

[surf4life]

hi everyone i have had my ball python for about 4 years. i got her when she was a hatchling and started feeding her pinkies then adult mice then small rats and now i have been feeding here medium rats for about 6 months. i use to feed her every 2 weeks most of her life and now i figured since she has gotten bigger and she is eating larger meals maybe it would be better to feed her every 3 to 4 weeks. Is this a good idea or should be eating sooner then that? she is close to 4 ft long and little over 1 inch diameter on the thickest part of her body. i have gotten bitten by her 3 times since i owned her. but i have noticed that lately she is a bit more aggressive then usual and was wondering if this is because i changed her feeding pattern? i also notcied she changes only around feeding time. if anyone has some help or suggestions please write back thanks.

[dr del]

Hi,

I actually prefer to feed smaller meals more often.

I feed small rats ( 95-130g is the range of the ones currently defrosting ) once every 7 days to all my adults.


dr del

[A.VinczeBPs]

Hi,

I actually prefer to feed smaller meals more often.

I feed small rats ( 95-130g is the range of the ones currently defrosting ) once every 7 days to all my adults.


dr del

I do the same, size is about the girth of the ball python, and I feed every 7 days. Two weeks or more seems a little extreme to me...

[j_h_smith]

I think you will find that most pet owners and recreational breeders feed smaller prey. The "in business to make money" breeders will feed larger prey. This is to get the snakes large as quickly as possible. You will be able to tell if your snake is hungry. He'll become restless looking for food. You can try the new schedule, it won't hurt.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

[kitedemon]

Please correct me if this is not fully accurate.

I read somewhere that smaller meals once a week actually helped the digestion. That larger meals farther apart would cause the digestive system to partially shut down requiring more energy to start back up again. I guess that same can be said for fasting, if a snake has refused then offering a smaller meal would be better? I think this is correct, Dr Del?

Personally that is also what I do smaller meals every 7 days.

Alex