Hungry Snake

[Alexandra V]

When I got my snake he was way underfed because the people at the pet store didn't know how much to feed him. I had him on a five day feeding schedule (1 hopper every 5 days) for just under a month and now I moved him back to 2 hoppers every 7 days.

Last week I fed him two hoppers on Friday, and then I woke up on Saturday and he was in feeding mode again! So I decided to give him another hopper then and he took it, no questions asked. Now this week I fed him two hoppers yesterday (Friday) and, sure enough, he's in an S coil now waiting for more food.

Should I feed him again today or just make him wait until next Friday?

He's just about 2 ft long and 140-150g. I don't know how old he is exactly (the pet store didn't tell me the hatch date) but he's around 5 months old by my reckoning.

[ballpythonluvr]

That snake could easily take a rat pup or a small adult mouse. Most breeders start their hatchlings on hoppers and then very quickly onto small adult mice. I have a young ball python that is almost four months old and is close to 400 grams. I just bumped him up to small rats because mice just were not enough anymore.

[Alexandra V]

That snake could easily take a rat pup or a small adult mouse. Most breeders start their hatchlings on hoppers and then very quickly onto small adult mice. I have a young ball python that is almost four months old and is close to 400 grams. I just bumped him up to small rats because mice just were not enough anymore.

I know, he should be on bigger prey, but I'm really nervous about giving him something that's too big :S The place I go to get my feeders from carries adult mice, but they're huge! I guess I'm just paranoid about increasing size because I read somewhere that if the prey is too big it can break their ribs...

[ballpythonluvr]

I think your snake will be just fine though I understand your fear. I was kind of freaking out about putting my male on small rats too. He surprised me though, he took it just fine. Perhpaps someone with more experience then myself can offer you some advice too.

[Sammy412]

It is easier for a snake to digest one appropriately sized prey item than several. If you're nervous about going to small rats, go to weanlings first. I have a baby pastel female that hatched out 6 weeks or so ago who is already on small adult mice, getting ready to switch to rat pups this week.

[PythonsbyParris]

It is easier for a snake to digest one appropriately sized prey item than several. If you're nervous about going to small rats, go to weanlings first. I have a baby pastel female that hatched out 6 weeks or so ago who is already on small adult mice, getting ready to switch to rat pups this week.

I agree rat pups or weenlings are where I would have a snake that size. He will be a lot happier getting the right size food.

[AkHerps]

Don't worry about feeding too big. My hatchling was started on small adult mice when I got him because we didn't have anything hoppers, etc.. They do fine

[sarahlovesmiike]

It will not break the snakes ribs. They are incredibly flexible. If the prey is too big they won't eat it. I'd start the snake on rats, he'll start packing on weight like crazy.

Good Luck

[Amp625]

had the same thing happen to m, not exactly but my lil curtis is about 135 g and i just got him on small adult mice that were 20 g (smallest they had) i was nervous but he did great sure urs will too