Possible to feed rat wider than snake?

[Flowerbridge]

Hi all,

The BP FAQ states

"9. What is the right size prey to feed my BP?

A rodent who's girth is the same size or a bit smaller, than the widest part on your snake."

My local pet supply store is out of mice, but they had some rats. I usually feed 3 adult mice every week, shes about... 500g?

The rat is very, very, very close to being the same size or possibly even slightly wider than the widest part of my snake.

I warmed it up, offered it, snake snagged it immediately, but snake seems to be having trouble getting it in/down. It is actually slowly going in, and I've never seen her expand as much.

As long as the snake can get it down, is it ok? I'm worried that shes going to blow up or not be ok.

[RichsBallPythons]

if its too big the meal can do 3 things.

1. Come back up from a regurge
2. Rot before it can digest
3. Put snake off feed from large meal.


If the meal was large with a large lump be sure to keep it warmer to help minimize any possibilities.

[kellysballs]

I subscribe to the slightly larger than the widest part of the snake theory on prey size and I haven't had a problem with it.

Your snake should be just fine.

[Flowerbridge]

if its too big the meal can do 3 things.

2. Rot before it can digest

If the meal was large with a large lump be sure to keep it warmer to help minimize any possibilities.

#2 really scares me, but thanks for the advice.

I'm aware that having heat/warmth helps the snakes digest after meals, so I keep her extra warm by covering much more of the top screen with a tshirt. It helps with humidity too, but sometimes it gets too hot.

[RichsBallPythons]

Rotting is rare but does happen. Dont worry about it much

[JigsawPythons]

Hi all,
My local pet supply store is out of mice, but they had some rats. I usually feed 3 adult mice every week, shes about... 500g?.....

.....I warmed it up, offered it, snake snagged it immediately, but snake seems to be having trouble getting it in/down. It is actually slowly going in, and I've never seen her expand as much.

You should be fine. Keep in mind that you normally feed several small mice and the snake is not going to have to expand as much to accommodate those. With the rat, it is taking in much more at one time with a significantly greater girth. It will take some work to get the meal down.

[firemandan26]

I feed mine a small rat and they are just a hair wider than he is. I haven't had any problems yet. Just like kellysballs said, just wider than your snake rule.

[hud556]

Rotting is rare but does happen. Dont worry about it much

Do you have personal experiance with this?

[RichsBallPythons]

Do you have personal experiance with this?

Not me but a old friend in which over fed his boa too big of a rabbit. He had to force a regurgitation in-order to save snakes life.

Like i stated its rare, and dont keep that in your head as a risk

[anatess]

Yeah, he'll be fine. I'm thinking it's good that he's eating a rat. You might think about switching him permanently to one rat every 7 days, instead of 3 mice. More nutritious, or so they say.