Best Feeder for ball pythons

[Strange_Evil]

Ok so i was just wondering out of all of the listed prey items above which would make the Best food source for a pet ball python? I currently feed mice but i will be switching over to rats soon. I saw Gerbils in the pet store today and wondered if those would make good feeders so then i thought of making this thread to find out. I would like to know why a certain prey item would make a better choice of food for a ball python and what you feed your Ball pythons?

Thanks,

[stratus_020202]

Definately rats. They are pretty easy to come by. I would say ASF's, but they can be hard to find. Balls would love gerbils too, but (always a butt around) I've heard they can get stuck on them and not want to eat anything else. Mice are too darn small for an adult bp. I've fed up to 4 at a time. Yep definately rats.

[TomC]

I chose rats because of size and availability.

[sho220]

Freshly shaven rats would be best...

[PitOnTheProwl]

I would say ASFs......working on my own colony but I also have someone close by that I can get then from. Finishing out my stock of f/t mice and rats then switching them to live and f/t ASFs.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The best prey is the one that work and can be commonly found generally rats, mice, asf ( in that order)

I do not recommend gerbils for several reasons:

1: they are more aggressive tan you average rat or mice and have larger teeth making them potentially more dangerous.

2: When BP start eating them they will imprint on them and not likely switch back, it's almost impossible to switch a BP back from Gerbils.

3: Their price and availability, they will not always be available and the cost will be outrageous when you will have to feed 2 of them a week to a full grown BP.

4: Because of all the previous reasons it could make your BP impossible to re-home should you have too one day.

The most cost efficient and convenient prey should your BP accept it is rat.

Just remember you do not need variety in their diet they can become picky enough as it is so stick to what works.

Try switching to rat an adult BP does not need anything larger than 125/150 grams weekly to thrive (female even less if it is a male)

[TheWinWizard]

Prefer rats, cheap and easy to get. gerbils are 12 bucks for live, I can get 8 medium rats for that price.

[Emilio]

Rats are the all around perfect prey item out of the big three for these reasons.

Size.
Availability
price
one rat per week. No multiples

[jason79]

I like rats for the same reasons above. The are readily available, they grow fast and no matter how big your bp gets you can feed ONE appropriately sized rat per week no need to feed multiple.

[Alexandra V]

I voted rats because I feel they're more valuable and make a more complete diet.

However some balls are picky and will only take either mice (I know of breeder females who eat exclusively mice and they're just fine, popping out great clutches and all) or just ASF's, in which case that would obviously be the better prey item. Either way, all three are good food sources in my opinion.

I wouldn't go for bird, and as stated gerbils are addictive and expensive, and hamsters are pretty pricey too.