What size should I feed?

[lcarney921]

What size mouse/rat should I get to feed my 20 day old BP? He is about a foot and a half long. I haven't fed him yet as he has only been home 3 days but I just want to know what size to feed him before I get to the store. I am also feeding f/t if that makes a difference.
Thanks!!

[Alexandra V]

Choose a prey item that is about as big around as the biggest part of your snake the same rule of thumb applies as he ages as well.

[771subliminal]

avg size for a new hatchling is a rat pup or crawler or a small to med mouse mouse

[lcarney921]

Thank you both! I am swiching him to f/t, the breeder I got him from was feeding live but I know its safer for the snake when the food is pre killed. Do you think its going to be hard switching over or is it easier to do when he is really young, like he is.

[Alexandra V]

Thank you both! I am swiching him to f/t, the breeder I got him from was feeding live but I know its safer for the snake when the food is pre killed. Do you think its going to be hard switching over or is it easier to do when he is really young, like he is.

it depends from snake to snake. However if he doesn't accept f/t this time, I highly suggest offering live the next meal, just to get him eating. Then try f/t again after he's taken a few meals. See how it goes.

[mjmendoza]

Thank you both! I am swiching him to f/t, the breeder I got him from was feeding live but I know its safer for the snake when the food is pre killed. Do you think its going to be hard switching over or is it easier to do when he is really young, like he is.

Nothing wrong with feeding live either. I feed both my snakes live still. Has more nutrients when live also. The female I picked it yesterday is small and ate a live pup rat no problem today

[771subliminal]

if it were me id feed him a few meals of live 1st just to make sure he is a good eater b4 id try to switch him over to f/t. but if done correctly live feeding is perfectly safe for your bp

[snake8myelbo]

Get it eating good for you first. Then switch to frozen. Try weanling mice!

[lcarney921]

Ok, Thank you so much for the advice! I really appreciate it! Sorry for asking all these questions I just want to make sure my BP is healthy and happy

[Maaric]

When I picked up my little guy he was about or a little less than a foot and they told me to go straight to feeding him med/hoppers. He loves them and takes em down no problem. It concerned me at first when I saw the size of the mouse, but then again I'm a new snake owner.