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  1. #1
    BPnet Veteran Rusky's Avatar
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    What rat size should I use if my BP is about 1 1/2 inches thick

    Her thickest part is about 1 1/2 - 2 inches thick, which rats do you think I should be using?

  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran The Serpent Merchant's Avatar
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    How much does she weigh? weight is a much better way to determine prey size.

    I go by 15% of the snakes body weight.
    ~Aaron

    0.1 Pastel 100% Het Clown Ball Python (Hestia)
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  3. #3
    BPnet Veteran Rusky's Avatar
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    Re: What rat size should I use if my BP is about 1 1/2 inches thick

    Haven't weighed her in a while and she just ate so I'll wait a few days.
    I know for sure the rats I'm feeding her are too small, but since she's ready to eat every 3 days I think I get enough food in her cumulatively.

  4. #4
    BPnet Veteran The Serpent Merchant's Avatar
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    one of my ball pythons is about the same size around, and she weighs 460 grams so I feed her a rat that weighs about 70 grams every 8 days (I have some on a 4 day cycle and some on 8 just to simplify my life)
    ~Aaron

    0.1 Pastel 100% Het Clown Ball Python (Hestia)
    1.0 Coastal/Jungle Carpet Python (Shagrath)
    0.1 Dumeril's Boa (Nergal)

    0.1 Bearded Dragon (Gaius)

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  5. #5
    Registered User Merlin's Avatar
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    Re: What rat size should I use if my BP is about 1 1/2 inches thick

    I'd ask about feeding her every 3 days...if she's young you should be feeding her once every week. A little bit older ones you could even do every two weeks. It's better to try a larger mouse/rat than feeding her small things too often.

    Quote Originally Posted by Rusky View Post
    Haven't weighed her in a while and she just ate so I'll wait a few days.
    I know for sure the rats I'm feeding her are too small, but since she's ready to eat every 3 days I think I get enough food in her cumulatively.

  6. #6
    BPnet Veteran The Serpent Merchant's Avatar
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    A lot of people feed young ball pythons every 4 or 5 days with great success. 3 days does seem a bit to often but a 7 day schedule isn't required. I personally switch mine from a 4 day schedule to a 8 day schedule when they are 500-600 grams.
    ~Aaron

    0.1 Pastel 100% Het Clown Ball Python (Hestia)
    1.0 Coastal/Jungle Carpet Python (Shagrath)
    0.1 Dumeril's Boa (Nergal)

    0.1 Bearded Dragon (Gaius)

    1.0 Siberian Husky (Picard)
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  7. #7
    BPnet Veteran Rusky's Avatar
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    Re: What rat size should I use if my BP is about 1 1/2 inches thick

    Just weighed her, 254 grams. So weaned rats?

  8. #8
    BPnet Veteran KatStoverReptiles's Avatar
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    Re: What rat size should I use if my BP is about 1 1/2 inches thick

    Quote Originally Posted by Merlin View Post
    I'd ask about feeding her every 3 days...if she's young you should be feeding her once every week. A little bit older ones you could even do every two weeks. It's better to try a larger mouse/rat than feeding her small things too often.
    I would have to respectfully disagree with you. In my experience, I've had more success with smaller meals more often rather than larger meals less often. My snakes less than 800 grams or so are on a 5 day schedule, larger than that are on a 7 day schedule. Usually my snakes will tell me when they're ready to switch to 7 days, as they'll refuse approximately every other time when offered every 5 days.

    To the OP: You're looking for something in the 25-35 gram range. I, personally, go more by size rather than weight. I think a weaned rat would be good. Disclaimer: one person's weaned is another's pup is another's small, so don't get too hung up on the names.
    Last edited by KatStoverReptiles; 01-23-2012 at 01:49 AM. Reason: Spelling ;)

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  10. #9
    BPnet Veteran The Serpent Merchant's Avatar
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    well you should feed her a rodent or multiple rodents that add up to 35-40 grams. So yes a weaned rat would be appropriate.
    ~Aaron

    0.1 Pastel 100% Het Clown Ball Python (Hestia)
    1.0 Coastal/Jungle Carpet Python (Shagrath)
    0.1 Dumeril's Boa (Nergal)

    0.1 Bearded Dragon (Gaius)

    1.0 Siberian Husky (Picard)
    0.1 German Shepherd/Lab Mix (Jadzia)

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