Feeding help!

[dynomik24]

I got my ball from a breeder located in Tampa on feb 26th. He's adapted well to his new home. He's already eaten 3 times! He is insanely hungry. They guy told me he's eating frozen fuzzies. But I don't think they are big enough for him. My ball is about 14in long. Am I not feeding him enough or big enough food? He's really active and very much aware when we get near his cage (not aggressive though). He last ate on Monday.

Any suggestions??

[Annarose15]

Fuzzy rats or fuzzy mice? There's a huge difference, and even fuzzy rats are usually only just for new hatchlings. Either way, up his prey size to 10-15% of his body weight (guessing rat pups).

[dynomik24]

Fuzzy rats or fuzzy mice? There's a huge difference, and even fuzzy rats are usually only just for new hatchlings. Either way, up his prey size to 10-15% of his body weight (guessing rat pups).

Nope, fuzzy mice, that's exactly what they guy tilde to feed him. No wonder he's so freakin hungry! Should I feed smaller mice? If so, since he ate on Monday when should I feed again? And how long before he....poos?

[Annarose15]

Nope, fuzzy mice, that's exactly what they guy tilde to feed him. No wonder he's so freakin hungry! Should I feed smaller mice? If so, since he ate on Monday when should I feed again? And how long before he....poos?

Haha, with that small of meals, he might not poo for a couple more weeks. If you don't have a kitchen scale to weigh him (highly recommend), then just feed mice about the same width or slightly larger than him at his widest point. I've never fed mice, but I've seen recommendations of small adults for young BPs. Personally, I'd take advantage of him being hungry and try offering a rat fuzzy to get him switched over. One or two of those, and then up the size to rat pups. It's just much easier to feed one rat per meal than 4+ mice when they get bigger. I feed mine on a 5-day schedule until they're about 500g, so you could feed anywhere between today and Monday, especially since the last meal was so small.

[dynomik24]

Haha, with that small of meals, he might not poo for a couple more weeks. If you don't have a kitchen scale to weigh him (highly recommend), then just feed mice about the same width or slightly larger than him at his widest point. I've never fed mice, but I've seen recommendations of small adults for young BPs. Personally, I'd take advantage of him being hungry and try offering a rat fuzzy to get him switched over. One or two of those, and then up the size to rat pups. It's just much easier to feed one rat per meal than 4+ mice when they get bigger. I feed mine on a 5-day schedule until they're about 500g, so you could feed anywhere between today and Monday, especially since the last meal was so small.

Thank you so much! I feel like a horrible parent now! =[ do you feed live or frozen?

[Annarose15]

Thank you so much! I feel like a horrible parent now! =[ do you feed live or frozen?

Hey, we all have to learn somehow. You're on here learning, and that's what matters. I feed frozen. It's getting a little time-consuming with the number of BPs I have, but I don't like the odds of ending up with a pet rat if not enough eat one week!

[Slim]

do you feed live or frozen?

I feed F/T...it is by far the best way to feed ball pythons.

[Daybreaker]

I feed F/T...it is by far the best way to feed ball pythons.

x2 but I always leave the possibility open to feed live if I need to (ie a ball just doesn't want to take to F/T and is loosing significant weight, etc)

[dynomik24]

Thanks you guys for all the help! I picked up a small frozen hopper tonight. Unfortunately rat pups are very hard to come by here in jax fl. Actually feeder anything is hard to get here but THANK YOU!!!

[Slim]

I feed F/T...it is by far the best way to feed ball pythons.

x2 but I always leave the possibility open to feed live if I need to (ie a ball just doesn't want to take to F/T and is loosing significant weight, etc)

That was my feeble attempt at setting off a good old fashioned Thursday night BP.net F/T vs. Live debate....