Feeding your ball python

[Sunnyvale420]

Yeah...it's about some dude with ONE ball python and how it's doomed to die because he doesn't weigh every meal he gives it...

Your sarcastic humour comes off as immaturity. But i dont know you, and there are far better/worse threads i couldve used my first posts on

[sho220]

Your sarcastic humour comes off as immaturity. But i dont know you, and there are far better/worse threads i couldve used my first posts on

You're right on...I'll be the first to admit I'm immature...and I'm a big fan of sarcasm... And although I'm no expert, I do know a thing or two about keeping bp's...and since I'm not too bright, they are simple, yet effective...The KISS theory was developed for people like me...

[Slim]

Do you really weigh every rodent you feed to every snake you have?

Yes I do.

[Rob]

I dont mean to bust any balls it's just that unless you're a breeder of hundreds of snakes, how hard is it to place a feeder on a $20-$70 scale?

This stuff does not have to be rocket science and precise down to the gram. If it works for some people great. If someone can eye ball it and knows the size of rodent that is appropriate for the animal that's just fine too. Neither way is superior to the other if done correctly, to each their own.

[whispersinmyhead]

To the OP

I am be to BP's and snakes. Started out with a Beardie and Leo. I am a bit of a control freak so i read every caresheet i could find. I read tread after thread and a couple of outdated books. Regardless of my research I still ran into problems and question and with the help of many great people on this forum (Slim, Rob, Kitedemon, Serpant Merchant, Mattchibi to name only a few), I was able to get my BP eating and she is starting to become a very strong eater now.

One of my problems was eyeballing the food items. My eyeballing skills sucked. The first couple small rats I brought home were great (probably a touch on the big side) and she ate them. Te next two were too big. I didn't realize how big until I weighed my next on and saw what 15% looked like. By the time I got to the pet store my snake was bigger in my mon I guess. The scale also put my worried min at ease do I could make sure se wasn't losing weight when she didn't eat.

I also enjoying tracking her growth with it. I am getting better at judging the feeder size now but I will probably weigh most feeders so I know that if she isn't feeding for me it isn't my feeder size. It is also the same reason I have a T-Stat. I know if she isn't eating it isn't because of temps. Life for me is easier knowing things instead of guessing.

I do not wish to contribute to any bickering here but I wanted to share my experience with you. I am definitely NO expert.

[whispersinmyhead]

Ps sorry for such a long post.

[captainjack0000]

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...31938410003173

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...he-Golden-Rule

If you want the full article, let me know.

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IMO though buying a scale seems like a bit overkill if you only have a few snakes. In the wild, the animals experience wide varability in available prey. I reccomend paying attention to your snakes behavior and keeping at least some record of feeding frequency and size (by your own metric). But would having a scale hurt? No.

I try to judge the husbandry by the health of the snake, not by the gadgets and equipment used to achieve it. For example, I read a post by a person who didn't have a thermostat or rheostat or any heat source. You might first think that person is an idiot, until you read that he lived in the natural range of the BP in Africa...

[angllady2]

My issue with eyeballing the food is the general inconsistent sizing of prey based on who is selling it.

I go to shop A and ask for a small rat. I get a 40 gram rat that is the exact size I need.

Next time, shop A is out, so I go to shop B and ask for a small rat. That one ends up being 75 grams, and is too big for my snake.

Next time I catch a sale at shop C and ask for a small rat. This one is barely 25 grams, and is smaller than what I want.

However, if I go to shop A, B, or C and ask for a 40 gram rat, I get a 40-45 gram rat. It saves me frustration, and that to me is worth a $15 digital scale that I can use for all kinds of things besides snake husbandry.

Gale

[Royal Chick]

I have a food scale that automatically shows me digital grams for weighing my BP. And i usually go by her girth to determine the size of the rat to feed Perry. As far as I know, length doesn't really matter, the size of your Bp's girth would make me think to either get a large mouse or rat pup depending on what you preferr to feed. When it get's a little older and thicker, try a fairly small adolescent rat. I'm no expert but this has always worked for me. It makes it easier since my BP is a VERY easy eater. Hope this helps!

[DooLittle]

To OP, I would get him on a rat "pup" or equivalent to three hoppers. One larger meal.

As far as the whole scale arguement goes, here is my two cents. It is probably a good idea for a newbie to weigh prey, then they can start getting and eyeball for size to weight comparison. Yes, snake will be fine if size fluctuates a wee bit each time. For those into keeping detailed records, they weigh each and every time and know exactly what was eaten each time. I weigh my snakes more often than I weigh prey. I eyeball them, there also isn't usually a large selection to pick and chose from where I get my feeders. If one looks particularly large or small, I weigh it. And it most always falls between the 10-15% mark. Mine are all growing and eating great. IMO, whatever floats your boat.
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