Is it true?

[Slim]

Just when I thought I'd heard them all...

[Kaorte]

I think just a rat pinky is pretty specific... maybe they will imprint on a certain type of rodent, but I don't think they discriminate against age so much. The person who told you that was just misinformed.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Right--some ball pythons ARE picky, and prefer one prey type over another--but that's species, not age.

I have balls that will eat only rats, and a few that will eat only mice. Eating only rats is NOT an issue. If they have to eat 'only' one species, rats are the ideal.

Besides, the only ball pythons that ever eat rat pinkies are undersized brand new hatchlings. There's no reason to offer a pinky rat to a normal-sized hatchling, much less any older ball python. (Surprised no one else pointed this out).

60+ gram hatchlings, right out of their first shed, can start on fuzzy rats.

[Andybill]

Some balls will only eat herbals after being offered one, some will not switch to rats from mice. Never heard of rat pinkies being an issue.

Hmm I dont think I have ever encountered a vegetarian ball python before...

[SRMD]

Right--some ball pythons ARE picky, and prefer one prey type over another--but that's species, not age.

I have balls that will eat only rats, and a few that will eat only mice. Eating only rats is NOT an issue. If they have to eat 'only' one species, rats are the ideal.

Besides, the only ball pythons that ever eat rat pinkies are undersized brand new hatchlings. There's no reason to offer a pinky rat to a normal-sized hatchling, much less any older ball python. (Surprised no one else pointed this out).

my ball is 6-8 weeks old and is only 80 grams i got him about a week ago

60+ gram hatchlings, right out of their first shed, can start on fuzzy rats.

[wolfy-hound]

I start some hatchlings on rat pinks. If they seem intimidated for the first meal, or they are small, rat pinks only wriggle, no crawling at the hatchling's nose to frighten him.

But they move on to the next size quickly and without issue. Haven't heard of a BP wanting to eat a tiny prey item like a pinky when they get larger.

[Anatopism]

Right--some ball pythons ARE picky, and prefer one prey type over another--but that's species, not age.

I have balls that will eat only rats, and a few that will eat only mice. Eating only rats is NOT an issue. If they have to eat 'only' one species, rats are the ideal.

Besides, the only ball pythons that ever eat rat pinkies are undersized brand new hatchlings. There's no reason to offer a pinky rat to a normal-sized hatchling, much less any older ball python. (Surprised no one else pointed this out).

60+ gram hatchlings, right out of their first shed, can start on fuzzy rats.

^^^ especially. Most of our balls, unless a very shy, or small hatchling, don't even recognize pinks as food. They don't move enough, and are not at all enticing to eat. All of our hatchlings are started on fuzzies-chubs, or the stages just after they get fur to just before when their eyes open, both of which are considerably larger than a pink rat.

[Really]

That actually makes sense because isn't that what they eat in the wild?

My ghost will ONLY eat gerbils, refuses everything else.
Never had a problem regarding rat pinks.

[SlitherinSisters]

I've never heard of that, and I honestly don't think they will get addicted to anything. Withhold food long enough and most of them will eat just about anything. I kept ASFs for a while and fed them to my ball pythons and none of them got addicted to ASFs.