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  1. #1
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    Can I overfeed and underweight Ball?

    Hey all,
    Background: I have my first Ball Python and when I got him he was very skinny. I know that a lot of big chain pet stores do not feed the correct size pray or often enough but I am finally getting him to where he looks like he is the right shape and size. Just to illustrate his condition without pictures his widest location was the back side of his jaw. Now the widest part of him is about 60% down his body like most ball python pictures. I have been feeding him small mice (he is a 2012) at least once a week and he has been eating them and absorbing almost all of the weight and pooping and urinating fine. I also own an albino corn and a Brazilian rainbow boa. Both of those guys are muscular and not fat. With the heavier bodied ball python I am in uncharted territory. A Small mouse in my estimation here has a body about as long as a middle finger and is about 1.25 the size around as my ball when he is "empty". He eats like a champ and has a great temperament. I would like to believe that he knows I am taking good care of him. I have searched the forum and have found a million stances on feeding and how often....but that is really not my issue.

    Question: I got my ball python underweight and dehydrated, I am feeding him a small mouse F/T at least once a week, he is recovering weight and getting close to being the correct shape, Is there any threat of overfeeding as long as I maintain the correct growth?

    Let me know if you need any further information. I am at work so I do not have the ability to post pictures right now but I can if I need to later.

  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran The Serpent Merchant's Avatar
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    With young BP's it takes serious effort to overfeed them as they are constantly growing. The issue comes as they mature. It sounds like you are feeding the right amount.
    ~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)

  3. #3
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    edit might be needed.

    I just realized that everyone reading my background is now flicking themselves off....sorry bout that

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to SANDWiCH For This Useful Post:

    Faerie (09-28-2012)

  5. #4
    BPnet Lifer snakesRkewl's Avatar
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    It's impossible to over feed a ball python with one small mouse a week.
    I have 2 month old ball pythons eating small mice...
    Last edited by snakesRkewl; 09-28-2012 at 11:26 AM.
    Jerry Robertson

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to snakesRkewl For This Useful Post:

    AK907 (09-28-2012)

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