Is this rat too big for my BP? [pics]

[kippers]

I was actually surprised at how much of a lump it made as well because when I bought them I was still thinking the size was not right. Again I appreciate all the help and will continue to update as needed. As time goes on I will try to integrate rats into his weekly diet as was advised.

[Neal]

@OP, that rat is fine, but depending on how he responds as far as taking it or not you may want to drop down in size a bit and just up a feeding schedule to say 5 days versus weekly. If he's underfed he may not want to take something that size but hopefully he does. Let us know.

I would say it could easily take something that size, maybe bigger. Easiest way to tell...weigh your snake, and feed 10-15% of its body weight.
For example...a 500gram snake could eat something 50-75grams.
AND......that snake is pretty darn SKINNY!!! it should probably be eating 15% of its body weight every week. I don't know if this is a recent rescue or not but it needs to be taken care of

EDIT: just looked and saw you just got him off CL. feed 15% body weight as mentioned above

You can't always go by the 10-15% of the body weight rule. You strictly go by the biggest part of the snake.

[kippers]

This poor guy was not cared for, I just looked in his old hide that was way too small for him and his skin was stuck to the inside. He is doing OK right now after eating his mice and will be eating again the same amount on friday

[treeboa]

I will be feeding him a second shortly, as I did monday when he ate two.

You did see the first pic, right? This is a mouse, half the size of a small rat and it pushes the "girth of the snake" rule. Feeding a rat that size is asking for a regurge.

[kippers]

I'm aware of the size difference but unsure of what you're implying? Should I not have fed him the two mice? Its been about 24hrs and he seems to be doing fine and nothings come up yet. Thanks for the reply.

[treeboa]

My reply actually was to Neal. I just disagree that the rat you had originally wasn't too big. You're doing fine.

[kippers]

Oh okay thanks. Haha I actually have another concern with him about his skin, too. I'll go ahead and post those pics in a second.

[kippers]

He was trying to help me take these pics. ha

[T&C Exotics]

That looks like an old scar from a burn.

[kippers]

The other guys did use a heat pad, I've refrained for now because I don't have a thermostat to control it. Man.

This little guy has had the nightmare life.