Need Feeding Advice

[lizsfetus]

I need some advice.. I acquired a 1yr old ball python (24" long) from a friend a few days ago and today was feeding days (friend couldn't properly take care of snake). She was feeding it small size mice once a week so I had bought a package of prepackaged small frozen mice. I fed the snake and after seeing the snake with the mouse, the mouse looked way too small for it and the snake attacked and swallowed it in about 2minutes flat. I already put the snake back in her enclosure from the feed box and didn't think about feeding her another until afterward. Should I try feeding it another on about Tuesday-Wednesday? Like feed twice a week until I use up the small mice and can get the next size up or whatever you suggest? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!! (=

[Neal]

I need some advice.. I acquired a 1yr old ball python (24" long) from a friend a few days ago and today was feeding days (friend couldn't properly take care of snake). She was feeding it small size mice once a week so I had bought a package of prepackaged small frozen mice. I fed the snake and after seeing the snake with the mouse, the mouse looked way too small for it and the snake attacked and swallowed it in about 2minutes flat. I already put the snake back in her enclosure from the feed box and didn't think about feeding her another until afterward. Should I try feeding it another on about Tuesday-Wednesday? Like feed twice a week until I use up the small mice and can get the next size up or whatever you suggest? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!! (=

You can do this but I honestly wouldn't, I would just try to find a friend who has the snake and give them the frozen mice. I know it's a waste, but if you get your BP hooked on mice and they don't want to switch to rats it can be a real pain down the road. It sounds like your friend may of been underfeeding her which is quite common among people who don't know how to properly care for a snake. Now some snakes will eat more then one meal back to back, so you can give two at a time assuming they're still undersized you'd be okay. I wouldn't feed it twice a week on two different days though.

[DPBallPythons]

Weigh your snake, and feed it a rat about 10-15% of the snakes' weight. If the snake is 400grams, go with a 40-45gram F/T rat. What you don't want is a mouser (a ball python who only eats mice). Once a week is probably the best. And feed the snake in its own enclosure to lower the stress factor of the snake and less likely for you to get bit.

[Neal]

Weigh your snake, and feed it a rat about 10-15% of the snakes' weight. If the snake is 400grams, go with a 40-45gram F/T rat. What you don't want is a mouser (a ball python who only eats mice). Once a week is probably the best. And feed the snake in its own enclosure to lower the stress factor of the snake and less likely for you to get bit.

No offense bro, but please stop the recommend 10-15% of the weight thing. People shouldn't be actively saying this as it's far from the best thing to go by. If a snake is long and underfed, that 10-15% rule could be bigger than you'd want to feed and then the person could end up with issues. Best rule of thumb to recommend people is the biggest part of the snake for the same size mouse/rat.

[Crazymonkee]

No offense bro, but please stop the recommend 10-15% of the weight thing. People shouldn't be actively saying this as it's far from the best thing to go by. If a snake is long and underfed, that 10-15% rule could be bigger than you'd want to feed and then the person could end up with issues. Best rule of thumb to recommend people is the biggest part of the snake for the same size mouse/rat.

And also... who can weight mice/rats in a store if you have to feed live.. just my thought

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[Neal]

And also... who can weight mice/rats in a store if you have to feed live.. just my thought

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Good point, and how many people asking for advice really have a scale to measure.

[satomi325]

I suggest finding an adult mouse the same size as the widest part of the snake. Its also ok to feed multiple mice in one feeding session or spread out throughout the week. So go ahead and finish that pack of feeders if you like. After a few consistent feeds, go ahead and try a rat pup or weaned rat. The important thing here is to get the snake to a healthy weight. Switching prey now can be stressful and be counter productive if he doesn't take it. I would feel more comfortable switching after he bulks up a little more if he's really as under weight as you say he is.


I also don't like the 10-15% rule. Its strictly for babies and juvies. And people seem to forget that.




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[DPBallPythons]

No offense bro, but please stop the recommend 10-15% of the weight thing. People shouldn't be actively saying this as it's far from the best thing to go by. If a snake is long and underfed, that 10-15% rule could be bigger than you'd want to feed and then the person could end up with issues. Best rule of thumb to recommend people is the biggest part of the snake for the same size mouse/rat.

Alright, biggest part of the snake is better if the snake looks thin. Let me put it like this then: when I buy a new ball python and ship it, I usually check if I have rats in stock that are 10% of the weigh of the snake. Of course I wouldn't feed a thin snake a meal too big for it. No offense taken, bro.

[lizsfetus]

Thanks! All the advice is appreciated. I will see if I have any friends who have a need for small mice, but I doubt it. If not I'll just give the snake two next feed day and not do twice a week. Then I'll start on rats after those are gone... About 2 feed sessions. Does that sound okay to do?

[Neal]

Thanks! All the advice is appreciated. I will see if I have any friends who have a need for small mice, but I doubt it. If not I'll just give the snake two next feed day and not do twice a week. Then I'll start on rats after those are gone... About 2 feed sessions. Does that sound okay to do?

I would also get some f/t rats to make sure your BP takes the rats so that way you're not stuck without food. Especially if you don't know whether or not your BP has eaten rats before, because of the smell it can be a challenging switch.