Help with feeding (pic included)

[_Victoria]

Yet again another question (sorry) but I'm confused with how to go about feeding and I've been searching the forums for a week.

My problem is I don't know what size to feed him and the pet store only have limited sizes. They were out of everything but big rats so and fuzzies so when they got in medium mice I went and bought several boxes. I now thing they're too small so would I give him 2 or how could I use them?

I also have one box of large mice.

Here are some photos. My hand cramped up how while taking them and my phone fell on him so if anyone knows if that'll be okay please let me know as well do I can go to work without worrying the whole time that'd be great. Fell on his back.


The last was was after I was a stupid jerk.


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[Tragic Image]

If you have medium mice, I'd feed 2 medium mice. Maybe close to a 5 day schedule? If you little guy acts hungry after eating, throw in another one. Its my understanding that ball pythons generally won't over eat.

My male usually waits about 15-20 minutes between eating each mouse.



I'm sure the dropped phone won't bother the snake in the long term...

[_Victoria]

If you have medium mice, I'd feed 2 medium mice. Maybe close to a 5 day schedule? If you little guy acts hungry after eating, throw in another one. Its my understanding that ball pythons generally won't over eat.

My male usually waits about 15-20 minutes between eating each mouse.



I'm sure the dropped phone won't bother the snake in the long term...

Alright that's what I was wanting to do but I didn't know if 2 would be power feeding or anything like that.

He is moving around find just acting more jumpy than usual but I can't blame him. I would be pretty upset if I were him too


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[LLLReptile]

Hard to tell without a size reference, but 2 mice a feeding is probably just fine. Wait for him to finish swallowing the first mouse, and if he takes a second, cool! If he doesn't, no big deal.

-Jen

[_Victoria]

Hard to tell without a size reference, but 2 mice a feeding is probably just fine. Wait for him to finish swallowing the first mouse, and if he takes a second, cool! If he doesn't, no big deal.

-Jen

Thanks for the advice!


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[_Victoria]

Does anyone know by chance why he would refuse a certain mouse because he refuses to eat the ones I got from a local pet store but he will eat the ones from petsmart. He's so picky!


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[CrystalRose]

Does anyone know by chance why he would refuse a certain mouse because he refuses to eat the ones I got from a local pet store but he will eat the ones from petsmart. He's so picky!


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One of mine is like that too. She will eat the ones from the rat breeder but won't eat the ones from the pet store. Might be something about the smell of certain ones they don't like.

[NH93]

Some general guidelines to go by:

Feed (a) mouse/mice or rat(s) that is 10-15% of the snake's body weight for young ball pythons, or (a popular and perhaps easier method) feed to the widest part of the body - so match that with the size of the rat/mouse.

I suggest feeding rats, because when your snake grows it will eventually outgrow the size of the mice! I know many people do continue to feed mice... or if they've got a snake that will ONLY eat mice ... but you will most likely be needing to feed multiples when they are adults.
There are tonnes of threads and debates on the pros and cons of feeding rats vs. mice.

Best of luck!

[_Victoria]

One of mine is like that too. She will eat the ones from the rat breeder but won't eat the ones from the pet store. Might be something about the smell of certain ones they don't like.

That is exactly what I was thinking. He's always been a great eater until I picked up different mice and refused all of the ones offered. Made a bet that it was the smell (I tried sooo many different techniques) and got a box of the other ones and he ate it up right away.

My boy has an expensive taste uh oh


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[CrystalRose]

That is exactly what I was thinking. He's always been a great eater until I picked up different mice and refused all of the ones offered. Made a bet that it was the smell (I tried sooo many different techniques) and got a box of the other ones and he ate it up right away.

My boy has an expensive taste uh oh


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I think in my case it's because the ones from the rat breeder are "fresh" as in they haven't been in the freezer too long. The one pet store near me where I've bought one or two when I've been low does not have high turn over on their feeder rats. So who knows how long they have been in the freezer before they're bought. They might smell freezer burned or something that is just enough to put the snake off from eating it. Maybe that's the case of the ones you bought from the other store.