New python feeding

[JuanPablo]

I have a new ball python, about 18" long. Never owned a snake. I got him at a pet store four days ago. They feed him live crickets. I left him alone until today. Dropped a small feeder mouse in his cage this afternoon. He wasted no time. How often and how much should I feed this guy?

[gen]

Oh my gosh, they were feeding him crickets?! :shock:

He can eat one mouse a week, about the same size as the widest part of your snake's body. I'm glad he ate for you. Did you feed him a live mouse? If so, I would suggest trying pre-killed or frozen-thawed mice in the future, so there is no chance of the mouse harming your snake.

Welcome to the forums, and please ask lots of questions. Everyone is really helplful here.

[gozetec02]

...sigh... Did they say if he ate the crickets?
What pet store did you get him from? Gen is right one mouse a week. Feed prekilled lots of ball pythons are injured from live feedings.

And again I agree with Gen PLEASE ask lots and lots of questions we all have tons of experience with all types of reptiles.

[JuanPablo]

There were live crickets in the display box when we bought him. When pressed for more detail about the feeding habits of the snake the pet store clerk had no answers, must have been the goldfish expert. The mouse was live.

So, you suggest once a week, for how long? Ive read that adults eat less often, I just don't know when Juan Pablo will be an adult.

[JamminJonah]

hmmm ... if the snake is 18" my personal guess would be that his age is around a 11-14 months. That is unless they were feeding him crickets and such then he would probably be underweight and thus length anyways.... anyways I suggest the same feed an appropriately sized prey item (as Gen suggested). I too suggest switching to Pre Killed (P/K) and or Frozen Thawed (F/T) mice as they are safer, more economical, and easier to keep on hand. I would say feed once every seven days for the next two years or so - basically until the snake appears to have reached adult size (length and width) which of course differ between females and males. Glad you're here!

[beaglegod]

Man that is sick, feeding a BP crickets, someone should lock those Pet store employees in a cage and feed them a small box of raisins with a half cup of tang once a day for a few weeks and see how they feel.

[JamminJonah]

Also being a pet store snake in the condition you describe I would wait for the first defecation and take the snake to the vet to be sure there are no internal parasites and no dehydration (though you can spot severe dehydration yourself - see medical section). Wait until the snake deficates and retrieve the defecation and put it in a baggie and take the snake (in a pillow case or box or what have you) and the feces in to the vet. To find a herp vet near you check www.arav.org - fecal exams are pretty much the best way to tell what is wrong with a snake... the fresher the better. If you must wait a day DO NOT FREEze the sample.

[JuanPablo]

About the big push, how often do they relieve themselves? I think I saw something about once a month?

[JamminJonah]

yeah once a month is typical for a BP - some every shed, some just a touch over weekly... it really depends on the snake. For many a bath loosens them up.. just be sure the water isn't warm to the touch.. more like tepid or room temp (thanks Judy!)

[JLC]

Wow, I've heard of a lot of petstores doing wrong things for their snakes...but I've never heard of one trying to feed bp's crickets!! Maybe the crix just wandered in there from their lizard displays...but the lack of answers from the clerk would say otherwise. And of course if their displays are bad enough that even crickets can get from one to another...then you can be very likely to have a case of mites as well. I would recommend using white paper-towels as substrate for awhile and keeping an eye out for teeny tiny little crawly bugs. Also watch to see if your snake is soaking a lot in its water bowl...that can also be an indicator of a mite infestation. If you do think you may have mites, there are various threads already established about how to treat for them...or you can start a new one.

What is your set-up like? (And if you've answered this in another thread, please forgive me for asking again!) If you give us an idea of the size/type of enclosure...what you're using for substrate, heating, measuring...what sorts of hides and water bowl you have...we can help you tweak it and make it a perfect home for your new friend!