Feeding Advice Needed

[fiveinfinity]

I know this is a common thread topic but I am not perfectly clear on why my bp's are so small. I have a male 1 1/2 year old ball python that is currently 320 grams and an unsexed bp that is 2 years old and about 465 grams. I feed them once weekly small rats. They both eat well. About 2 months ago, I switched from mice to rats in the hopes that this would help. Should I be feeding more frequently?

[Eric Alan]

Once/week feedings are fine, as long as the meals are appropriately sized. What is your definition of a small rat?

[fiveinfinity]

The rats are 70-90g. I am not too concerned about my 2yo because he went off feed for 9 months after being bitten by a mouse so I expect him to be small for his age. (I have since switched to frozen.) However, my other snake has fed consistently his whole life.

[Eric Alan]

I wouldn't worry about the exact weight so much.

If anything, that size rats are a bit much for once/week feedings. 70-90 gram rats are probably a pretty big meal for snakes of yours' size. A good meal should be about the same girth as your snake's widest part, leaving a noticeable (but not uncomfortable) lump for no more than a few days.

[fiveinfinity]

The rats I am feeding them leave a barely noticeable lump. They are just about exactly the same girth as the snakes. Although the older snake is heavier, there is hardly a difference in girth between the two. I also have 2 female babies that I would like to one day breed so I am trying to learn as much as I can about bp husbandry and do the right thing. Thanks for your help.