Feeding schedule

[BananasFTW]

I am a new owner of a banana ball python. I got him from a reptile show in Indianapolis. He was 2 1/2 months when I got him. I have moved him through the spectrum of mice and rat pups. Right now I am feeding him live mice. He eats once a week. He has never declined a meal.

I am not sure when I should feed him something bigger, or feed him less frequently or any of the sort. I have tried to google and I have found nothing on the feeding of him. I understand the general gist of feeding him stuff the size that he is around. But when do I feed him once a week or change his eating at all. He is a little bigger than a half dollar around. Where can I find all this information about his eating?

He also has very little of his last shed still on him. In one spot. Should I get rid of it? Or should I wait till the next shed? I am curious about all of this.

Can someone give me some advice or a place to find more of this? People at the pet store are not exactly helpful when talking about a ball python. He is my baby, I dont want anything to happen to him.

Thanks everyone in advance.

[guanagator]

You should check out the care sheets on this forum, they have lots of info about keeping your new guy happy. Everyone has their own thoughts on feeding, ranging from everyday to once a week or once every 2 weeks. I offer feed every 5-6 days for anything under 500grams then once a week until they mature. Soaking him in room temp- 80 degree water will help remove the stuck shed.

[erich_7719]

My 2 cents. I work a rotating shift at my main job, so I offer all my snakes size appropriate food on either Sunday or Monday (which ever day I am off) also half of the feedings are at noon the other half is at midnight. Most don't feed the week before or the week after their shed.

I agree with guanagator about the soaking in 80 degree water. After the soak you could either just place you buddy back in his home or gently caress his body from head to tail, if the shed is ready it should roll off with no effort.

[DennisM]

a hatchling should be offered food every 5-7 days, 5 days being the most popular option on this forum. if the meal is refused, do not offer for another 5-7 days. aim for a meal that is roughly the same circumference as the snake at its widest. I move my snakes up in size when they consistently fully ingest their meals in about 5 minutes. if the new prey size seems challenging, taking more than 15 minutes to ingest, I move them back down. check out the care sheets here at BP.net

[DennisM]

... Everyone has their own thoughts on feeding, ranging from everyday to once a week or once every 2 weeks.

if you know someone suggesting that a BP be fed every day, I suggest you disregard all future snake keeping advice from that person.