Ball Python Feeding Size

[CodyH3012]

Hi,

So for the past 3 weeks since I've had my ball python, she's had 2 meals with me. When I got her the person I bought it from said she was 300 grams. I bought a small rat from the pet store because that's the smallest step up from adult mice. The mice were only like 20 grams so I think I've been under feeding her. Do you think if I fed her a small rat it would be too big of a meal?? It says on the package it's 40 grams, but I'm not sure if she's grown at all since I've gotten her from 3 meals. If pictures are needed let me know and I can provide them. The reason I'm asking this is because today's feeding day and the pet shop has no more mice only rats till next week.

[CodyH3012]

Here's the snake's widest point: http://imgur.com/bLxNArf
Here's the small rat: http://imgur.com/raL8x8O

[LittleTreeGuy]

at 300 grams, I'd think she would probably be okay with a rat pup. My little girl is only 115g and takes fuzzy rats with little or no bulging in her belly. I would think yours could handle a 40g okay.

If you go by the feeding rule, saying prey weight should be between 10 and 15% of the snakes body weight, your prey weight for a 300g snake could be 30-45g.

[CodyH3012]

Sweet, thanks! She took it down no problem! She went right back to her basking spot after feeding, only thing is, she has a little bulge in her stomach area. Is that normal?

[LittleTreeGuy]

Yes, it will take her a while to break it down and start digesting. It's best to not bother them for 24-48 hours after they eat.

[Sauzo]

You'd be surprised how big of food a snake can eat. General rule is 10% of body weight or thick as the thickest part of the snake. With that said, I have all of my guys stuff that has made them look like they ate a football afterwards and I almost have to roll them into their warm hides But a couple days later and they are out and cruising. My advice though is if you feed an extra large meal one time, the next time you feed a smaller than normal meal. This adds variation. I do this to my gals all the time and I even try and vary up the food items. Give em a rat one feeding and then a mouse the next. This really only works on my small BCI as I haven't found anywhere local to get quails for my big BCI girl. I think I found a guy local for rabbits but i'll have to check to see how small of rabbit I need to get to compare to a large rat. Anyways, if it was me, I would try and get your BP switched over to rats asap as it seems some BPs will imprint on a certain pretty item and you don't want that to be mice especially when he gets to 3-4' and needs like 6 mice per feeding.

[SmoothScales]

Agreed. I've heard of people purposely keeping their BP on mice to keep the size smaller as more of a pet, but I prefer mine to be on rats. The first time I gave my spinner blast a small rat, he looked like a miserable stuffed sausage. gave him a weaned the week after and he looked at me like 'that's it?' Lol

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[Sauzo]

Lol yeah they do love to eat, well until they get older. Then they like to make the owner upset by going on hunger strikes lol. Lucky for me I got 2 boas who also love to eat so nothing gets wasted as I feed only fresh killed.

[CalypsobluAz]

I have a 200g killer bee who is eating approx 28g prey once a week.

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[CodyH3012]

You'd be surprised how big of food a snake can eat. General rule is 10% of body weight or thick as the thickest part of the snake. With that said, I have all of my guys stuff that has made them look like they ate a football afterwards and I almost have to roll them into their warm hides But a couple days later and they are out and cruising. My advice though is if you feed an extra large meal one time, the next time you feed a smaller than normal meal. This adds variation. I do this to my gals all the time and I even try and vary up the food items. Give em a rat one feeding and then a mouse the next. This really only works on my small BCI as I haven't found anywhere local to get quails for my big BCI girl. I think I found a guy local for rabbits but i'll have to check to see how small of rabbit I need to get to compare to a large rat. Anyways, if it was me, I would try and get your BP switched over to rats asap as it seems some BPs will imprint on a certain pretty item and you don't want that to be mice especially when he gets to 3-4' and needs like 6 mice per feeding.

Hahaha sounds like your snake has quite the personality thanks for the info!! He did look like a football after I fed it to her but now it's been 15 hours since she's eaten and it's gone down. Should I just not handle her for the next 2 days? I normally wait around 32 hours. Even when I handle her it's only for 10 mins. I don't like to stress them out.