Keeping males small, feeding schedule/prey size?

[SwedishBalls]

I swear, honest to god i've been googling like crazy.
The topic says it all, i guess.

I've always heard that you should keep you're males small and lean, but i've never really found any info on how the successful breeders do this. I get the idea and everything, but not how some of you actually does it.

As an example, would you be able to keep a male HEALTY at 750-900 grams it's entire life?
This is the ''desired'' breeding weight, and it happends to fit perfectly with one of my racks. The tubs hold a 750-900g male just fine, and if i could keep them in this for the entire life, i can't say i complain.

How do YOU do this? Do you offer small prey items weekly? If so, around what weight for a 750-900g male? Or do you feed every other week? A normal prey every 3/4 weeks?
You get the idea.. Really need some help to get my mind around this one.

Thanks!
SwedishBalls

[Eric Alan]

The only thing I do differently for my males is top off their weekly rat offering at smalls vs. mediums for females. Beyond that I don't purposely hold them to some sort of target weight as they tend to self-regulate smaller than females on their own. It's much more important for them to have a solid body shape than define themselves by a number. I have had a few males on the larger side, but they are the exception rather than the rule and have bred just fine for me. Maybe they forgot to read the manual?

[Slim]

I don't breed ball pythons, and only have males in my collection. I have never tried to manipulate a male's adult size. What I have learned is that one small rat per week will keep them fit and healthy for their whole lives. They technically never stop growing, but most usually plateau out between 900 and 1800 grams. Yes, that is a wide range, but these are living creatures and a wide range is expected. As is the occasional outlier. Had a Pastel boy that was a very fit 2300 grams.... Just goes to show you that these animals will do what they are going to do.

[chilliscale]

Just keep them in a smaller enclosure!!!! Lmao

[Slim]

Just keep them in a smaller enclosure!!!! Lmao

That must totally be true! I read it on the interwebs...

[chilliscale]

Everything on the internet is true so it must be...

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[SwedishBalls]

I do breed ball pythons, as well as other species, and i absolutely would like to keep the males at the 750-900g range, for breeding and housing purposes. And from what i can see, several people do this..

I just can't wrap my mind around ''how'', what the feeding schedule is, prey size etc etc.
Ofcourse i know males can reach 5.5'' and 2000g, but that's not really the question.. They can be kept on the small side, i'm just interested in how some of you do this successfully. Of course, i can take my time and see how it goes, cut back on food etc as he grows, and i'm sure i'd get the hang of it, but i would love a few inputs on how some of you actually does this, written down black on white.

[The Golem]

The only thing I do differently for my males is top off their weekly rat offering at smalls vs. mediums for females. Beyond that I don't purposely hold them to some sort of target weight as they tend to self-regulate smaller than females on their own. It's much more important for them to have a solid body shape than define themselves by a number. I have had a few males on the larger side, but they are the exception rather than the rule and have bred just fine for me. Maybe they forgot to read the manual?

Jumping in with a related question: at what size / weight do you move up from small to medium? My snake is a little over 850 grams, eating smalls and the body width or circumference looks like it's big enough for mediums but the head seems too small and I don't want to freak it out by jumping from 80 gram f/t rat to 100+ grams.
Thanks in advance, Eric.

[Slim]

i absolutely would like to keep the males at the 750-900g range, for breeding and housing purposes

What happens when what you want to do and what the animal wants to do are at cross purposes? Who comes out ahead?

Bottom line for me is, you probably will never have a male that's too large to house if you feed only small rats.

If you get one that upsets you're housing plan, shoot me a PM. I'm sure there's something that can the be done....

[SwedishBalls]

What happens when what you want to do and what the animal wants to do are at cross purposes? Who comes out ahead?

Bottom line for me is, you probably will never have a male that's too large to house if you feed only small rats.

If you get one that upsets you're housing plan, shoot me a PM. I'm sure there's something that can the be done....

Are you serious? That shouldn't even be a question..
I shouldn't have to point out the obvious, but the animals health comes first. I won't keep the male at 750g if he becomes skinny, just to keep him at that weight. He should be athletic, not skinny. Sounds good to you? Great.
I't shouldn't be necessary for me to point this out. I din't ask how to underfeed a male and how skinny he can be before he passes away....

I simply asked how some of you feed you're males to keep them on the small side, at around that weight..