Ball Python Prey Size

[cheosamad]

Yes up until a certain point, about 500 grams.

It's important to understand that their metabolism changes tremendously as they get older.

Feeding smaller prey weekly will allow you to have an animal eating with consistency.

I have several females 3000 grams and up including up to 4000 grams and even those females eat a medium rat around 125/150 grams a week, males even the largest ones around 1500 grams do not get anything larger than small rats (55/75 grams) every 7 days with breaks here and there.

Always keep in mind that there is a big difference between what they are capable of eating and what they need to thrive and be healthy.

Sure a large female could take down a large 200/250 grams rat however if would make it very risky if fed live, and while she might eat that rat she is likely to refuse food for the next several week, making the food intake less than if you were feeding small prey weekly. The female would also be sluggish for days.

About where do you start switching your females to medium sized rats? Also that's interesting to know about how your 3k+ animals still eat the same sized prey every week.

Another question, when ball pythons get up to that crazy size, does it have any adverse effect on their lifespan and ability to thrive?

This is my pinstripe girth. I probably feed closer to small rats but I have never had a regurgitation nor has he ever missed a meal. I also included a pic of his head size compared to his rat size since I know that was part of the argument.

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He is very pretty. And it's incredible that his neck can stretch enough to eat that! Impressive boy.