Does this guy look too small to eat f/t rats?

[Slytherin_python]

[IMG]IMG_6317.JPG[/IMG]

he always takes his f/t large adult mice so well. He's been getting hungry quicker and quicker though (once ever four-five days he acts hungry) so I decided to try a small f/t rat. He acted like he was gonna take it but eventually gave up. does he look too small still to eat it?

[Slytherin_python]

[PitOnTheProwl]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-Post-Pictures

[blue roses]

weigh the snake, then weigh the ft rat, and if the feeder weighs between 10 and 15% of the snakes weight its ok. My guy is 1100g so my feeders are 110g-150g, but since hes a big boy and 3 years old i feed him every 2 weeks, unless he shows me hes really hungry, and he'll let me know by telegraphing at the cage door when i sit by his viv.

[Slytherin_python]

thanks! The rats are still a bit too big, I think. I'll keep him on mice for now! Thanks again!

[blue roses]

you can switch to rats just go down a size to wienlings, and if they are still to large, feed rat pups. I get my feeders from big cheese, and when you order they will give you the weight range for each size, so you can order the correct size.

[EL-Ziggy]

I don't think that rat looks too large. I do agree that feeding 10-15% of body weight is a good guideline to follow. Is that the first rat you've offered your BP? If so, sometimes it just takes a little work to transition them over to rats.

[Sheerules]

Doesn't look too big my girl isn't as big as yours an has eatin larger rats then that

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[Eric Alan]

weigh the snake, then weigh the ft rat, and if the feeder weighs between 10 and 15% of the snakes weight its ok. My guy is 1100g so my feeders are 110g-150g, but since hes a big boy and 3 years old i feed him every 2 weeks, unless he shows me hes really hungry, and he'll let me know by telegraphing at the cage door when i sit by his viv.

So what do you recommend someone feeding a ball python over 2000g do? Over 3000g? Larger than that?

In practice, the 10-15% "rule" is only intended to be used for hatchlings until they are large enough for small rats - at about the 500g mark. It's a tool/guideline for keepers unfamiliar with being able to eyeball appropriately sized prey to be able to pick out appropriately sized meals for their little ones. When applied to larger animals, the "rule" becomes ridiculous.

Adult males do quite well eating no larger than small rats for their entire life (50-90g). Adult females do quite well eating no larger than medium rats for their entire life (90-180g). Feeding ball pythons prey larger than that is generally unnecessary - especially if the goal is getting them to eat consistantly.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

weigh the snake, then weigh the ft rat, and if the feeder weighs between 10 and 15% of the snakes weight its ok. My guy is 1100g so my feeders are 110g-150g, but since hes a big boy and 3 years old i feed him every 2 weeks, unless he shows me hes really hungry, and he'll let me know by telegraphing at the cage door when i sit by his viv.

Feeding 400 grams to a female is gonna be fun, funny I have 1500 grams males that never saw a rat larger than 75 grams.

People need to stop with that 10/15 percent rule it's ridiculous, instead they need to start having a better understanding of the animal they own and understand are efficient they are, how they are overfed in captivity, how they fast to catch up and how fatty liver diseases is gonna be more and more common.

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