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

[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.