Feed size question

[OTorresUSMC]

Just curious at what BP weights do you feed a particular prey size. I currently breed my own rats and am some times at odds with what size to put in with the snake. My two adults no worries i just put in what ever my biggest is at the time but i have two that are at about 600 grams. Going by girth i feel they could take what i consider my smalls right now. Those are weighing around 140 but online i see they consider this a medium? So do people out there pay attention to the rats weights or do you just trust the girth comparisons? Im just afraid to throw in something too big and somehow harm the snake when they try to consume it. Also for comparison my 5/6 week old rats are like 70 grams. They loook small for my 2- 600 gram BP's

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[PokeyTheNinja]

You can go by the girth rule. I use 10%-15% of the snakes weight to figure out an appropriate range of what my snake should be eating.
Here is a chart that is quite handy to use:

[Eric Alan]

I made a Feeding Guideline chart, and it's stickied here in this very forum. Check it out and feel free to ask all the questions you'd like: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=243687.

[OTorresUSMC]

I made a Feeding Guideline chart, and it's stickied here in this very forum. Check it out and feel free to ask all the questions you'd like: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=243687.

I like the chart but question, according to that i should only feed my 1200gram male one 50-89 gram rat every 7 days?? That seems like not enough. Do BPs really just not need all that big of meals? I have some now that are about 130 and going by girth he can take them down no problem. With one that big would i make it every 10 days then? Or longer?

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[Eric Alan]

One small rat each week is plenty for adult males - even with the occasional refusal.

[Sauzo]

I only use that 10-15% rule for babies and even then, I more or less just wing it. Feed them stuff that leave a nice lump but doesn't make them look like they ate a football. My 1680g girl eats a medium rat every week. She sometimes refuses here and there but I got it covered as I have 3 garbage cans who will eagerly take it lol.

With that said, a 1200g male should be fine on a small rat weekly.

[OTorresUSMC]

Man thats crazy. I have some that are weighing at around 70 and they just look so tiny next to him. Was gonna use those for my 600 gram guys and the 130's for my larger male and my female. Well based on this im gonna need to buy more snakes to go through these rats before theyre too big😆

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[Eric Alan]

Well based on this im gonna need to buy more snakes to go through these rats before theyre too big😆

This! More snakes is always the answer. Especially when it's more ladies!

[Sauzo]

Man thats crazy. I have some that are weighing at around 70 and they just look so tiny next to him. Was gonna use those for my 600 gram guys and the 130's for my larger male and my female. Well based on this im gonna need to buy more snakes to go through these rats before theyre too big��

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Well you can double up on feeding if they get too small until they are done. If they look tiny next to him, go to the reptile shop and buy a medium and weigh it at home and feed him. See how it looks in him. If it looks like a football, then downsize. If it leaves a small lump, then feed him mediums assuming he takes them weekly or biweekly.

I was feeding my 9 month old retic medium rats as that seemed to be what others here fed but he would go crazy 3 days later and was always hungry. I stepped up to large rats and now they fill him up very well and he is quiet.