Newbie.. Confused on prey size.

[Dx916x]

Hello, I was hoping someone can clarify the feeding guideline since I keep reading contradicting info on the "proper" size/weight of prey. Ive read that the prey should only be 10-15% of the snakes weight, but im also reading many places that the prey should be about the girth of the thickest part of the snakes body, some even say a lil more. So i went out and bought a mouse a slightly narrower than the thickest part of my snakes body however when i weighed the mouse, its 40% his body weight!! Should i stick to the 10-15% (hoppers) even tho theyre about 2/3 his width? or is the 10-15% more for when they become 200g plus?? Any suggestions and advice would be appreciated.

[XpensiveWino]

Use the 10-15% rule until they reach about 500 grams. From there on it's basically one small rat once every 7 days.

I agree. The prey vs snake eyeball size test usually fails me too. I thought I was doing great when I started out until I bought a gram scale and realized I was feeding one of my little guys 25-30% of his weight. Surprise, surprise he soon went off food, and sent me into a new challenge of wondering what was wrong. Err on the smaller side, and they will feed consistently, and ultimately grow better, and in a healthy manner.

[Craiga 01453]

If your talking about a juvenile BP stick to the 10-15% rule.

However, that rule goes out the window once the snake reaches 500 grams or so.

[303_enfield]

Read this:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...=feeding+guide


The snake weight to prey weight works for a ton of rodent eating snakes. Feeding intervals are different for different snakes an as the snake ages.


Good luck!

[Dx916x]

Thanks for the input, hes such a lil guy that I rescued and want to do my best to get him healthy. Hes 2 years old but the size of hatchling! I fed him the mouse (20g) last night and he ate it with no problem but I guess ill have to go back down to hoppers to be within the 10-15% range.

[303_enfield]

Thanks for the input, hes such a lil guy that I rescued and want to do my best to get him healthy. Hes 2 years old but the size of hatchling! I fed him the mouse (20g) last night and he ate it with no problem but I guess ill have to go back down to hoppers to be within the 10-15% range.

Two years old an under 100g (hatchling size)? You need to weigh him three days from now, since you fed. Or when he is empty. please post pictures if you can.

I rescued some stunted ones over the years. With the proper husbandry they catch up most of the time. But a few are stunted, just short an happy.


Good luck!

[Craiga 01453]

Hoppers are too small. BPs eat hoppers for their first 3-5 meals only.

[noodle.obsessed]

Thanks for the input, hes such a lil guy that I rescued and want to do my best to get him healthy. Hes 2 years old but the size of hatchling! I fed him the mouse (20g) last night and he ate it with no problem but I guess ill have to go back down to hoppers to be within the 10-15% range.

How much does your snake weigh?
That seems far too small as a 3 month old should be on that!

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