How often should a 4mnth Bp defecate if fed 1 fuzzie mouse a week?

[JLC]

I think it's a common misconception for new ball python owners to think their snakes can't eat larger prey...because let's face it...they're little pinheads compared to the rest of their body! How could that tiny little head possibly consume such a gigantic rodent?

They can...and do. Quite happily. My new little guy, Sax...maybe 100g...nailed a small adult mouse without any hesitation and downed it quite easily. When he was completely done, I wasn't even sure he'd eaten....there wasn't some huge lump in his body or anything.

And if they disappear for a week after eating...well....that's VERY typical (and desired) ball python behavior. If they're out cruising all the time, they're either stressed or hungry.

[drugaria]

OK we'll do, Thank You all for the advice

[Jenn]

I was surprised to hear that a 4 month old BP was eating fuzzies. A hopper would be no problem at all, and a "small" adult mouse would probably be even better. That guy is hungry!!!

[Mindibun]

I stopped and got a rat fuzzy today at the store. When I dropped it in the tank she was striking all over the place. Almost got me like 3 times. I think she recognizes that it's prey, but doesn't know *what kind* exactly., She's very confused. I'll leave her alone with it for a little while.

[bcampos]

are you kidding me? I've been feeding mine a hopper every 6 days and she's about 6 months old. There's no way I could get a rat pup in her - she wouldn't be able to move afterwards. The last time I gave her an adult mouse by mistake, she didn't move for a week and then some.

I'm not saying you don't know what you're talking about. I just don't see how your 12in, 4mo-old baby could be eating rat pups when mine can hardly handle an adult mouse...

Am I really *that* off the mark on my feeding?

Wow... first, she said she was feeding weenlings, NOT rat pups.

Second, how did you feed your snake the wrong size mouse "by mistake"?

Third, do some searches, almost every experienced person here will tell you that fuzzy mice are too small for even a hatchling BP. You'd have to feed a few each week just to get a decent weight gain.

[Argentra]

I know how you feel. I was feeding my girl small hoppers when I first got her at around 2 months old thinking she wouldn't be able to take larger prey. Then I watched one at the store only 2 months older nail and take down a medium adult mouse with no problem. Needless to say I started the switch to larger mice.

She's 6 months old now and eating large adult/small jumbo mice one a week and slowly catching up to where she should be weight wise. The key is to judge by the widest part of the snake, not the head or neck.

Good luck getting yours up to speed.

[Gib]

I might be way off here...but i usualyl have 300-500 baby bps every year and i start them off on Small adult mice out of the egg...and by 3-4 months depending on the particualr animal they are usually on multiple mice or rat crawlers at that age...and at around the 200-250 gram mark i move them up to rat weanlings...almost 10 years of that and i never knew i was doing it wrong LOL

[rabernet]

Gib? As in Chris? As in the prettiest pastel? The one that I'm lusting over on Fauna?

[Gib]

LOL one and same!

Also the same person that dont seem to know how to feed a snake right too

[pythontricker]

yeah ive had my albino ball python since november 10th. shes only pooped 2 times!. is this normal?