how much and how often to feed

[mooingtricycle]

This may be a good place to post my question rather than make a whole new topic, I just fed my ball and i was worried the mouse was too big for him, infact i was ont he phone with the pet store asking if i could return the feeder for a smaller size when he decided to strike. He managed to eat the mouse without injury but now im worried if i pick him up he might get an upset stomach, so my question is how long should I wait after a feeding to put the snake back in his home? i have pictures incase they may help

Put him back now.

So long as the mouse was not INSANELY larger than the snake is around, you should be fine. Just be gentle if youre worried, but generally its not too much of an issue.

[TimmyG]

ok thanks, I guess seeing my first python feeding has me in shock is all thats totally amazing to watch

[WizzySRT10]

ok thanks, I guess seeing my first python feeding has me in shock is all thats totally amazing to watch

Isn't it so cool to watch? I just fed my python about 5 mins ago from writing this post at the moment he's working on gettin the head and body aligned how he wanted it.

[claireree]

it is cool to watch all of my snakes I love it especially now they are on f/t, the pythons my partner just tapped the mice on the bottom of the feeding tub a few times and they both struck at them.

[WizzySRT10]

Claieree you have babies or Adults BPs?

[claireree]

I have 2 adults and 4 eggs in the incubator

[starmom]

I would never feed mice, but thats just me. Rats are easier, and all a mouse is, is bones.

I disagree. Check this out: http://www.rodentpro.com/qpage_articles_03.asp.

Also, I have one hypo female who will not eat rats! Since I started her on mice she has gone from way too thin to really packing it on!!

For me, rats are easier as well, and my other snakes all eat f/t rats. However, it is not easier for me to struggle with this female who just won't yet eat them. Easy to pick up several live mice, feed one of them to her, and then grow the rest up to a chubbier size. I have four mice in a cage right now munching happily away on their yummy food and becoming very well fleshed!

I always said I would never be a rodent farmer, but the little hypo reminded me to never say never

[blackcrystal22]

This may be a good place to post my question rather than make a whole new topic, I just fed my ball and i was worried the mouse was too big for him, infact i was ont he phone with the pet store asking if i could return the feeder for a smaller size when he decided to strike. He managed to eat the mouse without injury but now im worried if i pick him up he might get an upset stomach, so my question is how long should I wait after a feeding to put the snake back in his home? i have pictures incase they may help

Well, the rule of thumb is to feed a prey item the same thickness as the thickest part of their body. Since you seemed worried about this situation, I suggest you don't feed your snake outside the enclosure. Moving the snake after feeding can be hard and possible cause a regurge, and not really worth the risk. There is very little actual risk of feeding inside an enclosure. It's also a lot less stressful on a bp.

I need to start breeding mice for my corn snakes, because they are more proportionally perfect for corns as ASFs or small rats are perfect for balls.
I wouldn't suggest more than 2 pieces in a meal. :]

[claireree]

This is my 2 they are still waiting for their new viv to be built at the moment we have built it all up but waiting for the glass doors to be done.

[TimmyG]

One last question from me, if a ball python did consume a meal that was too big could it die or would it just regurge?