Up to size???

[Somed00d]

I would get her eating rats as soon as possible. it may be hard to switch her to rats when she is eating 5 mice at a shot.

I don't think she will gain 90g per month consistently. I have a normal male that eats like a garbage disposal (he gets fed last and takes the rats that would otherwise go to the garbage) He has only gained 400g in 7 months. that's under 60g a month and he is getting fed very well.


Richard

[greghall]

She will most likely go off feed at sometime,it gets frustrating when they stop eating & growing its tough to wait for them to grow.I have a female early 07 that is almost 1000g & is a mouser deciding weather or not to breed her this year She is 100% het albino & my male is growing fast & over 500g he is albino.

[Mitch21]

I would love to get her on rats because of how nutritious I hear they are compared to mice. My only problem is that my pastel is super picky and only eats live, so that takes the euthanizing option. Do you think I can successfully breed rats for only one snake?

I have TONS of F/T mice for my other two BPs so I can't breed for all three.

Does anyone think it's worth it to start breeding rats for my one female pastel who is only 250grams??

[greghall]

rats stink & grow way too fast for a few snakes been there done that,breed my own rodents now & have 14 snakes,asf's are the way to go if you want to breed way better than mice & stay a good size for all ball pythons,& don't stink as much.

[Mitch21]

If I could find ASFs by me, I would gladly breed those suckers over anything else... I've been keeping my eyes open with people who have ASFs but there just doesn't seem to be any in my area.

[Gloryhound]

rats stink & grow way too fast for a few snakes been there done that,breed my own rodents now & have 14 snakes,asf's are the way to go if you want to breed way better than mice & stay a good size for all ball pythons,& don't stink as much.

Rats stink a little and they do grow fast, but we Euthanize and freeze them when they get to our largest size (unless we are growing up breeder replacements) and since our largest girl only eats f/t it works out pretty good. As far as the breeders go when they are retired I have a friend with boas and retics.

ASF's are hard to find and some snakes will not go to rats once they have had ASF's, so if you are not guaranteed to make as many as you need you could have to skip feedings for some snakes. I can buy rats at Pet-co. (not that I trust the quality though.) Also when ASF's get to hopper size they are quick and can jump high! Have you ever tried to pull one of those suckers out of a tub because the snake decided not to eat it? It is a real test of mans reflexes compared to ASF and snake! weaned rats are so much more gentle and fuzzy rats are like your best friend till you hear it squeak.

[Gloryhound]

I would like to just add a little note to the discoveries we have had.

When we started very early this year (January, 2008) to actually have more than one ball python we were purchasing mid 2007 born snakes most were born in July and August. They came in in the 150 gram to 250 gram range. Right now the largest of the young ones we bought is 1040 grams. The smallest is 601 grams and both are females. (We have also purchased older girls, but I am leaving them out of the equation at this time.) This summer we bought some babies in June that were only 1 month old, so they were hatched in mid May. They came in 59 grams for the male and 74 grams or so for the female. As of last night before feeding them the male was 551 grams and the Female was 634 grams. In 4 1/2 months they have grown like crazy. We also purchased 2 other females in July that were June born. One of them did not eat for the first month and we had to assist feed to get her started and now she is doing fine. At her lightest she was 35 grams and is now 182 grams. Her sister which ate right away started at 59 grams and is now up to 355 grams. Looking at our records when we get them young (like a month old) their growth rates out do that of the ones that had been previously maintenance fed for the purpose of sale for 6 months before we bought them.

We just got two more new baby het clowns. The female is off to a great start while the male is being little stinker and not eating. We will have to add them to our trends to see how things go. We try getting all of our snakes on rat pups as soon as possible.

This is just some observations we have made that I thought I would put out for those interested, those not interested can take it with a grain of salt.

[nevohraalnavnoj]

Looking at our records when we get them young (like a month old) their growth rates out do that of the ones that had been previously maintenance fed for the purpose of sale for

This is an excellent observation. I have noted myself that all my problem feeders were purchased as juvies, and every snake I have had since hatchling is a stellar eater.

One possible reason for this is those I got as hatchlings are accustomed to my "system" since they have never known anything else. Whereas BP's that were purchased as juvies had a year under someone else's system, and they are just not as quick to adjust. In fact, my best eater...a 1000+ gram 2007 female pastel, was purchased immediately after she shed. Her first meal was FT with me, and she has never known anything but FT and my way of doing things. Perhaps that is contributing to her success?

Another possible reason is that the best eating hatchlings may have been spoken for first by customers of the breeder. Maybe those 2007's I have that are stubborn eaters were never the best eaters to begin with.

JonV