Feed Question

[uafgrad]

Quick Background

I have a baby BP who we have had for about a month now
First feeding (first time with f/t) went ok, but it took a lot of work to get him to hit the mouse
Second feeding was slightly easier, but took some work. Both times he was in his hide and ambushed the prey
Both times, I let the prey sit in front of the CHE for a few minutes to get warm
Third time I let the mouse sit in the room for 30 minutes or so to scent and then a little touch up under the CHE. He wasnt hiding this time but wasnt really on the prowl so to speak. It only took a few seconds and some dancing for him to hit it this time.
Feeding again last night. Everything the same. As the mouse is warming I notice the snake coming out of his hide and looking around. He then starts coming towards the side of the tank Im on. I no sooner got the mouse into the tank than he hit it. He got the mouse down and then appared to be looking for more. In the past after he gets the mouse down he retreats to his hide and just relaxes. Last night he kept looking around the cage like he was still hungry.

The adult mice are about the same size around as the snake. My next size up for f/t is small rat which seems to be much bigger around than the snake.

Next time should I offer a second mouse if he will take it?

[starmom]

Feeding two mice is fine, provided it isn't too much food for the snake.

If you want to switch to rats (the snake might be reluctant to make the switch) then you might want to try a weanling rat.

I like to keep the prey size total to about 10-15% of the snake's weight until you get up to 80-100 grams of prey. That would be plenty!

[MONTY PYTHON FAN]

Quick Background

I have a baby BP who we have had for about a month now
First feeding (first time with f/t) went ok, but it took a lot of work to get him to hit the mouse
Second feeding was slightly easier, but took some work. Both times he was in his hide and ambushed the prey
Both times, I let the prey sit in front of the CHE for a few minutes to get warm
Third time I let the mouse sit in the room for 30 minutes or so to scent and then a little touch up under the CHE. He wasnt hiding this time but wasnt really on the prowl so to speak. It only took a few seconds and some dancing for him to hit it this time.
Feeding again last night. Everything the same. As the mouse is warming I notice the snake coming out of his hide and looking around. He then starts coming towards the side of the tank Im on. I no sooner got the mouse into the tank than he hit it. He got the mouse down and then appared to be looking for more. In the past after he gets the mouse down he retreats to his hide and just relaxes. Last night he kept looking around the cage like he was still hungry.

The adult mice are about the same size around as the snake. My next size up for f/t is small rat which seems to be much bigger around than the snake.

Next time should I offer a second mouse if he will take it?

What about trying two or three hopper sized f/t instead of one full grown mouse?

We have two adults aged @3 yrs. feeding on f/t rat pups. They get one each every weekend and seem to be doing very well with that.

The routine of moving them to their feeding bins seems to set the stage for hunting. We don't handle them by hand either...we use a snake hook when putting them in the feeding bin so as not to associate handling with feeding.

We place the rat pup on a small plastic lid in the center of the bin ahead of time, put in the snake, close the lid and leave the room.

It doesn't take but a minute or two and dinner is halfway down.

[starmom]

Wow! A three year old ball python eating only a rat pup every week seems very minimal to me Can you share what they weigh?

My snakes are all fed inside their enclosures and none have ever associated my hands with their prey- unless, of course, I've been handling their prey!!

[Muze]

Wow! A three year old ball python eating only a rat pup every week seems very minimal to me Can you share what they weigh?

My snakes are all fed inside their enclosures and none have ever associated my hands with their prey- unless, of course, I've been handling their prey!!

I have the same question. I know some snakes seem to get a lot more out of their meals than others, but rat pups are are only about 25-30g each.

Same here about feeding in their enclosures. I think that keeps the stress level to a minimum for the snake, as well as for me. I just use very large tongs

[MONTY PYTHON FAN]

I've not weighed them, but will this week and reply with the results. I've stuck with this schedule in hopes of not overfeeding. They look great.

I do have a question concerning frozen vs. live as far as nutritional needs. Are frozen animals lacking in comparison to fresh killed prey?

[Oxylepy]

Feed him/her something smaller than a mouse at that age.

I fed my new fire a small sized mouse (aka the smallest I could find at the pet store, which was like a hair sized smaller than all the other adults ~_~) and I found a dot of blood in her container, then when I went to check her out I saw that the little split in her scales where she had been connected to the yolk in the egg (the snake version of a belly button) there was a little tiny scab under it, leading me to believe that she had actually split open slightly because the prey item had been to big for her. Never again will I feed such a young snake so large a prey item, that had me freaked out and I was sitting around ready to go to a vet if there was any other sign of trouble (like another spot of blood). So be careful, and don't overfeed/outsize feed your snake.

[Muze]

I've not weighed them, but will this week and reply with the results. I've stuck with this schedule in hopes of not overfeeding. They look great.

I do have a question concerning frozen vs. live as far as nutritional needs. Are frozen animals lacking in comparison to fresh killed prey?

There are arguments both for-and against- feeding F/T in regards to nutrional content. From personal experience, I have 15 very healthy BPs that are all gaining weight steadily, have perfect sheds, etc., and are all fed F/T. We humans usually freeze the meats that we purchase,thaw them later, cook them, and eat them. I don't see how this is any different.

You do have to purchase from a reputable source to avoid feeding previously thawed out rodents. And you have to sure that the prey items are thoroughly thawed before feeding.

[bigballs]

I've not weighed them, but will this week and reply with the results. I've stuck with this schedule in hopes of not overfeeding. They look great.

ever wonder about under feeding? i have 3 month old hatchlings eating rat pups. id love to find out what they weigh as well.

[ohyeahnow]

Julian,

I am not sure if there is a standard, but I would hope there is. Follow this link http://www.bigcheeserodents.com/Pricing.html
It lists the weight of all sizes of mice and rats. They also offer cheap shipping and I have been happy with the product. I have them shipped by bus and have never had a problem.