My Ball Python
- Thread starter Craiger
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
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- 1,670
No, because if you try to feed him again too soon he may throw up the meal already inside of him. and when a snake throws up a meal it takes A LOT of energy out of him so after that he may not eat for a long time.
All this is means is next time either feed him something bigger (depending on his size) or feed him two of the same size food item next time.
Do you have any pictures of him? what does he eat?
when I had my balls I'd start out feeding them live adult mice (the smallest ones I could find) once they got bigger (before they died on me) they each got two each per feeding and I fed once a week.
Sidenote: ball pythons do better in a rubbermaid bin than they do in any size tank.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2005
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- 4,588
Ideally you want to feed prey about 1-1.5x the width of the fattest part of the snake. Adult mice just plain won't be big enough for long. It's time to get that critter on rats. 
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2007
- Messages
- 507
How exactly does a snake look hungry, esspecially one that has just eaten? Snakes have a rather slow motabolizem and are lethargic for atleast a day after eating. They sit in a heated spot for this helps them digest there meal, untill after this happens there is no reason to keep feeding. Also what size rodent are you useing? A good sized one for a BP is a one the same thickness as the thickest part of your snake. A good feeding scheduale is once a week, for snakes a year and older you could switch to every two weeks with no ill effects. ~ Rex
Yes, a day after eating he shouldnt be moving, but typically when he is hungry he becomes very active, in which he was doing. The adult mice i get are almost as big as the thickness of his body. So should I boost him up to a bigger mouse or go with x2 in one sitting
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2007
- Messages
- 507
This is natural, he may be hunting or he may be just moving to move. BPs are nocternal and are most acive at night. Even if he is hunting it doesn't matter as long as you feed him once a week. Every time hes looking for food doesn't mean that you have to give it to him, that is not natural for that is not how nature works. Snakes must expend energy and wait for a meal when they can get one, it is not one giant smorgageborg. My 30" female BP eats one small adult rat once a week, (sometimes I skip a feeding) and she is doing great and growing fast. Hope this helps ~ Rex
At 2ft a BP should be eating "small" rats every 10-14 days. Only a prey item at a time. And as someone mentioned earlier they do have slow metabolisms that allow them to go long periods w/o food. As also mentioned, the prey item should leave a slight bulge in their mid-section. If it does not gain weight parasites may be an issue.
You may want to visit/join some of the snakes forums, they are a great resource of information. I know Constrictors Unlimited forum is predominantly for BP owners.
Good luck!
Phoenix
You may want to visit/join some of the snakes forums, they are a great resource of information. I know Constrictors Unlimited forum is predominantly for BP owners.
Good luck!
Phoenix