Ball Python Feeding Schedule
| Age | Weight | Quantity of Food | Frequency |
| Hatchling | 50-100 grams | Very small mouse or rat (like a pinky ra ... | Once every five days |
| 3 months | 120-200 grams | Small mouse or rat | Once a week |
| 6 months | 300-370 grams | Adult mouse or baby rat | Once every 7 to 10 days |
| 1 year | 500-900 grams | 1 to 3 mice OR 1 small rat | Once every 10 to 14 days |
What are the best tips for feeding a ball python?
Tempting Reluctant Eaters to Feed
- Don’t panic if your snake refuses to eat. ...
- Ensure that your husbandry practices are good, and that the habitat is set up ideally. ...
- Try feeding your snake at night, in low-light conditions. ...
- Experiment with rodents of different colors. ...
- Place your snake in a small container with a frozen-thawed rodent. ...
- Consider using scent-transfer techniques. ...
What's the best time of day to feed a ball python?
And the best time of day for feeding a ball python might be in the evening or nighttime hours. But temperature plays an important role as well. If the snake detects that the cage is too cool, it will likely turn down the meal.
How much should I Feed my ball python?
If you want to give your ball python a greater variety of prey, you can consider the following:
- Large crickets – this is usually reserved for smaller, baby ball pythons, and not adults.
- Chicks – they offer some variety and a more interesting form of prey for ball pythons. ...
- Quails – fowl is a good option to provide variety in a snake’s diet and quail makes a good-sized alternative to mice.
What are the essentials for a ball python?
- They are named as they are because they can retract into a tight ball when felt endangered.
- Ball Pythons can be male or female, and as with many reptiles, Ball Pythons cannot be bred until they reach sexual maturity.
- Ball pythons have poor eyesight.
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How much should a one year old ball python eat?
Your snake may be the best one to answer this question for you but typically an adult snake (over one year of age) will eat once every 10 to 14 days. Younger snakes should eat more often since they are still growing. They should eat at least once a week, or even once every 5 to 6 days while growing.
How often should you feed a 1.5 year old ball python?
Ball Python Feeding ChartSnake AgeSnake WeightFrequency1 year500 – 900 gEvery 10 – 14 days1.5 years700 – 1500 gEvery 10 – 14 days3 years1200 – 1800 gEvery 14 – 21 days5 years+1800 – 2300 gEvery 21 – 50 days3 more rows
How long can a 1 year old ball python go without eating?
Ball pythons specifically can easily survive up to 6 months without food—but they shouldn't ever skip that many meals, as it can have dire consequences to their overall health.
How big should a 1 year old ball python be?
1.5 to 2 feet 2 feetSize By AgeAgeMale LengthFemale LengthSix Months20 to 27 inchesNine Months25 to 30 inches25 to 35 inchesOne year1.5 to 2 feet2 feetOne and a Half Years2 to 2.5 feet2 to 3 feet4 more rows
What can you feed a ball python besides mice?
Ball pythons can eat only rats or mice for an entire lifetime, but they also love to spice up their diet in captivity and feed on other rodent species such as hamsters, gerbils, and other exotic breeds. Young ball pythons should only be fed with large crickets, fuzzy mice, and pinky mice until they grow into adults.
How do you know your ball python is hungry?
What is this? You can tell a snake is hungry when it exhibits specific behaviors such as: Prowling the front of the tank, being more active, focussing on you whenever you are near the enclosure, flicking its tongue more often, and hunting at a similar time each day or night.
Will a ball python starve itself to death?
In rare cases, ball pythons may fast long enough to lead to their death. This is somewhat rare among captive-bred individuals, but it is possible. So, while it will take a ball python quite a long time to starve itself, you must realize that it is within the realm of possibility.
Do ball pythons need water bowl?
The only time you should have two snakes together is during breeding. Water Dish: Water is very important for your Ball python and should be in their enclosure at all times. Make sure to NOT use distilled water for your reptile.
Should I move my ball python to feed?
0:236:45Should You Feed Your Snake in its Cage? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it just doesn't really make very much sense and I would say it's way better to always avoidMoreSo it just doesn't really make very much sense and I would say it's way better to always avoid moving them from their enclosure when you're about to feed.
At what age is a ball python full grown?
Around 3 years of age your ball python will reach their full length. That length will probably be somewhere within this range. There are a few outliers who will be a bit smaller or larger. Technically, ball pythons will grow throughout their lives.
How often should a 2 year old ball python eat?
Generally, smaller or younger ball pythons need to eat twice each week, while larger ones usually eat once every week or two. As they get older you feed them more at one time so they don't need as many feedings.
How old is a 200 gram ball python?
Ball python weight chartAge of a ball pythonWeight of a ball python1 month old60-105 grams2 months old80-130 grams3 months old130-200 grams4 months old200-270 grams13 more rows
How often should a 2 year old ball python eat?
Generally, smaller or younger ball pythons need to eat twice each week, while larger ones usually eat once every week or two. As they get older you feed them more at one time so they don't need as many feedings.
Can I feed my ball python once a month?
You can feed a Ball Python once a month if it is very old, or if it has eaten a very large meal. Some older Ball Pythons (i.e., over 10 years in age) get a very sluggish metabolism and have to have feeding reduced to avoid obesity.
How often should I feed my snake?
Smaller or younger snakes usually eat twice each week, while larger, more mature snakes typically eat once every week or two. Female snakes approaching breeding season can be fed more frequently. Your veterinarian can give you more specific advice about feeding based on your snake's individual requirements.
How long can a snake go without eating?
A baby snake will begin to seriously starve after roughly a week without food — and once that baby grows into an adult, members of most snake species can comfortably get by for at least two to three weeks. But the time it takes for a snake to starve can depend significantly on the species.
Risks
Diet
- Ball pythons, like other snakes, eat varying sizes of prey depending on how big they are. Smaller and younger snakes may eat large crickets, but should ideally be eating pinkies and fuzzies until they grow larger. Adult ball pythons will eat adult mice and rats when they get big enough. Some ball python enthusiasts feel strongly that you should only feed various life stages of rats through…
Health
- Aside from major medical conditions, snakes can refuse to eat for a multitude of reasons. Being too cold is a common problem for many pet ball pythons, especially in the winter months, but is easily corrected by providing a heat light.
Symptoms
- If your ball python is about to shed, then it won't be eating until it is all done getting rid of the old skin. Signs your snake is about to shed include an ashy appearance to their skin and milky eyes.
Causes
- Stress is an often overlooked reason why snakes won't eat. New enclosures, other snakes in the enclosure, or too much handling can cause your ball python to get stressed out and not want to eat.
Prevention
- If you've already explored the reasons for why your ball python isn't eating (and make any possible changes including the kind of prey offered or increased the temperature in the enclosure), there are some things you can do to get your snake to eat. But make sure you are feeding your snake in a feeding container (separate from his regular enclosure) and are covering that container with a …
Preparation
- If your ball still doesn't eat, try cutting the pre-killed prey open to expose the blood and entice your snake with the scent. Using long tongs, hemostats, or feeding forceps to dangle and wiggle the food in front of your snake can also be helpful, especially if your ball prefers eating live prey. Soaking the pre-killed prey in some warmed low or no sodium chicken broth can help add an attr…
Treatment
- If you've tried all of the above tricks and your ball python still won't eat, get him checked out by an exotics vet. Your vet may recommend force feeding depending on how old the snake is, what his body condition score is, and how long it has gone without eating. Force feeding is simple, but you must be careful to avoid injuring your snake's fangs.