How Much Should I Feed My Ball Python
- Hatchling or First 3-5 Meals. At this stage, you’ll want to stick with small rodents like pinkie (newborn) mice or rats or hopper mice.
- Baby Ball Python Less Than 200 Grams. At this stage, your baby ball python can handle a small mouse, rat fuzzy, or another small rodent. ...
- Juvenile Ball Pythons Around 200 to 350 Grams. Once they’ve reached the 200 to 350-gram mark, your ball python should now be able to eat rat pups or an adult ...
- Ball Pythons Around 350 to 500 Grams. When your ball python grows as large as 350 to 500 grams, it’s time to graduate it to weaned rats and jumbo mice.
- Adult Ball Pythons 500 to 1200 Grams. If your ball python continues to grow and reaches above 500 grams, you’ll need to start feeding it a diet primarily consisting of ...
- Adult Ball Python 1200 to 1800 Grams. Ball pythons of this size should be fed primarily medium-sized rats. ...
- Rats.
- Mice.
- Chicks.
- Hamster.
- Gerbil.
- Quail.
- Multimammate mice.
- Guinea pigs.
What's the best time of day to feed a ball python?
Key points from this article:
- In many cases, the best time of day to feed a ball python is after sunset.
- These snakes are nocturnal and crepuscular in the wild, so they tend to have a better feeding response at night.
- But every snake-keeping scenario is different. So might have to do some trial and error.
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.
How often should you feed your 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 plants can I keep with a ball python?
The Best Living Plants for Your Ball Python
- Weeping fig tree. The weeping fig tree is a popular choice for all kinds of vivariums thanks to the fact it can adapt to various habitats.
- Tiger cub. This is an excellent plant for smaller vivariums or those that need some dense plants as tiger cubs typically grow to around five inches.
- Tineke rubber plant. ...
- Neoregelia fireball. ...
What can I feed my snake besides mice?
The most popular pet snakes usually eat prey such as mice, rats, gerbils, and hamsters. Larger pet snakes also eat whole rabbits.
What else can I feed my snake Besides rats?
What Else Do Snakes Eat Besides Rats?Insects. Smaller snakes, such as the garter snake, will eat a variety of insects, including crickets, cockroaches and insect larva, such as mealworms. ... Small Rodents. ... Eggs. ... Birds and Fish. ... Snakes and Lizards. ... Larger Mammals.
What are ball pythons favorite food?
In general, the youngest, smallest ones eat small frozen feeder mice or rats. Larger ball pythons typically eat larger mice or rats. Selecting prey for a ball python. As a general rule, you should select a rodent that is 1 to 1.25 times the size of the midsection of your snake.
Can I feed my ball python fish?
While these snakes can and do consume birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles from time to time in the wild, for the most part, the majority of their prey items come from the rodent family. Boas and pythons will not eat crickets or eggs.
What human food can a ball python eat?
Snakes can consume human food like eggs, poultry, fish, pork, and beef when they are unprocessed. This means that the food should be given in its basic and raw form. You cannot give fried or saucy food to your snake as there are already other ingredients in the food that may make your snake sick.
Can snakes eat scrambled eggs?
While most snakes can eat an occasional small egg without any negative health issues, we recommend avoiding it unless you own an egg-eating snake.
What Can ball pythons eat besides rodents?
What else can you feed a Ball python besides mice?Rats.Mice.Chicks.Hamster.Gerbil.Quail.Multimammate mice.Guinea pigs.
Do ball pythons eat anything other than 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.
Can I feed my ball python wild mice?
0:1712:52Can I feed my snake wild mice? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if you especially if they just add it and you don't know about it if you took one of those mice.MoreAnd if you especially if they just add it and you don't know about it if you took one of those mice. And brought it in and fed your snakes that could potentially be dangerous to your snake.
Can I feed my ball python a bird?
Ball pythons are carnivores that hunt and eat small mammals and birds. In their native range in West and Central Africa, they prefer African giant rats, black rats, grass mice, weaver birds, and rufous-nosed rats.
Can I feed my ball python a toad?
Can You Feed Frogs to Pet Snakes? Although some pet snakes will eat frogs, it's best to only offer them thawed feeder animals like mice and rats. While you technically can feed wild frogs to pet snakes, this is highly inadvisable for a few important reasons.
Will ball pythons eat chicken eggs?
Ball pythons consume their food whole, which means that they cannot eat chicken eggs. The reason for this is that the eggs are likely to block the snake's digestive system, which can have devastating effects. The reason is that snakes don't have the right digestive structures to break down eggs.
What Can ball pythons eat besides rodents?
What else can you feed a Ball python besides mice?Rats.Mice.Chicks.Hamster.Gerbil.Quail.Multimammate mice.Guinea pigs.
Can snakes eat vegetables?
Snakes do not eat plants, fruits or vegetables. They evolved from a long line of terrestrial lizards who, similarly, did not eat any plants. Even pet snakes will never eat plants. Sometimes, they may get plant matter in their gut because of the herbivore prey they ate, but this is consumed unintentionally.
Do all snakes need to eat mice?
You must be glad to know that not all snakes eat rodents, birds, and other larger prey. You can go for an egg-eating snake, snail-eating snake, or other snake species that don't enjoy mice and other rodents.
Can I feed my snake a wild mouse?
0:1712:52Can I feed my snake wild mice? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if you especially if they just add it and you don't know about it if you took one of those mice.MoreAnd if you especially if they just add it and you don't know about it if you took one of those mice. And brought it in and fed your snakes that could potentially be dangerous to your snake.
What do Python ball pythons eat?
What ball pythons eat. In general, the youngest, smallest ones eat small frozen feeder mice or rats. Larger ball pythons typically eat larger mice or rats. Selecting prey for a ball python. As a general rule, you should select a rodent that is 1 to 1.25 times the size of the midsection of your snake.
What to do if your Python ball isn't hungry?
Maintain a comfortable temperature, avoid disturbances, and watch for signs of shedding and illnesses. If your ball python isn’t hungry, they won’t eat. You can remove the food and try again later. How to encourage your ball python to eat.
How much does it cost to feed a ball Python?
Cost of feeding a ball python. The annual cost of feeding a ball python can range between $100 to $150.
Can you feed a ball python?
Common Concerns Feeding Ball Pythons. Ball pythons are excellent pets for people who like snakes. They’re relatively low-maintenance, they’re small, and they’re clean. But they have dietary needs that are very different from a cat or dog. As a new ball python owner you’ll need to know what to feed your snake, how often to feed it, ...
Can snakes eat prey?
Snakes are predators, and in the wild they’re used to catching their own food. Your pet snake, though, will be fine with fresh pre-killed or even frozen rodents (you’ll need to thaw them first.) It’s safer not to feed your snake live prey. Live rodents will be scared and can bite your snake.
How to feed a snake a frozen rodent?
If you intend to feed your snake a frozen rodent, you’ll need to begin by thawing it out. The best way to do so is by simply setting the rodent out on a few paper towels or newspaper sheets in a warm room. Wait to offer the rodent to your snake until it is completely thawed and no longer rigid.
What is the prey of a ball Python?
Ball Python Prey Selection: Prey Species. In the wild, ball pythons primarily subsist on rodents, but they may also consume birds or lizards on occasion. In captivity, commercially reared feeder rodents are the best choice, but you’ll still need to decide whether rats or mice make more sense.
How long to wait to offer a rodent to a snake?
Wait to offer the rodent to your snake until it is completely thawed and no longer rigid.
How big should a snake be for prey?
In rare circumstances, it may even cause injuries to his digestive tract. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want any prey item you offer to be about 1 to 1.25 times the size of your snake at mid-body (although advanced keepers may be comfortable feeding rodents approaching 1.5 times the snake’s mid-body diameter).
What is the most interesting aspect of snake care?
Feeding is one of the most interesting aspects of snake care. Many keepers enjoy this aspect of snake husbandry, but others – particularly beginners – often feel intimidated by the entire process.
What is the second decision you must make?
The second decision you must make relates to the size of the prey item you select. As long as your snake will accept the prey item, there isn’t a danger in erring on the small side.
What questions do new keepers have about feeding their snakes?
One of the most common questions new keepers have relates to the frequency with which they should feed their snake.
