How much to feed a ball python? Feeding chart
| Ball python age and weight | Example of rodent weight and size |
| Hatchling ball python, 70-90 grams, firs ... | Mouse hopper or pinky rat (around 7-12 g ... |
| 100-150 grams | Mouse hopper and then change to small we ... |
| 150-200 grams | Small/weaned mouse/fuzzy rat (15-20 gram ... |
| 200-250 grams | Large/adult mouse or rat pup (20-25 gram ... |
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.
How often should I Feed my ball python?
The most common reasons for a ball python’s lack of appetite include:
- Poor enclosure conditions
- Inability to recognize its food
- Breeding season
- Being stressed or sick
- The shedding process
See more
What can a baby ball python 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.
When should I feed my baby ball python?
How often do ball pythons eat? Juvenile ball pythons should be fed once a week and adult ball pythons should be fed every 1-2 weeks.
What do you feed a 1 month old ball python?
Your ball python should eat weaned mice and young rats as a juvenile, and adult rats and several mice as an adult, supplemented with the occasional chick, quail, or gerbil.
How do I get my baby ball python to eat?
2:104:10My #1 Tip for Getting Ball Pythons to Eat! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what i've found is that the very best time to get a ball python. To start eating if it's been offMoreSo what i've found is that the very best time to get a ball python. To start eating if it's been off feed is after it's shed.
What can you feed a ball python besides mice?
What else can you feed a Ball python besides mice?Rats.Mice.Chicks.Hamster.Gerbil.Quail.Multimammate mice.Guinea pigs.
How long can a baby 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.
What should I feed my 2 month old ball python?
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.
What can I feed my snake instead of mice?
While rats are a popular food source for some snakes, snakes will eat what's available to them.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.
Can ball pythons eat mealworms?
Feeders: Crickets, roaches, mealworms, waxworms, superworms, or other invertebrates. They can also eat small rodents of appropriate size, but offer these sparingly, if at all.
Will my ball python starve itself?
While adult ball pythons can fast for many months without starving, young ball pythons lack the fat reserves to last as long as their mature counterparts. They can still survive for longer than a human, dog or cat could without eating, but they will not last as long as adult ball pythons will.
How do I know if my python is hungry?
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.
How long can baby snakes 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.
What do baby ball Pythons eat?
This is why you need to know what to feed a baby ball python. Baby ball pythons still eat only protein-based animals just like adult ball pythons do. The main thing to watch for is the prey is of the correct size. Pinky mice or fuzzy rats (babies of these forms) and large crickets are the typical diets for baby ball pythons.
How to feed a ball Python?
How To Feed Ball Python. Feeding ball pythons is surprisingly simple. In most cases, all you need to do is put the prey in the cage and watch it go to town . Young ball pythons may struggle more to find the food. Make sure you place it near the ball python’s head, so it senses the food is nearby.
How often do Python balls eat?
Adult ball pythons only eat every 10-14 days. The python will bite and wrap itself around the food, then proceed to swallow the prey whole. Over the next 48 hours, it will work on digesting the food, and you’ll see the lump in its body. During this time, don’t handle the ball python.
How long can a baby Python go without eating?
While adult ball pythons may go 3-4 months without eating and up to 6 months (though they shouldn’t), the baby ball python has no reason to go anywhere near this long. Every 5-7 days, you need to offer the ball python food. There are only two main reasons a baby ball python won’t eat.
How often do baby Pythons shed?
Baby ball pythons may shed up to once per week or more if they’re hitting a growth spurt. If your plan to feed them falls one of these days, they just won’t eat. Look for signs of shedding, which include whitening skin, glassed over eyes, and cranky behavior. Don’t help along in the shedding process.
Why do you put live prey near a ball Python?
Make sure you place it near the ball python’s head, so it senses the food is nearby. Live prey is always better and will be easier to feed to the snake. When live prey moves, it attracts the attention of the python and activates its hunting instincts. Live prey also has a powerful scent.
Can a baby python handle large food?
They can’t handle large food as well as adults can. It’s much more likely for a baby to choke and regurgitate than it is an adult. The size rule applies to baby and adult ball pythons alike, but for babies, this is a hard and fast rule with little wiggle room.
Do baby Pythons eat?
Around 80% of the newly purchased baby ball pythons won’t eat right away from you. And that’s ok. The adaption to the new environment is a part of the settling process. On the other hand, the baby needs to eat. Around a week after bringing a new pupil to your place, you should start feeding trials.
Do snakes feed at night?
Nocturnal animals are usually awake and active during the night’ – that’s another thing to keep in mind when it comes to feeding your baby snakes – feed the diurnal species during the day and do the opposite with the nocturnal species. That’s the time when they would become naturally active in the wild and search for food. Ball Pythons are the nightcrawlers, which means it can be helpful to feed them after dark.
Can you feed a baby ball Python?
That is the question…There are different opinions about this. If your baby ball python hasn’t eaten for a while, it’s easier to feed it with pre-kill, even cut it a little so the pupil can sense the meat. Most of the snakes do not mind the frozen pinkies; however, some snakes require the living rodents. I recommend you try it both ways and see the preferences of your baby snake.
What Do Baby Ball Pythons Eat?
Despite the fact that baby ball pythons eat nothing but animal protein, they ingest it in a similar way as adult ball pythons do. The most essential thing to note is that the prey must be the appropriate size. Pinky mice and fuzzy rats are the typical diet of baby ball pythons, as well as large crickets.
What Do Baby Ball Pythons Eat in The Wild?
Ball pythons are ambush hunters who conceal themselves during the day by blending in with their surroundings. There are significant variations in the diet and behavior of male and female ball pythons, which have sexual dimorphism. Males are more reliant on trees than female black bears, with females spending more time on the ground.
How To Feed Baby Ball Pythons?
The majority of captive-hatched ball pythons are hungry eaters, despite the fact that it may be difficult to get them to feed. You’ll just need to follow these steps:
What Are The Natural Predators of Baby Ball Python?
The Ball Python does not have many predators in the wild. It is a predator that eats everything from birds to goats to pigs in the wild. The python may capture, kill, and eat an animal several times its own size in the wild.
How Do Baby Ball Pythons Protect Themselves?
Ball pythons are one of the most popular pet snakes in the world. They hail from Central and West Africa’s tropical grasslands and savannas, where they prefer to blend in rather than alarm predators. Balling up is their most well-known defensive strategy, hence the name.
Is It Healthy to Eat Baby Ball Pythons?
A study conducted a decade ago found that Everglades National Park pythons had dangerously high levels of mercury, a neurotoxin that can harm brain function and the reproductive system. 3.5 parts per million is the maximum amount of mercury found in pythons tested by US Geological Survey research scientist David Krabbenhoft.
Are Baby Ball Pythons Poisonous?
A python bite may necessitate a variety of treatments, even if it is nonvenomous. It might not only cause damage but also allow germs to enter your body. Even if the injury appears minor, contact a physician.
Feeding Your Pet Ball Pythons
There are quite a few other rodents than mice that you can feed a baby ball python. When the baby ball pythons reside in the jungle, then they do not only search and hunt the mice. They fed on small birds, especially the male ones. You can offer varieties of mice along with different types of birds like quail chicks, chicks etc.
Where do you get frozen prey?
There are several ways by which you can get frozen prey. They are available online, or you can check the local pet stores. Also, you can get them at reptile expos. Local breeders also come in handy when you seek readily available frozen prey.
How you can order the frozen prey and save money at the shipping?
Getting bulk of frozen prey is helpful when it comes to monitory matter. The shipping charge gets reduced, but you do not need more than one rat in a week, and the quality of a whole lot of frozen prey can get deteriorated.
How do you check if the baby ball python eating in a regular amount?
There are not only fixed amounts but also fixed timings of feeding baby python. If you follow the general chart of the schedule to know the amount of food it is devouring, you will know that it is a healthy baby python and is eating adequately.
Precaution regarding the food source
You have to be cautious when you buy food from the local pet store. At times there is salmonella bacteria infestation takes place which stays in the frozen prey. When you feed that food to your baby ball python it may get affected and fall sick.
How to feed the baby ball python?
When the baby ball python just comes out of the egg, they are able to devour hopper mouse which is a small creature. The 2-inch body of the mouse can be totally gulped down by the baby ball python.
When should you offer frozen food?
You cannot offer a baby ball python frozen food at the beginning. Let it consume some natural and alive prey like live hopper and such creatures. When it gets accustomed to the live hunts, you can offer it frozen and thawed food.
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 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.
How to feed a frozen thawed snake?
On the other hand, if you intend to feed a frozen-thawed rodent to your snake, you’ll need to start by gripping the rodent with a pair of long feeding tongs. Grip the back half of the rodent, so that you can present the rodent’s head directly to your snake.
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.
Can you feed a ball python a frozen python?
Frozen-thawed rodents are easier to store and handle. Some ball pythons may refuse frozen-tha wed rodents, but you should usually attempt to transition them over time. If you do have to feed your snake live prey, be sure to monitor your pet closely and be ready to intervene if the rodent begins biting your snake.
Can you use rats as a snake keeper?
However, you’ll likely want to switch to rats once your snake reaches maturity (if not before), as it may take several mice to satiate a large ball python. There are a number of other prey species available to snake keepers, including hatchling chicks and ducks, as well as gerbils, hamsters and other common rodent pets.
How to stop a ball Python from eating rats?
Gradually reduce scenting as your ball python is eating rats for few times in a row. #2: Make sure to warm rat prey in warm water/under the lamp to elicit feeding response. #3: Experiment with rat colors, ball pythons might have preferences. Stick to same color when switching, or try to experiment if needed.
How old do mice need to be to eat Python?
Larger mice will be around 1-1.5 months old. However, as your ball python gets larger (up to a year old or so), you will need to either feed 2-3 mice, or switch to small adult rats. Please use a digital kitchen scales like this to measure prey’s weight and your ball pythons weight (monthly).
How to get a ball Python to wiggle?
Wiggle the prey item, to spike your ball python’s interest. Grasp a prey rodent on the back and wiggle until your ball python constricts. Once it constricts, keep wiggling a bit longer so it can constrict harder. Wash your hands after handling prey items, before you start feeding your ball python.
How much does a mouse weigh in Python?
Weaned and then small rats (up to 60 grams, when ball python reaches 450-500 grams), or Jumbo mouse. 500-750 grams. Small rat (60-70 grams) or 2 adult mice, or up to 10-15% of your ball python’s weight if under 2 years of age, 750-1500 grams. Small-medium rat or 2-3 adult mice (60-100 grams).
How long does it take for a Python ball to switch?
Most ball pythons don’t have any issues switching, and accept rats straight away. Others might have an issue switching, and it can take weeks to months to get back on track. Please be patient and monitor your ball python’s weight.
Can you heat up a ball python?
Most ball pythons won’t accept food unless it’s warm, as they have heat sensing pits that help detect prey. Thaw frozen rodents in a fridge overnight, and then you can heat them in a bag by inserting in hot water/under a lamp. Heating a thawed rodent to 100-105 F (37.7-40.5 C) is ideal for your ball python.
Can Python eat rats?
You should transition your young ball pythons of over 200-300 grams to eating rats, as they are bigger in size. Please note, that most ball pythons get used to eating only one type of prey, and will have issues switching to something else. That’s especially true once your ball python gets older.
How to thaw a frozen chick before giving it to a snake?
It is usually best to thaw them overnight by transferring them from your freezer into your fridge.
What are the nutrients in mice?
These include Vitamins A and E, as well as calcium, and phosphorus.
Do ball Pythons eat fish?
Ball pythons in the wild are to some extent arboreal, slithering through the treetops in search of prey, so they would surely come across a bird’s nest from time to time and no doubt enjoy gobbling up a chick or two. This would augment the other components of their diet, namely rodents, and some ball pythons have even been known to eat fish on rare occasions.
Can you feed a baby chick to a ball Python?
The other option is to feed a living baby chick to your ball python. If so, it is vitally important that you pay close attention and supervise the whole process. The danger of leaving a live prey unattended with your snake is that sometimes prey can and do injure the pet.
Can you feed baby Python?
One of the pros or benefits of feeding baby chicks to your ball python pet would be that they are generally more economical than rats or mice. Depending where you live, chicks are often easier to obtain and at a cheaper price than rodents. Of course, you may need more and more of them, according to your python’s age and weight as it continues to grow.
