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 to know about ball python diet and feeding?
When learning about ball python diet and feeding, it’s important to know which food and prey items to feed, what size foods to feed, how often to feed a baby and adult ball python, and other things such as how to tell when a ball python is hungry.
Can you feed baby ball pythons mice?
You should feed a baby ball python, which is under a year old, smaller mice or rats. As your ball python grows and gains weight, switch to larger sized rodents. That will make sure that your ball python perceives and accepts what you offer as food. If feeding frozen mice or rats, make sure to thaw them properly before offering.
Can ball pythons eat frozen thawed rodents?
Some ball pythons may refuse frozen-thawed 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.
How often should I Feed my baby pythons?
The prey should be just smaller than the size of your snake’s widest point. Larger snakes need larger prey, but less often. Pythons at this age frequently become overweight because their owner continues to use a juvenile feeding schedule ( i.e. feeding every 5-7 days ). Make sure you are only feeding every two or three weeks.
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How often should a full grown ball python eat?
As a general rule, you should feed adult Ball Pythons a meal the same thickness as their greatest girth every 7 to 10 days. This is appropriate for adults between 1 to 10 years old.
What Can ball pythons eat besides rats?
What else can you feed a Ball python besides mice?Rats.Mice.Chicks.Hamster.Gerbil.Quail.Multimammate mice.Guinea pigs.
What weight rat should a full grown ball python eat?
Ball Python Feeding ChartSnake AgeSnake WeightPrey Size6 months300 – 370 gAdult mouse or rat pup (20-30g)1 year500 – 900 g1-3 adult mice or 1 small rat (45-80 g)1.5 years700 – 1500 g3-5 adult mice, 1 medium rat, or 2 small rats (80-150 g)3 years1200 – 1800 g4-5 adult mice, 1 medium rat, or 2 small rats (90-150 g)3 more rows
What should I feed my 2 year old ball python?
What is this? For example, for a juvenile ball python, you can get a bag of frozen adult mice like this. 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.
Can ball pythons eat fruit?
Can Snakes Eat Fruits And Vegetables? Snakes are carnivorous so they rely on meat to survive. Therefore, it is unnatural for them to feed on fruits and vegetables even as a source of moisture and water.
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 should a 1 year old 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.
Should I feed My ball python live or frozen?
Snakes should be trained to eat dead prey. It is more humane for the prey and safer for the snake. Snakes can be offered either thawed, previously frozen prey, or freshly killed ones. You do not have to kill the prey yourself, as most pet stores will supply freshly killed or frozen rodents to feed.
How big should a 1 year old ball python be?
1.5 to 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
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.
Do ball pythons enjoy being held?
Yes, ball pythons like to be held and pet, primarily based on the average amount of human contact they receive. Traditionally, snakes are fearful of humans, which means that ball pythons don't like being held.
How do I know if my ball python is hungry?
Snakes will let you know when they're hungry. They will start prowling their enclosure and their tongue flicks will increase in frequency and number.
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 else do ball pythons eat?
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 you feed snakes anything other than mice?
The most popular pet snakes usually eat prey such as mice, rats, gerbils, and hamsters. Larger pet snakes also eat whole rabbits.
Can I feed my ball python 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 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 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 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.
When to switch to rats for Python?
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.
How to feed a ball Python?
You will need to feed your ball python by offering a mouse/rat with feeding hemostat/tongs like this. 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.
How many prey do baby Pythons eat?
Baby ball pythons will get full from 1 small sized prey, but an adult might need 1-2. Most ball pythons do not eat more than 1-3 prey items per feeding. That’s why you would have to offer something larger, such as rats.
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 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 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).
What happens if a Python ball is hungry?
If a ball python is hungry, it will often start wandering around or start seeming more alert and watching its surroundings (testing cage limits) at night. Some ball pythons become more active day before and on the day of feeding, especially if you have a feeding schedule.
How long does it take for a Python ball to digest?
Leave your ball python in its cage so it feels safe, and don’t handle for at least 3 days to let it digest a meal.
What To Feed a Ball Python
Unlike other exotic reptile pets like lizards or turtles where there is a wide variety of food options, snakes keep things pretty simple. The vast majority of snakes are carnivores whose diets primarily consist of rodents. However, snake owners will still need to make several important decisions such as:
How To Feed a Ball Python
Ball pythons are sweet and agreeable pets but they can be somewhat finicky in the eating department. The act of actually getting them to eat can sometimes be a task within itself. Fortunately, there are a few tips that can make feeding time much easier.
When (and How Often) To Feed a Ball Python
As for the precise time or day to feed a ball python, do so when they are most active. This species of snake is either nocturnal (active at night) or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk). Feeding them during their natural cycle is the best way to catch them at a time when they would normally feel hunger.
What Do Ball Pythons Eat?
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. However, their prey is not limited to these animals, they will feed on any bird or mammal small enough to be swallowed.
How does a feeding chart for ball Python change?
A feeding chart for ball pythons will change as they grow and age.
How old are Python balls?
5 Years Old. Both male and female ball pythons are fully mature at five years old. Interestingly, they will continue to grow gradually for the rest of their lives. Your ball python should now be a consistent weight (unless it is being used for breeding) and your feeding schedule should not need to change.
How many rats can you feed a Python program?
4-5 adult mice, 1 medium rat, or 2 small rats ( 90-150 g) Every 21 – 50 days. The size of your python determines what size prey you should feed. A good rule of thumb is to feed prey that are is wider than the largest part of your python’s midsection.
How fast do Python hatchlings grow?
Hatchling pythons grow very fast! Females can grow up to 12 inches within a year and males can grow eight inches per year. To keep up with their growth hatchlings need to eat a lot. They should be fed a hopper mouse every five days for the first four weeks of their life.
How big should a six month old Python be?
At six months old your python should be between 20 and 27 inches and have a good appetite. You can now offer a larger prey item over longer periods of time. One rat pup or adult mouse every ten days works well for most individuals.
Why is it important to keep a feeding schedule for Python?
Sticking to a feeding schedule is important to accurately regulate your ball python’s weight. Schedules will help to make sure that your python will not go hungry, but also lets you easily keep track of and adjust the amount you are feeding to prevent overfeeding.
What Size Food Should I Give My Ball Python?
This should be no larger than the fattest part of your snake. Thus a hatchling may need tiny mice, while larger adults may eat adult rats.
What Do Ball Pythons Eat?
Ball pythons are carnivores, and need to be fed meat on a regular basis.
How Often Should I Feed My Ball Python?
Ball pythons can grow surprisingly quickly when they are well fed. At the same time, ball pythons can be lazy, and some specimens do seem to get a little overweight.
How to assess ball python health?
Keep records of what food was offered on what dates, and whether it was accepted. Combine this with regular health checks and weigh-ins and you’ll be in the perfect place to assess your ball pythons health and appetite.
How often should I feed my keeper?
While each keeper has their own routine, personally I feed my youngsters twice a week initially, slowly increasing the time between feedings to roughly once a week for my adults.
Can Python eat mice?
The problem is that some ball pythons can become fixated on mice if fed them for long periods of time, and seem to find rats far less appealing. If you’re not careful you can end up with a large python that is eating you out of house-and-home each month, downing armfuls of adult mice while turning it’s nose up at the cheaper and more practical option of rats.
Do baby Pythons start off on small rodents?
Baby pythons will probably start off on very small rodents.
How often do Python babies eat?
Knowing the feeding pattern of a ball python is an important aspect of taking good care of them and keeping them healthy. A well-gro wn python eats every 7-10 days. Baby python eats more often because of its growth rate. Ball pythons are considered, a slow-moving reptile that has ambush-style hunting tactics wherein they do not chase their prey, they’ll just wait for it to go near them that is why they often eat less. Good thing, they can go long without eating and do not fell and ill effects. They are considered binge and picky eater, but just like other animals, they are also prone to overweight and obesity.
When do ball Pythons go off for food?
The ball pythons naturally go off for food during the breeding season. Studies show that males even take 5-6 months of food off before the breeding season, especially if they see a prospect female. While the females start to have food off as soon as the breeding season starts. After they lay eggs and wanted to incubate the eggs, make sure to clean they’re immediately and change the substrate because even though you have removed the eggs from the mother if they can still smell its smell, they will still continue to fast.
What Do They Eat?
The ball pythons have the ability to eat prey larger than their heads because they have an elastic kind of jaw that stretches to accommodate their large prey. To avoid choking, it is still a practice to give them a fairly sized prey usually rodents. The mice and rat’s size should be at least at the same size as its midsection. Don’t set aside water when feeding them. Water does not only help to increase humidity levels, but it is also a must to keep them hydrated. They love soaking their bodies, so make sure that there are two bowls, one for soaking and one for soaking.
How to tell if a snake is fed correctly?
An indication that your snake is well fed with a correctly sized prey is it leaves a small bump into their belly and not a huge stuffed-like sausage.
Why do snakes go off for food?
When snakes are about to shed, they will go off for food. That is just because of how their body copes with the changes that they feel. If you feed them while they are shedding, their shed might be rolled into their food that may cause problems in the digestive process. After the snake sheds, expect that your snake will have a voracious appetite.
Is feeding ball Python good?
The feeding ball python is an important aspect that you need to master as a responsible owner. If you feed them correctly, not only that, they will be healthy, but you can be sure that they can be able to do their life processes in an accurate way.
Can you keep a ball python in a large tank?
Large snakes are normally placed in a large tank, but for ball pythons, even though they have quite a large physique, it is ideal for them to be kept at a medium-sized tank. If you place them in a large tank, there is a possibility that you will have a hard time feeding them, especially that they are not a hunter, so if you place their food in their cage, don’t expect that they will try to search for it. If they are placed in a medium cage, they can easily see the food and that it could be more accessible to feed on it.
Ball python feeding schedule
Although there is no standard size of prey for each age of the snake, you should always strive to feed the ball python a rodent that is as big as its body’s largest width. The rule of thumb is to slowly increase the food your python eats as it grows larger. Frozen prey is the ideal meal for your snake.
Can I handle Ball python handling before feeding?
When you bring the snake to your home for the first time, you should make sure it settles in first before you handle it. A new environment is quite stressful for the ball python. Ball pythons are generally shy and secretive pets, and exposure to a new environment can disturb them.
Ball python feeding tips
When it comes to feeding ball pythons, you must understand your pet’s unique feeding habits. Ball pythons come in several morphs, and their feeding habits can be highly individualized.
Ball python handling after feeding
After feeding your ball python, it is essential to wait 24 to 72 hours before holding him. In warm temperature, the snake may digest a small mouse in two to three days. If the ball python still exhibits a huge food bulge after the three days has lapsed, give it more time before handling.
Ball python feeding during the breeding
The breeding season may bring on a fast in female ball pythons when nearing the laying time. On the other hand, when the male pythons smell an ovulating female, they may take a fast that lasts for over six months. However, you should only assist feed the ball pythons if their fasting hiatus goes past six months.
Obesity problems in ball pythons
Just like other animals, snakes that eat too much can experience health problems.
Frequently Asked Questions on Ball Python Feeding
When you are buying a pet snake for the first time, it is crucial to ask your breeder the following questions:
How many rodents should you feed a ball Python?
You should feed a ball python 1 rodent in stead of 2.
How long can a ball python go without eating?
Ball pythons can go a maximum of 5 months without eating. If it is just a baby, mine had the same issue just offer a meal once a week and sooner or later it’ll strick and consume the mouse. Mine literally took 4 months before it decided to eat and now it eats perfectly every time, also is it a new snake in a new tank, or is the snake stressed in any way?
How long does a ball python snake fast?
It’s fairly common for ball pythons to fast for several months at a time. As long as the snake is not losing a significant amount of body weight (and is otherwise healthy), it’s usually not a big deal.
How often should I feed my Python?
So I usually tell people to feed their ball pythons as often as possible, but never any more than once a week. There may be times when your snake refuses several meals in a row, so you’ll be lucky to get one meal in for the whole month. It happens. And most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about. If a ball python is healthy, and it’s kept in the proper conditions, it will resume eating again.
How to get a rat to eat?
Try cracking the skull of the rat, sometimes the smell from the fluids inside will entice them to eat.
Can a ball Python eat again?
And most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about. If a ball python is healthy, and it’s kept in the proper conditions, it will resume eating again. How often to feed a ball python is the easiest question to answer. In fact, I just answered it above.
Do ball Pythons grow bigger than males?
Hi Jodie. Adult female ball pythons are almost always larger than adult males. No, it’s not true that cage size limits the snake’s growth. So they need to be housed in cages that are appropriate to their size, even if it means buying another cage.
