I have a Baby ball python that is, im guessing a little over a year old. He is eating live mice, I just don't know If I should be feeding him one or two a week.
2006-12-15 15:04:25 · 21 answers · asked by rizintyde 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
It really depends on the size of your snake. At one year old,he should be able to eat at least one adult mouse once per week.Definitely NOT pinkies as someone above stated. Most ball pythons do not even eat pinkies as hatchlings.
After eating one mouse ,check your snake.. if there is a lump, that is plenty for your snake. If there is no indication that he has eaten a meal, then you should probably move him up to 2 mice per week.
2006-12-16 01:58:02 · answer #1 · answered by Jen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1 or 2
2006-12-15 23:05:35 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend giving your ball python pre killed mice rather than live mice as sometimes they can not eat them and will or can be hurt and cause infection on their skin if the mouse bites back.... It's so much more healthier for them and in some countries illegal to feed live prey to.... To know the size of the mouse or rat pup then look at the thickest point of the snake and that'll tell you the size of the mouse or rat to give them... I had two Royal Pythons/Ball Pythons whatever you want to call them.... They can be fussy eaters, I fed mine 1 once a week, and then later on when they got bigger it was twice a month.... It's all down to how active they are, you can usually tell when they're hungry as they are more and more active....
If you're feeding him more often maybe the size of your mouse is too small.... If you go to a pet shop they usually have frozen mice, to defrost them place them in some warm water until floppy or in your pocket as some I've known do... I prefer warm water... Then place the mouse in the vivarium, be careful with your hands as they can strike at you do the the taste and warmth they'll smell thro their tongue and mistake your hand for the food.... I used to take mine out of their vivarium and place them on an old towel, feed one and then take the other one out and feed him....
Good luck....
2006-12-16 03:57:40 · answer #3 · answered by K 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I personally believe one a week until they get bigger. My red tail boa is about 3 1/2 feet long and he gets 2 small mice every weekend. If you are worried about the snake being scratched by the rats, feed pinkies and just increase the number of pinkies or small mice, their nails are not that bad. I actually feed him live rats. I do not feed him in his tank though. He has a special smaller tank. I put the rats in there then I put the snake in the small tank. He eats, rests for a few and while he is eating i clean his tank, after that he goes back in his big tank and then i clean the small tank. By feeding him outside of his living enviroment he does not try to bite you when you stick your hand in his tank. Although I know i have gotten off the subject a little, i just wanted to share this information with you.
2006-12-16 18:10:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends on the size of the snake. You should go with a prey item approximately the same girth as your snake. If you are feeding multiple smaller mice, try to estimate, though it's easier to just bump up the prey size.
I do recommend feeding stunned/fresh-killed/frozen-thawed prey. Snakes can easily be injured by food that is allowed to fight back. I've seen it all too often. Mice aren't too much of a problem (usually), but when he gets up to rat size, it can be pretty dangerous.
2006-12-16 10:34:19 · answer #5 · answered by snake_girl85 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1 or 2 pinkies once a week. After about a few months, up the feeding scale, frozen, 2/3 little mice live, make sure they are little and watch him/her eat it. to make sure it doesnt attack him. if that is successful graduate him to a bigger mouse.
I would recommend that you buy a book on ball pythons 2 or 3. It is a great investment and also find a good vet that handles reptiles.
2006-12-16 01:59:11 · answer #6 · answered by Amanda 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You shouldn't be feeding live mice to your snake. They can possibly injure the snake (scratching your snakes eyes). You can keep the mice live until right before you feed your snake, then just hold them by the tail and bop them on the head. And you should not feed your snake on a "regular" schedule. Meaning feed your snake anywhere from 7-10 days and only feed 1-2 mice.
2006-12-15 23:24:53 · answer #7 · answered by D B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can probably just feed one small mouse per week at this age/size. Mine is about 3 years old and still only gets one large adult mouse per week, except once a month I give her two. I would reccomend using pre-killed mice. It's healthier for the snake and less traumatic for the mouse.
2006-12-15 23:12:41 · answer #8 · answered by ~Elyse~ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should switch the snake to eating frozen rats, they are better then mice. an adult ball python can eat a large rat would take alot of mice to fill up an adult ball
2006-12-17 02:32:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it really depends on the size of the snake and the size sof the mouse/rat. our ball python eats one small rat a week and that is plenty for her.
2006-12-16 00:11:37 · answer #10 · answered by stxlatina78 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋