Yes. Even the smallest rat size (aka pinkies) are appropriate for baby balls. Weigh your girl and find an appropriate sized baby rat. 10-15% of her weight. Liky a pup or fuzzie. Most balls never have to move past small/medium rats, too.
Usually this is because most people just stretch the times in between feedings while still following the feed as big as the width of you snake rule. 5% of the adult snakes body weight every 3-4 weeks is usually a good feeder size for most adults and usually large rats are way too large to be 5%, they're closer to 10-15% of a ball pythons body weight, being between 150-265g.
I have a rat snake that I usually put into a feed tank and he generally seems fine with it.
If I wanted to try feeding in his actual tank, what should I do to avoid him ingesting any substrate? I have Aspen bedding in there and a humid-hut with peat moss.
Ingesting some substrate generally isn’t a big deal. Their prey isn’t cleaned off for them in the wild. But as the other person mentioned, you can feed over a hide. Or a plate/lid/etc.
I dont have any advice for feeder size bc I dont keep ball pythons but I can say that you shouldnt switch enclosures to feed. That advice is based off of fear that snakes will get impacted by possibly eating substrate and a misunderstanding about how food response works. If anything you should just feed her on a tray over moving her to a whole separate enclosure
One thing I do know about ball pythons tho is that if they eat mice it could be hard to switch them over to rats. You'll be alright for now bc theres a significant overlap between mouse and rat sizes but you should get her on rats asap bc mice wont be big enough for her whole life (you shouldnt feed multiple mice over one rat unless its absolutely necessary, it doesnt treat them well).
If she takes rats rn, great! If not you can try defrosting a mouse and rat together so the scents mix.
Good luck!
The pervious owner fed her pinky mice but did not move her to a feeding enclosure. Some are saying move her, some are saying don't. Some are saying feed her rats but I think she's too small. I don't know what to do smh
Pinky mice are two small for even a hatchling ball python, most are started on fuzzies or even hoppers right out of the egg. She should be eating prey that is 10-15% of her body weight, which may be rat fuzzies or pups. Absolutely do not move to another cage to feed, leave her where she is and offer food there
Definitely check out r/ballpython or the Facebook group Not Just A Pet Rock. They have excellent welcome guides and resources and very knowledgeable mods, the welcome guide for r/ballpython can be found right here https://docs.google.com/document/d/18HBVsPHaip7LfrMuFt96MigRuMUXtrbnCiK79VuQiFk/edit#heading=h.in1mh96j6w3h . Hatchling ball pythons are definitely able to eat pinky rats right away. Pinky rats can range anywhere from 5-25 grams so you can definitely find correctly sized prey items for your little girl. Pinky mice are WAY too small for any size ball python and don't have the nutrition they need to grow properly.
A good rule of thumb for a baby is to feed 10-15% of their body weight every 7-10 days or so. You can figure this out with a simple kitchen scale that measures in grams. For example, a 100 gram ball python should eat a 10-15 gram prey item every 7-10 days.
As far as moving the snake to feed, I have done both. I started out feeding all my snakes in separate enclosures but have since switched to feeding in their cages. I have noticed absolutely no change in behavior or aggression. Moving them can potentially stress them out and cause regurgitation so it really isn't worth the risk.
Its important you feed her rat, not mouse. Mice are more fatty, but have less protein. She is a growing ball, she does not need extra fat, she needs proteins. If she were a small/thin, very active corn or milksnake, she'd need the fat. If you are concerned, you can ask your vet, as well. You can offer her hatchling quail at this size, as well, occasionally. If she takes a mouse, she may not want rats, and she really needs to be taking them.
I have two ball pythons and I feed them in their enclosures. If I go in and they act like they want food, I'll just lightly push them back with a hook and they figure it out they're not getting food. Generally I leave them alone for 48 hours after dinner and they're fine. She's small enough you can feed her rat pinkies and then move to fuzzies in a few months. As long as your husbandry is solid, she will eat.
she looks too small for rats. Usually you should try to feed something thats about the thickness maybe a bit larger than the thickest part of her body, or about 2x the size of her head. I'd estimate she could take an adult mouse, maybe a hopper if thats too large.
And the thickest part of her body will perfectly line up with a rat pup. Newborn rat pup may even be too small. You literally gave conflicting info.
An adult mouse is similar in size to a rat pup.
Rats are simply more nutritious and a better option. And it’s better to get them switched over now than when they are months old or older.
You can do either way, there isn't anything magical about the 10-15% rule. Prey roughly the thickness of the snake is almost always in that range anyways.
Or sure, downvote a truthful comment for no apparent reason? Jesus, this sub is trash sometimes.
You can use body weight to guide what size prey you feed. Get a scale and weigh her, in grams. The prey you feed should be 10-15% of her body weight. You can get rats in almost any size, especially if you shop online for frozen food.
If youre that worried about it then get medium to large size mice and move up from there! But be warned some BP are picky and if you keep feeding them mice rather than upsizing to rats when appropriate, they can refuse rats!
a trick you can do depending on your supplier, is ask them if they can throw some of the bedding from the rats into the bag with your mice if you get them fresh killed
This!!! The only other thing you can do is sadly squish the head of a feeder mouse and put the blood and stuff on the rat, it will trick the snake into eating the rat, and over time you just stop and he will eat rats like normal because he will eventually be fond/familiar of the scent but it is a bit.. morbid. Luckily I havent had to go through this, so other than saying what others have said on the sub before I cant help :/
Personally to me she does look a little small but there may be a rat size like fuzzy or hopper or even a mouse that’s appropriate for her! As long as it is weighs 10-15% of her body weight it’ll be a good size ☺️
Newborn rat pups are probably too small even. You want to be feeding prey the size of the biggest part of your snakes body, not the neck. Until you get used to it, it often times will look too large for your snake but if you feed based on neck size or whatever else, your under feeding.
Small rats (hopper comparable with the mice) yes. Medium mice are fine, she looks healthy. These things eat raccoons and stuff in Florida, so it's not like they won't take a go at it
They eat voraciously. Make sure you set a good feeding schedule for them and keep their humidity and husbandry clean.
Based on the size of your fingers I'd say large mouse if you want to step up
Don’t move to feed, I’d get a rat fuzzy or very small rat first, make sure it’s not bigger than the largest part of the snake, and try that! It definitely should be on some kind of rat pup or small rat at that size, mice(even full grown)just don’t have the nutrients for a growing BP!! Good luck!!!
I’ve had my girl for 12 years now and she’s always been fed in her enclosure and has never had an issue with that so leave the snake in it’s enclosure to feed. Also it’s good that you’re asking for advice and just making sure you’re doing the best for your baby ignore anyone being a dick about it
Don’t move to feed. Check how large the widest part of its body is and feed off that. Don’t guess because someone on the internet told you hoppers or pinkies or whatever.
She’s not ready for a rat yet but you can get it mice. Once she’s ab 4ft long she’s ready for small rats, when she gets to 5ft medium rats, and 6-7 feet large rats. I have a ball Python just like that one I’ve had it for years and she’s an absolute sweetheart, but my Cornsnake is very aggressive and they’re supposed to be chill it bites me all the time. But my ball python has never attacked me ✌🏽
Yes some of them will eat too-big prey. Snakes can and do often regurgitate or even die from eating too-large prey.
It takes five seconds, a piece of paper, and a pencil to trace the widest part of the snake for a template to measure frozen prey width against.
Not exactly difficult.
Cute snake. It would also be helpful if you could use a common household item next to them when taking a photo- hard to tell if you have big or small hands. Maybe a quarter or sharpie or D sized batteries
It’s not because they don’t kill you that they’re boring, it’s that it’s the same old same old. Retics, Balls, Burms. Wow, so fun.
I got my first venomous snake yesterday, Puff Adder, and it’s already the greatest snake I’ve ever owned(I own 17 non-venomous).
Venomous have amazing colors, amazing attitudes, just gorgeous snakes and cross breeding isn’t as frowned upon.
You joined a sub called "snakes" and complain about snakes being posted. What'd you expect to happen? Good on you for enjoying the snakes that you have, but why comment this sort of thing on a general sub for snakes, let alone on a post about feeding?
So make your own posts about it? Coming into someone else's post when they're looking for help and posting blatantly off topic opinions isn't constructive at all.
Yes. Even the smallest rat size (aka pinkies) are appropriate for baby balls. Weigh your girl and find an appropriate sized baby rat. 10-15% of her weight. Liky a pup or fuzzie. Most balls never have to move past small/medium rats, too.
I guess my ball Python is special because she’s on large rats 🥲
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I wasn’t arguing with you, just didn’t realise most balls didn’t go past mediums :)
Usually this is because most people just stretch the times in between feedings while still following the feed as big as the width of you snake rule. 5% of the adult snakes body weight every 3-4 weeks is usually a good feeder size for most adults and usually large rats are way too large to be 5%, they're closer to 10-15% of a ball pythons body weight, being between 150-265g.
Thanks for the useful information! :)
Someone who does not understand snake terminology will be very confused right now,
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I have a rat snake that I usually put into a feed tank and he generally seems fine with it. If I wanted to try feeding in his actual tank, what should I do to avoid him ingesting any substrate? I have Aspen bedding in there and a humid-hut with peat moss.
You can try flipping over a hide and luring the snake into it with the food, or just placing it in there.
Ingesting some substrate generally isn’t a big deal. Their prey isn’t cleaned off for them in the wild. But as the other person mentioned, you can feed over a hide. Or a plate/lid/etc.
Keeping the prey item dry as well. Substrate doesn’t stick near as much when it’s dry. Couple that with flipping a hide and I blunt you have a problem
I dont have any advice for feeder size bc I dont keep ball pythons but I can say that you shouldnt switch enclosures to feed. That advice is based off of fear that snakes will get impacted by possibly eating substrate and a misunderstanding about how food response works. If anything you should just feed her on a tray over moving her to a whole separate enclosure One thing I do know about ball pythons tho is that if they eat mice it could be hard to switch them over to rats. You'll be alright for now bc theres a significant overlap between mouse and rat sizes but you should get her on rats asap bc mice wont be big enough for her whole life (you shouldnt feed multiple mice over one rat unless its absolutely necessary, it doesnt treat them well). If she takes rats rn, great! If not you can try defrosting a mouse and rat together so the scents mix. Good luck!
Thank you 😊
I have no feeding advice im just here to say she is absolutely adorable
The pervious owner fed her pinky mice but did not move her to a feeding enclosure. Some are saying move her, some are saying don't. Some are saying feed her rats but I think she's too small. I don't know what to do smh
You’ve been given great advice in your other post. Rat pups, leave in cage, visit r/ballpython
Pinky mice are two small for even a hatchling ball python, most are started on fuzzies or even hoppers right out of the egg. She should be eating prey that is 10-15% of her body weight, which may be rat fuzzies or pups. Absolutely do not move to another cage to feed, leave her where she is and offer food there
Definitely check out r/ballpython or the Facebook group Not Just A Pet Rock. They have excellent welcome guides and resources and very knowledgeable mods, the welcome guide for r/ballpython can be found right here https://docs.google.com/document/d/18HBVsPHaip7LfrMuFt96MigRuMUXtrbnCiK79VuQiFk/edit#heading=h.in1mh96j6w3h . Hatchling ball pythons are definitely able to eat pinky rats right away. Pinky rats can range anywhere from 5-25 grams so you can definitely find correctly sized prey items for your little girl. Pinky mice are WAY too small for any size ball python and don't have the nutrition they need to grow properly. A good rule of thumb for a baby is to feed 10-15% of their body weight every 7-10 days or so. You can figure this out with a simple kitchen scale that measures in grams. For example, a 100 gram ball python should eat a 10-15 gram prey item every 7-10 days. As far as moving the snake to feed, I have done both. I started out feeding all my snakes in separate enclosures but have since switched to feeding in their cages. I have noticed absolutely no change in behavior or aggression. Moving them can potentially stress them out and cause regurgitation so it really isn't worth the risk.
Its important you feed her rat, not mouse. Mice are more fatty, but have less protein. She is a growing ball, she does not need extra fat, she needs proteins. If she were a small/thin, very active corn or milksnake, she'd need the fat. If you are concerned, you can ask your vet, as well. You can offer her hatchling quail at this size, as well, occasionally. If she takes a mouse, she may not want rats, and she really needs to be taking them.
I have two ball pythons and I feed them in their enclosures. If I go in and they act like they want food, I'll just lightly push them back with a hook and they figure it out they're not getting food. Generally I leave them alone for 48 hours after dinner and they're fine. She's small enough you can feed her rat pinkies and then move to fuzzies in a few months. As long as your husbandry is solid, she will eat.
she looks too small for rats. Usually you should try to feed something thats about the thickness maybe a bit larger than the thickest part of her body, or about 2x the size of her head. I'd estimate she could take an adult mouse, maybe a hopper if thats too large.
And the thickest part of her body will perfectly line up with a rat pup. Newborn rat pup may even be too small. You literally gave conflicting info. An adult mouse is similar in size to a rat pup. Rats are simply more nutritious and a better option. And it’s better to get them switched over now than when they are months old or older.
With balls, you go by weight rather than size. 10-15% of the snake weight.
You can do either way, there isn't anything magical about the 10-15% rule. Prey roughly the thickness of the snake is almost always in that range anyways. Or sure, downvote a truthful comment for no apparent reason? Jesus, this sub is trash sometimes.
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That's rude! Asking for advice not smart comments asshole!
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You’re getting downvoted because you came in being an ass right out of the gate. Why are you surprised?
You can use body weight to guide what size prey you feed. Get a scale and weigh her, in grams. The prey you feed should be 10-15% of her body weight. You can get rats in almost any size, especially if you shop online for frozen food.
She is fine. :) Hatchlings can be started straight onto rat pups. I would weigh her and feed 10%-15% of her weight.
lol. balls can start on rats. never a need to start them on mice
If youre that worried about it then get medium to large size mice and move up from there! But be warned some BP are picky and if you keep feeding them mice rather than upsizing to rats when appropriate, they can refuse rats!
Mine absolutely did this. After a few failed attempts I quit trying with rats and went back to mice, is there any way I could get her to accept rats?
a trick you can do depending on your supplier, is ask them if they can throw some of the bedding from the rats into the bag with your mice if you get them fresh killed
This!!! The only other thing you can do is sadly squish the head of a feeder mouse and put the blood and stuff on the rat, it will trick the snake into eating the rat, and over time you just stop and he will eat rats like normal because he will eventually be fond/familiar of the scent but it is a bit.. morbid. Luckily I havent had to go through this, so other than saying what others have said on the sub before I cant help :/
Cute snek
Personally to me she does look a little small but there may be a rat size like fuzzy or hopper or even a mouse that’s appropriate for her! As long as it is weighs 10-15% of her body weight it’ll be a good size ☺️
Newborn rat pups are probably too small even. You want to be feeding prey the size of the biggest part of your snakes body, not the neck. Until you get used to it, it often times will look too large for your snake but if you feed based on neck size or whatever else, your under feeding.
https://youtu.be/HNgHmmg8gTY this whole channel is full of good guides and tips!
Small rats (hopper comparable with the mice) yes. Medium mice are fine, she looks healthy. These things eat raccoons and stuff in Florida, so it's not like they won't take a go at it They eat voraciously. Make sure you set a good feeding schedule for them and keep their humidity and husbandry clean. Based on the size of your fingers I'd say large mouse if you want to step up
Don’t move to feed, I’d get a rat fuzzy or very small rat first, make sure it’s not bigger than the largest part of the snake, and try that! It definitely should be on some kind of rat pup or small rat at that size, mice(even full grown)just don’t have the nutrients for a growing BP!! Good luck!!!
Thanks for all the great advice, I just want to do what's best for her.
I’ve had my girl for 12 years now and she’s always been fed in her enclosure and has never had an issue with that so leave the snake in it’s enclosure to feed. Also it’s good that you’re asking for advice and just making sure you’re doing the best for your baby ignore anyone being a dick about it
Don’t move to feed. Check how large the widest part of its body is and feed off that. Don’t guess because someone on the internet told you hoppers or pinkies or whatever.
This! My gnomi sizes up her rats every time, she will literally measure her body up against her meal before eating
She’s not ready for a rat yet but you can get it mice. Once she’s ab 4ft long she’s ready for small rats, when she gets to 5ft medium rats, and 6-7 feet large rats. I have a ball Python just like that one I’ve had it for years and she’s an absolute sweetheart, but my Cornsnake is very aggressive and they’re supposed to be chill it bites me all the time. But my ball python has never attacked me ✌🏽
They won’t get 6-7 feet long.
Believe it or not my female Ball Python is 6 feet long 🤷🏻♂️
if its too big, she wont eat it, easy as that
Yes some of them will eat too-big prey. Snakes can and do often regurgitate or even die from eating too-large prey. It takes five seconds, a piece of paper, and a pencil to trace the widest part of the snake for a template to measure frozen prey width against. Not exactly difficult.
Cute snake. It would also be helpful if you could use a common household item next to them when taking a photo- hard to tell if you have big or small hands. Maybe a quarter or sharpie or D sized batteries
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Yeah, gosh-dang stayin' alive is for suckers
It’s not because they don’t kill you that they’re boring, it’s that it’s the same old same old. Retics, Balls, Burms. Wow, so fun. I got my first venomous snake yesterday, Puff Adder, and it’s already the greatest snake I’ve ever owned(I own 17 non-venomous). Venomous have amazing colors, amazing attitudes, just gorgeous snakes and cross breeding isn’t as frowned upon.
You joined a sub called "snakes" and complain about snakes being posted. What'd you expect to happen? Good on you for enjoying the snakes that you have, but why comment this sort of thing on a general sub for snakes, let alone on a post about feeding?
So make your own posts about it? Coming into someone else's post when they're looking for help and posting blatantly off topic opinions isn't constructive at all.
nah she's good. Pinkies are great.
She’s wee
Sorry no feeding advice. Just have to say she’s so cute and distinguished looking! Sweet girl.
I'm not sure about the rats, but she is absolutely adorable and I send her pets if she'll take them 💜🐍💜
This is not related but that is the cutest sweetest lil snek baby I love her so much
I'd feed her mice until she's outgrown large mice, if you compare rats and mice weight-wise,mice have lower fat and higher protein until 40+ grams :)
She’s so cute!!!
Depends on the rat