Question: Feeding my Ball Python?

[ErikBush97]

Hi. I have a real quick question. I feed my North Western Garter Snake 10 Cloud Fish every Two weeks (on Sundays) I feed my garter again next weekend. I want to get my garter and my Ball Python on the same schedule. How many fuzzies and/or pinkies should I feed my Ball every two week? Someone suggested TWO fuzzies every ONE week, so... should I feed him FOUR fuzzies every TWO weeks? Thanks, guys! :)

[Mikoh4792]

Hi. I have a real quick question. I feed my North Western Garter Snake 10 Cloud Fish every Two weeks (on Sundays) I feed my garter again next weekend. I want to get my garter and my Ball Python on the same schedule. How many fuzzies and/or pinkies should I feed my Ball every two week? Someone suggested TWO fuzzies every ONE week, so... should I feed him FOUR fuzzies every TWO weeks? Thanks, guys! :)

They shouldn't be on the same schedule because you want them to be. You need to give them their own schedule based on their needs. How old/big is your ball python? I would feed young ones every week and start feeding every 10-14 days as adults depending on the size of the meals.

[ErikBush97]

They shouldn't be on the same schedule because you want them to be. You need to give them their own schedule based on their needs. How old/big is your ball python? I would feed young ones every week and started feeding every 10-14 days as adults depending on the size of the meals.

He's 1'9". I opened a thread with pics of him a while ago, but I don't know his exact age. a lot of people on this forum say they think he's a year or younger.

[Mikoh4792]

In that case I would stick to a weekly feeding schedule. You could always feed him on the same day that you feed your garter snake and then feed only the ball python a week later. I don't know much about garter snakes so I can't comment on garter snake feeding schedules. As for the size of the prey item, I have a ball python which is a little smaller than yours and she is already on hopper mice.

[ErikBush97]

In that case I would stick to a weekly feeding schedule. You could always feed him on the same day that you feed your garter snake and then feed only the ball python a week later. I don't know much about garter snakes so I can't comment on garter snake feeding schedules. As for the size of the prey item, I have a ball python which is a little smaller than yours and she is already on hopper mice.

how many hoppers is she eating a week?

[Aaron_S]

Hi. I have a real quick question. I feed my North Western Garter Snake 10 Cloud Fish every Two weeks (on Sundays) I feed my garter again next weekend. I want to get my garter and my Ball Python on the same schedule. How many fuzzies and/or pinkies should I feed my Ball every two week? Someone suggested TWO fuzzies every ONE week, so... should I feed him FOUR fuzzies every TWO weeks? Thanks, guys! :)

ball pythons come out of the egg eating hopper mice or larger. Fuzzies and pinks are a no-go.

I start my babies on hoppers. Then I try to switch them to rat pups from 3rd meal and on.

[ErikBush97]

ball pythons come out of the egg eating hopper mice or larger. Fuzzies and pinks are a no-go.

I start my babies on hoppers. Then I try to switch them to rat pups from 3rd meal and on.

Really? The petstore I bought him from gave me a feeding chart, and he was on like.. three fuzzies a week when they had him. Based on his size what would you recommend me feeding him?

[valid]

I don't know that you could even get it to eat 4 hoppers at a time. You are far better feeding smaller amounts once a week, especially while young.Feeding snakes really isn't that big of a task .. All you have to do is thaw (if you use frozen) and put in the cage. The snake will do the rest.

[ErikBush97]

I don't know that you could even get it to eat 4 hoppers at a time. You are far better feeding smaller amounts once a week, especially while young.Feeding snakes really isn't that big of a task .. All you have to do is thaw (if you use frozen) and put in the cage. The snake will do the rest.

Feeding is easy... but I am trying to create a schedule for him. that's different than actually feeding.

[Mikoh4792]

how many hoppers is she eating a week?

Just one. Soon I'll be moving her up to rat pups

edit: From your pictures, it looks like she's big enough to be eating adult mice or rat pups.

[ErikBush97]

Just one. Soon I'll be moving her up to rat pups

Here's a video of the first time the snake ate (I log pretty much everything my snakes do because I am weird lol).
I assume these are what you mean by pups?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF3u2x4Hq38

[Aaron_S]

A rat pup. Once a week. All you need.

I do not care for the pet stores chart nor their multiple prey feedings. I can feed a snake that size for a buck a week instead of the 2 or 3 it would cost on fuzzies alone from a pet store.

[Mikoh4792]

Here's a video of the first time the snake ate (I log pretty much everything my snakes do because I am weird lol).
I assume these are what you mean by pups?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF3u2x4Hq38

Those would be fuzzy mice. I am talking about rat pups. Here is a size comparison for mice and rats

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a131/Bribrian/rat_mousesizespicture.jpg

and a chart comparison

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a131/Bribrian/rat_mousesizes.jpg

[Ourobouros]

Adult mouse is fine. Just go by the size of the largest part of the snake's body

[Lankyrob]

Feed it a rat slightly larger round than the snake once a week until its over a year then carry on every two weeks.

[LadyWraith]

What Rob said.

[ErikBush97]

Thanks, everyone :)

[bcr229]

I do not care for the pet stores chart nor their multiple prey feedings. I can feed a snake that size for a buck a week instead of the 2 or 3 it would cost on fuzzies alone from a pet store.
Yeah, but that doesn't look nearly as good for their bottom line. ;)

[Pareeeee]

Get him on rats as soon as possible, because BPs can get 'stuck' on mice as they get older which can make it almost impossible to switch them. Why do you wan to feed rats? Because when he reaches adultood the cost of buying multiple mice at a time will far outweigh the cost of one med-large rat and it will become a nuisance. There are varying opinions but I've heart that rats are better for them because they have more bone mass (= more calcium)

Also, you should feed him once a week until he reaches adulthood. Young snakes have faster metabolisms and require feedings more often in order to grow :)

PS: I thought garters had to be fed more often than OP's schedule? 10 cloud fish every 2 weeks? (do you mean those tiny White Cloud Mountain Minnows?) I'm by no means a garter expert but I was under the impression their metabolisms were quite fast. Anyone?

[Lankyrob]

Pretty certain Wayne feeds his garters every few days...........

[Mikoh4792]

Shouldn't they be fed every few years or every week?

[bcr229]

Shouldn't they be fed every few years or every week?
Er, mine eats a small meal every 3 days or so. Years? ;)

[Mikoh4792]

Er, mine eats a small meal every 3 days or so. Years? ;)

Oops I meant days.

[KORBIN5895]

Feeding is easy... but I am trying to create a schedule for him. that's different than actually feeding.

Your snake doesn't need a schedule. I feed all of my adults whenever I think of it. Sometimes it's 5 days sometimes it's three weeks.

[Mikoh4792]

Your snake doesn't need a schedule. I feed all of my adults whenever I think of it. Sometimes it's 5 days sometimes it's three weeks.

Right, it doesn't hurt to feed earlier or later sometimes. In their natural habitat they eat when they can, not on a set schedule.

[ErikBush97]

Thanks for all the good info :) And my Garter is completely healthy, and I feed her 10 Clouds every two weeks.. sometimes every one week, but usually every two weeks. That's what a lot of people recommended, and she WILL NOT switch to pinkies :/

[Valvaren]

Thanks for all the good info :) And my Garter is completely healthy, and I feed her 10 Clouds every two weeks.. sometimes every one week, but usually every two weeks. That's what a lot of people recommended, and she WILL NOT switch to pinkies :/

Sorry I know nothing about garters but I thought I recalled Wayne or someone mentioning feeding weekly or every few days and upon googling i've found that info to be correlated.

I would really like Waynes input because after reading some things on Thamnophis it seems some species need varied diets with some supplements?

Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet (http://www.thamnophis.com/index.php?page=caresheet)

[Amadeus]

Sorry I know nothing about garters but I thought I recalled Wayne or someone mentioning feeding weekly or every few days and upon googling i've found that info to be correlated.

I would really like Waynes input because after reading some things on Thamnophis it seems some species need varied diets with some supplements?

Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet (http://www.thamnophis.com/index.php?page=caresheet)

I would tend to agree as I think one kind of fish can't be enough of a variety of nutrients. Maybe feed it some earthworms, the fish, maybe pinks eventually. Good luck =]

[Aaron_S]

Yeah, but that doesn't look nearly as good for their bottom line. ;)

If you found this forum you can find a rodent supplier....that's how I look at it.

[Pareeeee]

Sorry I know nothing about garters but I thought I recalled Wayne or someone mentioning feeding weekly or every few days and upon googling i've found that info to be correlated.

I would really like Waynes input because after reading some things on Thamnophis it seems some species need varied diets with some supplements?

[url= Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet[/url]

Agreed. I'm sure every two weeks is under-feeding. Hard to tell by looking at thin-bodied snakes, they can look as if you're feeding them sufficiently when really you're not. That's why following proper species-specific feeding schedules is a must.

WAYNE...where are ye? :)

[Pareeeee]

Oh Erik, check this post that was just made. Someone else was feeding primarily minnows and their garter eventually became ill. :/

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/thamnophis/100322-goodbye-minnows.html

[Kettennatter]

Oh Erik, check this post that was just made. Someone else was feeding primarily minnows and their garter eventually became ill. :/

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/thamnophis/100322-goodbye-minnows.html

Yes, my female garter. And she showed the same symptoms as Erik's garter.

[ErikBush97]

Oh Erik, check this post that was just made. Someone else was feeding primarily minnows and their garter eventually became ill. :/

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/thamnophis/100322-goodbye-minnows.html

No need. I lost Sasquatch :(

[Aaron_S]

No need. I lost Sasquatch :(

Lost as in dead?

[ErikBush97]

Lost as in dead?

Yes. :'(
cvx.,bmx.,bx;vbj (reply was too short)

[Aaron_S]

... And my Garter is completely healthy, and I feed her 10 Clouds every two weeks.. ...

I suppose you don't know what you're talking about then as proved in this statement.

Sucks it died. Learn from that lesson.

[Ourobouros]

I suppose you don't know what you're talking about then as proved in this statement.

Sucks it died. Learn from that lesson.

Seriously? Sucks you didn't read the thread about this and instead aim to kick someone while they are already down. >:-[

[ErikBush97]

I suppose you don't know what you're talking about then as proved in this statement.

Sucks it died. Learn from that lesson.

I suppose not. Say what you like.. I am not an eight year old anymore, so mockery isn't really something that bothers me anymore.

[ErikBush97]

Seriously? Sucks you didn't read the thread about this and instead aim to kick someone while they are already down. >:-[

Thank you for defending me, but responding to him gives him more to talk about. Let's give him a while to mature, shall we?

[KORBIN5895]

Seriously? Sucks you didn't read the thread about this and instead aim to kick someone while they are already down. >:-[

You do realize you are one of the new people that needs to stop talking, start listening and learn something, right?

[Mikoh4792]

http://i39.tinypic.com/2yywqo4.jpg

[Ourobouros]

You do realize you are one of the new people that needs to stop talking, start listening and learn something, right?

New to the forum here and you assume I'm new to animal care or common sense? Lol wow someone has issues just because I pointed out deliberate cruelties in responses here. I've done more than my fair share of listening to insults already. Some people here have nothing but nasty things to say and therefore deserve such responses

[Ourobouros]

You do realize you are one of the new people that needs to stop talking, start listening and learn something, right?

And you do realize you failed to address the actual comment made and instead appealed to authority based on how many posts I've made here, as if it says anything about me or my experience. Gee I'm sorry I don't have enough "snake points" in this club to back up my sympathy for others.

[ErikBush97]

And you do realize you failed to address the actual comment made and instead appealed to authority based on how many posts I've made here, as if it says anything about me or my experience. Gee I'm sorry I don't have enough "snake points" to back up my claim.

I swear.. 90% of these guys are anti-social weirdos.
Go get some sun light, guys, maybe talk to some people.. like real humans? not little text boxes! You won't feel so grumpy! :D

[ErikBush97]

http://i39.tinypic.com/2yywqo4.jpg

*Sigh* Yup.

[Ourobouros]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh no I got a day off from work today and it was gonna be a blood bath... 30 calls in queue all full of angry people who can't operate a computer... I'm on my red bull and feeling great... Until I crash later lol imma go get food.
Naw yer right though my battery is suffering now lol

[KORBIN5895]

New to the forum here and you assume I'm new to animal care or common sense? Lol wow someone has issues just because I pointed out deliberate cruelties in responses here. I've done more than my fair share of listening to insults already. Some people here have nothing but nasty things to say and therefore deserve such responses

Actually I judge all people the same way and that's by what they say. So far all I have seen from you are misinterpreted facts and you getting all touchy freely with Erik over him killing his snake.

[Pareeeee]

I feel bad about the garter, but sadly I'm not surprised :(

[Ourobouros]

Actually I judge all people the same way and that's by what they say. So far all I have seen from you are misinterpreted facts and you getting all touchy freely with Erik over him killing his snake.


Sure thing. Hope you get off on this stuff lol. People who judge others so readily aren't worth talking to. Good luck to you.