How big is too big?

[daver676]

What can happen to my ball python if I feed it a meal that is too big?

Dave

[Jazz6279]

It would be too full?! Well, if it does actually take it down then it might well come back up again! lol!! Usually if something is really too big for the snake then it will either refuse it or regurgitate it.

[BurmBaroness]

Regurge is a bad thing. It is actually more stressful than not feeding. My baby het is about 4 months old, and he eats adult mice. They leave a noticeable lump, but they aren't too big. Best way to judge is, thaw out the mouse, stretch it out a little, and see how big around it is next to your BP's girth. Alot of poeple say same as biggest part of snake or just a tad bigger. That's a good rule to go by if you have a problem feeder. I usually go a little bigger than that. You want the lump to be noticeable, but not grossly so.

[daver676]

Ok, now I'm not so worried. My bp will get her first adult mouse tonight. Thanks.

Dave

[mykee]

Hatchling ball pythons can eat adult mice pretty much right out of the egg. My guess would be that you're food items are too small.

[Jo060]

Well, I was told my 2 month BP would be able to eat a med. rat. So, I bought one and fed it to him. He struck it then constricted it and had trouble getting even his head over the rats head but he did and about TWO HOURS later he was down to the tail and he was so PACKED w/ rat ther his colors were very light because it was stretched so far. So, after about 2 1/2 hours he SHOT it back out and fixed his jaw. So, thaz pretty much what happenes.

[lilyskip]

your bp can definitely take an adult rat. i've heard of snakes that ate prey too big for it tho and didn't regurg. they died because they couldn't digest it fast enough and the bacteria from the rotting food inside their bodies killed them.

[eyespy]

Impaction from not being able to either digest or pass large bones such as the skull or pelvis is also a possibility, but a remote one.

As long as the prey item is just slightly wider than the snake it should be just fine.

[Alex Dew]

I have a 2ft bp and she takes 2 MED. MICE easly every week

Thanks

Alex

[HetForHuman]

Originally posted by lilyskip
your bp can definitely take an adult rat. i've heard of snakes that ate prey too big for it tho and didn't regurg. they died because they couldn't digest it fast enough and the bacteria from the rotting food inside their bodies killed them.


I think you meant adult mouse? I hope :)

[mykee]

Wow! People, use a little common sense here! A 2 month old BP weighs what? 150g. A med. rat weighs what? 80g? Would common sense tell you to feed a snake a food item that is 60% of it's overall body weight? I don't think so. However, a 2 month old ball (again, in and around 150g) can EASILY take an adult mouse or a rat pup, either being around 30-35g. Alex, if your ball is 'easily eating two mice a week, time to step it up to one, larger rat. Unless you want to be feeding your 3000g ball 15 mice a week. $$$$$$$$!!!!!

[sapphire_moon]

med mice? Why not just one large mouse, or an equal size rat?? and if it's 2 med rats a week then isn't that power feeding?

[daver676]

Well, I tried to feed her the adult last nught, but she didn't want it. She just shed a few days ago, and took a big poop, but she doesn't want to eat? WTF? Well I stuck the mouse in the fridge and will try again tomorrow.

Dave

[lilyskip]

Originally posted by HetForHuman
I think you meant adult mouse? I hope :)

Oh, whoops. Yeah, that's what I meant. Sorry...hope you didn't feed any adult rats! :D

[Solid Snake]

i've fed BPs really big meals... they never regurgitate unless u handle them.

If its much too big, they won't bother eating it.

[daver676]

Well if she doesn't eat the adult tonight, I'm going to try one size smaller on Saturday.

Dave