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View Full Version : What size should I feed 8Ball??


Dark_Angel_25
11-22-03, 10:23 AM
Ok, I have posted some pics of 8 Ball eating on this forum (pics you can see in my gallery) And some has suggested that he can take larger food items, I though so too, but was worried about feeding too large.. Now I believe the mouse in the pics was a 16-21 day old... so what should I 'graduate' him to? Please let me knoW :)

OH! and Thnx!! :D

672
11-22-03, 11:12 AM
You could probably just switch him one size up if you want to get him to bigger prey, or maybe start to try some rats soon...

Invictus
11-22-03, 12:10 PM
Move it up to a prey item that it at least slightly bigger than the snake's girth. In the case of our young BPs, we give them medium rats that are about 1.5 - 2 times their girth. After about 4 days, they look like they haven't eaten anything. As I've said in a million threads, nature designed them to be able to take HUGE meals. So quit worrying about the prey being too big. Worry about the prey being too small.

Derrick
11-22-03, 12:17 PM
If your unsure just take a seamstress tape measure and measure his fattes girth on an empty stomach(sp?). then just get some rats or mice that size or up to 1.5x larger. You'll probably be nervous the first time you see it trying to down a big meal but dont worry its amazing what they can handle. Try rats as soon as possible but make sure he's had a few good meals before hand you may go a month or 2 with out it eating before you get it on rats but you'll see quite a difference between a rat feeder and a mouse feeder. Also if you have a bunch of smaller mice in the freezer try giving it 2 at a feeding.

jathoma
11-22-03, 09:14 PM
I've been feeding my 6 month old a small rat every week for the last 2 months and he takes it no problem. In fact, the switch from adult mice to rats has been great for him. He's probably grown 4-5 inches since I switched him over.

As they say, "once you go rat, you never go back!"

:D :D :D :D :D

sapphire_moon
11-23-03, 12:26 AM
ya, a small rat would be good....lol

nolagurl
11-23-03, 02:38 AM
damn....i want a snake named 8ball! :)

Dark_Angel_25
11-23-03, 01:08 PM
I know we have fed him rats before. no problem, but they were small rats. Anyways I think we will stickto rats for now and see how that goes. I will try 1.5 to 2x his girth.

lilyskip
11-23-03, 07:40 PM
if he'll eat rats, don't go back to mice! rats are a lot more nutritious :D Good luck with future feedings...