Ball wants to eats constantly. Am I starving him?

[kazoopython]

My ball (just over a year old) wants to eats all the time. He's in strike mode the day after getting a good size rat. Am I starving him by limiting his feeding to once a week? I don't want him to grow to quickly.

Thanks,
Eric

[Ryan Pye]

No you are not starving him if your feeding once a week, but maybe he just isnt quite full enough, what size of food are you feeding him? Have you tried just giving him another rat just to see if that works. Most young ball pythons can be good feeders but with the odd exception they are not "eating machines", they are not the type of snake that usually overfeed, so I would say hes probably just not full.

[TheMan]

so I would say hes probably just not full.

If that's the case I would increase the prey size. Multiple prey is harder to digest.

Sam

[CARLiTO_]

If that's the case I would increase the prey size. Multiple prey is harder to digest.

Sam

FALSE!!!!!

[mykee]

Two small food items are EASIER to digest than one large food item.

[kazoopython]

Rat size is equal to the snake girth. It's funny. He'll literally come out of the cage as I open it when its feeding time. He is a wicked predator during the night.

Eric

[TheMan]

Thank you guys for the correction. I apologize for giving wrong info.

Sam

[Bartman]

The only thing about multiple prey items that sucks is depending on the species, most wont take the second

[nita]

I have some that wouldn't take a second meal but after three years the little bugger relented and now eats 2 mice a week some times!! LOL, if he werent' so pretty I would have gotten rid of the bum ;)

[cristine]

once a week even if you feed 2 mice back to back only, their bodies when over fed cause internal problems, my girl would eat a house if you gave it to her I keep her feedings only once a week

[zero&stich]

Sometimes I think what owners see is not a feeding response but a snake that is just protective of its space. And associate that behavior with the snake wanting more food or an overly hungry snake. I wouldn't call a Ball normally protective of their homes but I've seen a couple babies down right nasty inside their cages, then once their out, they seem fine. It's pretty wierd.

[nita]

Usually though if it is just being territorial they strike but won't coil and eat it, both my pastel and het pied do this both when offered FT and live. They strike if it comes close but won't coil and eat it. I do have some females that I'm sure would eat more often than once a week but I don't offer more than once and they are given rats sized according to their weight. I don't want fat snakes :D Just plump heathy ones :p