Feeding Troubles

[xPython Loverx]

I have a young BP and the pet store owner said that it needs to eat very soon. So today I bought a small live mouse but it looks way too big for this little snake? Is there anything else I can feed it?

[Smilts]

what size is the snake besides young and how large is the mouse compared to the largest part of the snake? If it looks to big you can go down in size to a hopper or fuzzy but looks can be easily misjudged.

[Aaron_S]

Most ball pythons will easily take an adult mouse. Looks can be decieving ;)

[Chu'Wuti]

Has the snake been fed previously on live prey? or frozen/thawed (F/T)? If the latter, it will be much easier as well as less expensive to feed.

Python Lover, snakes can unhinge their jaws so that they can swallow something pretty big. Even though a BPs throat looks small, when a BP swallows a prey item, the skin around their throats stretches amazingly (as does the skin farther down). You'll be surprised at what they can swallow. As the guys said, looks can be deceiving.

[xPython Loverx]

The BP is about 18 inches long but it looks very skinny. His neck only looks to be about 1/2 inch wide. The pet store owner said that the BP has eaten 3 or 4 live mice since he got it. The mouse just looks really big compared to the snake. The small mouse i bought for the BP was like 2 or 3 times as big as the snakes head.

Thanks for all of the replys so far.

[Wolfus_305]

hmmm...
ok, I am definitly not an expert but I do own a bp. I would like to say first of all: take a deep breath and calm down. I am sure that everything will work out just fine. :) My bp has not eaten since september (though mine is an adult and yours is just a little fella). Here is a link to some great responses when I asked for advice. I hope this helps!
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/python-regius/81715-bp-won-t-eat.html
Kenny

[xPython Loverx]

Thanks so much!

[Wolfus_305]

No problem!
Let us know if you have any further questions/concerns and I'm sure everybody will be more than helpful.
Keep us updated.
Best wishes
Kenny

[Kmef07]

the mouse sounds like an ok size for your bp to eat. look at the biggest part of the snake compared to the biggest part of the mouse they should be close in size.