I'm getting a ball python and will be breeding rats for it

[jaleely]

Yeah, but Mikey, *could* you care less???

teehee!

Anyway, I too agree that it's not truly necessary to feed the snake as much as it can handle, but I have seen, and my husband insists, that it is "good" for them...something about the pressure on their organs to actually eat a large meal.
Don't know too much about that.

I feed what looks about right...lol
I eyeball the snake, and do maybe twice their girth at the widest point. I have snakes all different ages, sizes, and species.

I've had a ball python once eat a rat that i felt was too big for him, but he got it down and happily. I've also had one of my hognoses take a mouse and i thought he would be fine, but it took him forEVER and as soon as he got it in, he threw it right back up (this was like a year ago, and it was strictly a size thing for him. It wasn't anything else wrong.)

I also have a carpet python that refuses meals she thinks are too big (and they're not, so it's really annoying lol). At least i finally got the little brat onto rats.

Anyway, since i don't pump up the females for breeding I usually just eyeball everyone and feed as needed. Some people think that's horrible. I've tried to do the schedule thing, and the list of feedings etc., but no one ever wants to cooperate with me, so I gave up. I usually just wait until they ask. And despite what some people think, I always know when my snakes will take food because they beg. Every animal begs in it's own way, and i'm firm on that opinion!