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08-19-03, 03:36 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Aug-2003
Location: ENGLAND
Age: 41
Posts: 33
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Royal Python Feeding Suggestions
Hi there
I have been feeding my four-foot, three-year old male royal python, one large mouse every week.
Whilst he is a reasonable size for his age, I would like to think about fattening him up a bit. I have spoken to a pet shop about this and they have suggested feeding him a large rat every month.
Does anyone have any ideas as to whether or not this would be a safe option.
Cheers
Indea  >
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08-19-03, 03:42 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Mar-2002
Posts: 5,936
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Yes of course it would be. A python that size can eat a large rat each week! 
Marisa
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08-19-03, 03:59 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2002
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Age: 48
Posts: 1,850
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First bit of advice...don't get advise from a pet shop. There are exceptions but it seems that most pet store employees lack the knowledge to give out helpful advice about reptiles.
A good rule of thumb is to feed a prey item that is as fat as the fattest part of the snake...every 7-10 days. For older snakes that can be increased to every 14 days or so. Ball pythons can usually eat a full grown mouse every week right from the time they are hatched so I'm guessing your snake might be underfed. Switch to rats if you can. One large or jumbo rat would make a good meal. 3-5 mice would be OK too.
DO NOT FEED LIVE PREY. If you are feeding live prey, switch to dead (frozen/thawed is easiest).
__________________
If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it's another nonconformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity.
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08-19-03, 04:08 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2003
Location: Kansas
Age: 41
Posts: 3,427
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Please do not take offence! Did you research before you got this animal? Or even afterwords (sp?)...no offence but ovbiously not! As big mike said, he is probably underfed.......and could probably take a large rat every week......my 3ft bp is on 1 small rat every 4 days....until I can get some medium rats.......You might want to look up some caresheets, as if you are not feeding properly you might be doing other things differently...don't take offence.....just my opinion/advice!
__________________
The Mischief:
Neptune, Zion, Enigma,
Mischief~ Hamster
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08-19-03, 05:21 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2003
Location: Alabama
Age: 42
Posts: 236
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Take a look into getting the ball python manual. It's a great guide. Some of the info is a little out of date and a little general but the survival basics are in there.
__________________
0.1 ball python (Jega)
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08-19-03, 05:23 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2003
Location: Miami, FL and New Haven, CT
Age: 40
Posts: 1,084
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rats are a lot more nutritious than mice. I'd definitely start feeding rats...you'll probably see a growth/girth spurt!
__________________
1.1 ball pythons (Huxley and Marla)
~"Interestingly enough, the only thing the bowl of petunias thought was, 'Oh no, not again.'" --Douglas Adams~
* Mollie *
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08-19-03, 06:18 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jun-2003
Location: Calgary, AB
Age: 49
Posts: 5,638
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Quote:
Originally posted by Big Mike
A good rule of thumb is to feed a prey item that is as fat as the fattest part of the snake...every 7-10 days.
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That is NOT a good rule of thumb. If you follow this rule of thumb, you are underfeeding your snake. I'm sick of hearing this myth.
The food you feed your snake should leave a significant enough lumps in the belly that from 10 feet away, someone could look and say "Wow, that snake is full!".
Especially for a heavy-bodied snake like a ball python, you should be feeding it items that are at least 1.5 times the widest part of the snake. Then sit back, watch your snake grow, and watch his feeding response skyrocket.
__________________
- Ken LePage
http://www.invictusart.com
http://www.invictusexotics.com
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08-19-03, 07:41 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2003
Location: Kansas
Age: 41
Posts: 3,427
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Invictus------question...The prey item IS supposed to leave a lump???? I've heard that.....but I guess the more "popular" idea is something that is no bigger than the biggest part of the snake...I feed my 3ft 3in male bp a small rat.....no lump.....but he is round....until next check he is getting a small rat every 4 days......then he will be to medium rat..then I usually feed every 6-8 days...If you feed till there is a lump do you feed every week, or every 2 weeks? I guess I'm afraid that he is going to get something to big for him to eat.....or get over weight......what do you suggest?
__________________
The Mischief:
Neptune, Zion, Enigma,
Mischief~ Hamster
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08-19-03, 07:44 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2003
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canuckland
Age: 46
Posts: 3,934
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Yes, it is. Our BCI looks like a beer bottle after we're done feeding him.
Here's an example of prey size in relation to snake size:
<p>
<P>
That's our female corn snake, she gets fed 2 adult mice mice once a week.
<p>
<p>
That's our yearling BCI who is now on juvenille rabbits. He takes them down with no problem.
If you're not leaving a significant lump in your snake's belly, you're most likely underfeeding it.
<b>Indea: </b> Yes, you should DEFINITELY be feeding your Python rats instead of mice. That will fatten him up in no time
__________________
Erin Keller :eb:
Snakes: 2.1 Corns, 1.1 Kings, 1.0 Everglades Rat, 1.1 Spotted Pythons, 1.2 Children's Pythons, 1.2 BCIs Lizards: 0.2 Leopard Geckos, 1.3 Bibron Geckos Inverts: 2.1 Tarantulas, 0.1 Emporer Scorpion Mammals: 0.2 Kittens
Last edited by TheRedDragon; 08-24-03 at 06:00 PM..
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08-19-03, 07:52 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2003
Location: Kansas
Age: 41
Posts: 3,427
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Oh no......I feel so horrible now!! So I could feed and leave a signifigant lump and feed once a week???? My male BP is round, and getting rounder and gaining more and more weight....what do you think a 3ft bp should weigh????
__________________
The Mischief:
Neptune, Zion, Enigma,
Mischief~ Hamster
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08-19-03, 07:55 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2003
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canuckland
Age: 46
Posts: 3,934
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Sapphire Moon: BP's are heavy bodied snakes, so, yes, you should be fattening him up. I'm not entirely sure how much one should weigh at 3ft, but, I do know that you can most likely feed him Juvenille Rats once a week.
__________________
Erin Keller :eb:
Snakes: 2.1 Corns, 1.1 Kings, 1.0 Everglades Rat, 1.1 Spotted Pythons, 1.2 Children's Pythons, 1.2 BCIs Lizards: 0.2 Leopard Geckos, 1.3 Bibron Geckos Inverts: 2.1 Tarantulas, 0.1 Emporer Scorpion Mammals: 0.2 Kittens
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08-19-03, 09:18 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2003
Location: Kansas
Age: 41
Posts: 3,427
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juvenille rats??? Is that the same size as medium rats???? The rats I'm feeding him now are a little smaller, by about 1 in (in length) as the "your reply" box at the bottom of threads.....
__________________
The Mischief:
Neptune, Zion, Enigma,
Mischief~ Hamster
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08-20-03, 01:46 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Aug-2003
Location: ENGLAND
Age: 41
Posts: 33
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Hi guys thanx for all the advice. I have only had my adult snake for about two weeks, and I did a lot of research before I got these snakes. I had my first snake when I was fourteen.
The shop I got him from said that they had been feeding him a large mouse a week, so I have been doing that for two weeks, but have decided that I wanted to fatten him up a bit. So thanx again guys for all your advice.
Cheers
Indea
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08-20-03, 02:31 AM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2003
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canuckland
Age: 46
Posts: 3,934
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Quote:
Originally posted by sapphire_moon
juvenille rats??? Is that the same size as medium rats???? The rats I'm feeding him now are a little smaller, by about 1 in (in length) as the "your reply" box at the bottom of threads.....
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Yup, that's about the size we were feeding ours, if slightly larger. But, now we have our BCI on Juvenille Rabbits which are larger still.
__________________
Erin Keller :eb:
Snakes: 2.1 Corns, 1.1 Kings, 1.0 Everglades Rat, 1.1 Spotted Pythons, 1.2 Children's Pythons, 1.2 BCIs Lizards: 0.2 Leopard Geckos, 1.3 Bibron Geckos Inverts: 2.1 Tarantulas, 0.1 Emporer Scorpion Mammals: 0.2 Kittens
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08-20-03, 03:08 AM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Jun-2003
Location: Sacramento, California
Age: 46
Posts: 191
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Wow, looks like i have also been underfeeding my ball python. Time to switch to small rats. Do rats come in the same size as mice, ie. fuzzy, hoppers?
Thanks
__________________
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Never underestimate the
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Current: Ball Python- Monty, Previous : Garter Snake- Laura, Alligator lizards, Fence Lizards, Ribbon Snake, Rubber Boa, Box Turtle, Bull Frog, Cockatiel, and a rat...
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