Mysterious Missing Feces...

[millertime89]

She's about a year old and you're only feeding mice? A yearling should be on small rats which are bigger than any adult mouse. She should also probably be eating more than 1-3 times a month. She's still growing and should probably eat once a week. Do you know what she weighs?

[Skumbo]

Originally Posted by cute_snakeyface

"about barely" O.o what horrendous English, huh?

She usually eats about twice a month. It's variable, I guess. She poops, gets hungry, I feed her. As she's grown, I've observed her habits closely, but I wish I had been documenting. These days, four or five mice a month keeps her happy and not fat.

Ok im very confused as to your feeding habits.

They seem very off to me.

for one, twice a month isnt a good idea, she should be eating more, once a week I believe is the normal rate. She should be eating prey at 1-1.5 (i like feeding a "little bit" thicker) than the thickest part of her body.

[mattchibi]

Originally Posted by Skumbo

Ok im very confused as to your feeding habits.

They seem very off to me.

for one, twice a month isnt a good idea, she should be eating more, once a week I believe is the normal rate. She should be eating prey at 1-1.5 (i like feeding a "little bit" thicker) than the thickest part of her body.

To be more accurate, its actually best to measure the prey out to be 10-15 % of your ball python's weight. And you can buy a digital food scale for $30 at any department store.

[Lankyrob]

I feed my BP twice a month or so (i have a staggered feeding "pattern") and he takes rats that are roughly 2 times his widest girth quite easily - he could possibly take something bigger but i wouldnt personally push over twice his girth.

[Skumbo]

Originally Posted by mattchibi

To be more accurate, its actually best to measure the prey out to be 10-15 % of your ball python's weight. And you can buy a digital food scale for $30 at any department store.

^ That too, but it usually comes out to about the same I believe. 600g is a gigantic rat if you have say an older 4000g ball

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

I feed my BP twice a month or so (i have a staggered feeding "pattern") and he takes rats that are roughly 2 times his widest girth quite easily - he could possibly take something bigger but i wouldnt personally push over twice his girth.

The more known rule of thumb and general safe bet for any snake is the widest part of the snake. I recommend this to all new snake owners instead of by weight or even over the widest part. Purely for the simplicity of it. They don't have to worry about weighing the snake or prey and just feeding it and getting used to it.

Also Rob, I think your snake is an exception and not the rule Must be a "burm" of a ball lol

[Lankyrob]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

The more known rule of thumb and general safe bet for any snake is the widest part of the snake. I recommend this to all new snake owners instead of by weight or even over the widest part. Purely for the simplicity of it. They don't have to worry about weighing the snake or prey and just feeding it and getting used to it.

Also Rob, I think your snake is an exception and not the rule Must be a "burm" of a ball lol

He is still growing (about 18months old) - when he is full grown then i sont be expecting to find rats twice his size! I currently only have one adult snake (a corn) and he gets fed on the same schedule but gets an xl mouse that is slightly bigger round than he is.

[cute_snakeyface]

My feeding schedule completely revolves around my snake. I don't have her on a schedule per-say, I simply feed her when she gets hungry.

Seems pretty easy to tell when she's hungry, she becomes more active in her tank. We handle her regularly, and when she's not hungry, she goes all over the place. When she's hungry, she's just wants to slither downdowndown. I presume she wants to go down to look for mouse holes in my carpet...

I fed her a mouse last night. I couldn't afford a second one though :\ hard times. She's still a little hungry, but she's all snuggled up in her hide right now.

[mykee]

3 mice in two months for a yearling ball is barely a diet that will keep them alive. because she's being fed so rarely, you're not gonna see poop. She's using EVERYTHING to stay alive.
"Rough times" or not, you should be feeding her an appropriately sized rat once a week.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by mykee

3 mice in two months for a yearling ball is barely a diet that will keep them alive. because she's being fed so rarely, you're not gonna see poop. She's using EVERYTHING to stay alive.
"Rough times" or not, you should be feeding her an appropriately sized rat once a week.

^^^^^
agree with mykee

imo your only giving enough food to stay alive

you need to start feeding every 7 to 10 days

or better still every 7 days until your snake gets up to its proper wieght

you don't need to wait for a snake to poo before feeding it

cheers shaun

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by cute_snakeyface

"about barely" O.o what horrendous English, huh?

She usually eats about twice a month. It's variable, I guess. She poops, gets hungry, I feed her. As she's grown, I've observed her habits closely, but I wish I had been documenting. These days, four or five mice a month keeps her happy and not fat.

Originally Posted by cute_snakeyface

Nonono, she's eaten three times since Dec. I've had her since Summer, she's eaten several times. Three times, as in: two mice in Dec [in one feed], one [the healthy mouse] in Jan.

Originally Posted by cute_snakeyface

Heh heh, she did eat another time in Dec. but I found the poop for those.

Seems like she is being two mice per feed twice a month.

[Skumbo]

Originally Posted by cute_snakeyface

My feeding schedule completely revolves around my snake. I don't have her on a schedule per-say, I simply feed her when she gets hungry.

Seems pretty easy to tell when she's hungry, she becomes more active in her tank. We handle her regularly, and when she's not hungry, she goes all over the place. When she's hungry, she's just wants to slither downdowndown. I presume she wants to go down to look for mouse holes in my carpet...

I fed her a mouse last night. I couldn't afford a second one though :\ hard times. She's still a little hungry, but she's all snuggled up in her hide right now.

$2 or so for a mouse is hardly "i cant afford one"

ride a bike to work, eat a little cheaper, etc etc.

sorry to seem like a ****, but you're making the poor thing suffer because you cant justify a $2 a week investment.

[KORBIN5895]

Still seems like we are jumping to conclusions.

[Skumbo]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Still seems like we are jumping to conclusions.

what conclusions?

also to the OP, your snake wont "look around" for food, snakes are opportunistic feeders, they hide and wait for food to pass by then eat whenever they can, this is why they can live so long without food... this is also the same reason overfeeding is bad as well, snakes will eat whenever they can (usually). BUT... you need to feed her at least a big meal every 2 weeks if not a good sized meal once a week, for her to be healthy.

[cute_snakeyface]

Originally Posted by Skumbo

your snake wont "look around" for food, snakes are opportunistic feeders,

Actually...it says everywhere that Balls DO go looking for food.

KORBIN, you are the only person who is paying attention. Yes, my snake normally eats TWO mice per feed, at least twice a month. She rejects a third until a few more days go by. She eats plenty.

If her eating and pooping were so infrequent, don't you think I would be asking about that and not ONE case of missing poop?

The smallest rats at my pet store are still too big for her to eat yet. The difference between small and medium rats is practically nonexistent. Also, thanks for the "$2, or so" lowball estimate. It's actually closer to $3.50.

My snake is NOT suffering. Before trying to help someone, might I suggest that you help YOURSELF to some more careful reading and critical thought.

Thank you.