Question: Feeding my Ball Python?

[ErikBush97]

Hi. I have a real quick question. I feed my North Western Garter Snake 10 Cloud Fish every Two weeks (on Sundays) I feed my garter again next weekend. I want to get my garter and my Ball Python on the same schedule. How many fuzzies and/or pinkies should I feed my Ball every two week? Someone suggested TWO fuzzies every ONE week, so... should I feed him FOUR fuzzies every TWO weeks? Thanks, guys!

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

Hi. I have a real quick question. I feed my North Western Garter Snake 10 Cloud Fish every Two weeks (on Sundays) I feed my garter again next weekend. I want to get my garter and my Ball Python on the same schedule. How many fuzzies and/or pinkies should I feed my Ball every two week? Someone suggested TWO fuzzies every ONE week, so... should I feed him FOUR fuzzies every TWO weeks? Thanks, guys!

They shouldn't be on the same schedule because you want them to be. You need to give them their own schedule based on their needs. How old/big is your ball python? I would feed young ones every week and start feeding every 10-14 days as adults depending on the size of the meals.

[ErikBush97]

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

They shouldn't be on the same schedule because you want them to be. You need to give them their own schedule based on their needs. How old/big is your ball python? I would feed young ones every week and started feeding every 10-14 days as adults depending on the size of the meals.

He's 1'9". I opened a thread with pics of him a while ago, but I don't know his exact age. a lot of people on this forum say they think he's a year or younger.

[Mikoh4792]

In that case I would stick to a weekly feeding schedule. You could always feed him on the same day that you feed your garter snake and then feed only the ball python a week later. I don't know much about garter snakes so I can't comment on garter snake feeding schedules. As for the size of the prey item, I have a ball python which is a little smaller than yours and she is already on hopper mice.

[ErikBush97]

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

In that case I would stick to a weekly feeding schedule. You could always feed him on the same day that you feed your garter snake and then feed only the ball python a week later. I don't know much about garter snakes so I can't comment on garter snake feeding schedules. As for the size of the prey item, I have a ball python which is a little smaller than yours and she is already on hopper mice.

how many hoppers is she eating a week?

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

Hi. I have a real quick question. I feed my North Western Garter Snake 10 Cloud Fish every Two weeks (on Sundays) I feed my garter again next weekend. I want to get my garter and my Ball Python on the same schedule. How many fuzzies and/or pinkies should I feed my Ball every two week? Someone suggested TWO fuzzies every ONE week, so... should I feed him FOUR fuzzies every TWO weeks? Thanks, guys!

ball pythons come out of the egg eating hopper mice or larger. Fuzzies and pinks are a no-go.

I start my babies on hoppers. Then I try to switch them to rat pups from 3rd meal and on.

[ErikBush97]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

ball pythons come out of the egg eating hopper mice or larger. Fuzzies and pinks are a no-go.

I start my babies on hoppers. Then I try to switch them to rat pups from 3rd meal and on.

Really? The petstore I bought him from gave me a feeding chart, and he was on like.. three fuzzies a week when they had him. Based on his size what would you recommend me feeding him?

[valid]

I don't know that you could even get it to eat 4 hoppers at a time. You are far better feeding smaller amounts once a week, especially while young.Feeding snakes really isn't that big of a task .. All you have to do is thaw (if you use frozen) and put in the cage. The snake will do the rest.

[ErikBush97]

Originally Posted by valid

I don't know that you could even get it to eat 4 hoppers at a time. You are far better feeding smaller amounts once a week, especially while young.Feeding snakes really isn't that big of a task .. All you have to do is thaw (if you use frozen) and put in the cage. The snake will do the rest.

Feeding is easy... but I am trying to create a schedule for him. that's different than actually feeding.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

how many hoppers is she eating a week?

Just one. Soon I'll be moving her up to rat pups

edit: From your pictures, it looks like she's big enough to be eating adult mice or rat pups.

[ErikBush97]

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Just one. Soon I'll be moving her up to rat pups

Here's a video of the first time the snake ate (I log pretty much everything my snakes do because I am weird lol).
I assume these are what you mean by pups?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF3u2x4Hq38

[Aaron_S]

A rat pup. Once a week. All you need.

I do not care for the pet stores chart nor their multiple prey feedings. I can feed a snake that size for a buck a week instead of the 2 or 3 it would cost on fuzzies alone from a pet store.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by ErikBush97

Here's a video of the first time the snake ate (I log pretty much everything my snakes do because I am weird lol).
I assume these are what you mean by pups?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF3u2x4Hq38

Those would be fuzzy mice. I am talking about rat pups. Here is a size comparison for mice and rats



and a chart comparison

[Ourobouros]

Adult mouse is fine. Just go by the size of the largest part of the snake's body

[Lankyrob]

Feed it a rat slightly larger round than the snake once a week until its over a year then carry on every two weeks.