What Size Rat To Feed Ball Python

When learning about ball python diet and feeding, information technology's important to know which food and prey items to feed, what size foods to feed, how often to feed a baby and developed ball python, and other things such every bit how to tell when a brawl python is hungry. In this mail, y'all will discover a total guide brawl python diet with feeding nautical chart and schedule, nutrient sizes and other tips.

Ball pythons are notorious for losing their appetite – which tin can be caused for no reason every bit well. If your ball python is not eating, please read this mail service to identify possible issues (new tab).

What should I feed my ball python?

Y'all should feed your young brawl python frozen thawed mice or rats and then gradually increment the size. You lot should transition your young brawl pythons of over 200-300 grams to eating rats, as they are bigger in size.

Please note, that most ball pythons go used to eating but 1 type of prey, and will take issues switching to something else. That'south especially true once your ball python gets older. That's why it'due south important to start switching to rats early (mice will be too minor when it becomes older).

Babe ball pythons will get full from ane small sized casualty, only an adult might need 1-2. Most ball pythons do not swallow more than i-3 prey items per feeding. That's why you would take to offer something larger, such as rats.

Stick to feeding mice and rats. While you tin offer gerbils or other rodents, only they might be more than expensive and harder to observe for sale. And because ball pythons generally have a difficult fourth dimension switching, make certain you offer something that you can always become.

Should I feed my ball python mice or rats?

Y'all should first with feeding your hatchling baby brawl python smaller mice fuzzy or hopper mice for the first few feedings. However, most people get a brawl python that's over 100 grams, and yous can start switching to rats directly away.

Feeding one larger repast is always better than trying to feed ii smaller ones. That'due south because your ball python might take simply 1 nutrient item, and pass up to eat more. Also, it is easier to digest ane prey particular, rather than few. Rats are larger than mice.

What should I feed my baby brawl python?

Y'all should feed a babe ball python, which is under a yr old, smaller mice or rats. Every bit your ball python grows and gains weight, switch to larger sized rodents. That will make sure that your ball python perceives and accepts what you offer as nutrient.

If feeding frozen mice or rats, make sure to thaw them properly before offer. Don't use a microwave to heat nutrient items, as it will cook its insides and tin burn down your ball python when it eats information technology.

It will also pb to bacterial growth and tissue deterioration. Most ball pythons won't accept food unless information technology's warm, equally they have heat sensing pits that aid detect prey.

Thaw frozen rodents in a fridge overnight, and and then yous tin rut them in a bag by inserting in hot water/under a lamp. Heating a thawed rodent to 100-105 F (37.7-40.5 C) is ideal for your ball python.

Don't leave nutrient items outside for too long, every bit it can atomic number 82 to bacterial growth. Dry and oestrus the prey items before offering.

How often should I feed a brawl python?

You should feed a brawl python from 0-i years erstwhile around once in 5-vii days. Then, you should feed a sub-developed to an adult ball python from 1-three years old in one case in ten-fourteen days.

Once your ball python reaches maturity at around 3 years onetime, feed it in one case in two-2.5 weeks, or even 3 weeks if offering a larger meal.

How much to feed a ball python? Feeding chart

How much you demand to feed your python is very of import. Weighing your ball python and food items will be the virtually reliable way to decide how much to feed your ball python. This is how to pause it downward:

Ball python age and weight	How often to feed	Size of a feeder casualty item
Hatchling	Every 5-7 days	Small fuzzy/hopper mouse or like. First meal is often ii weeks after first shed
1-12 months former, or up to 750 grams, whichever showtime	Every 5-7 days	12-15% of your ball python's weight. First switching to rats at 150 grams+
1-3 years old	10-14 days, gradually decrease	v-7% of your ball python'southward weight. i-2 food items
iii years sometime and over (adult)	Once in 2-2.5 weeks, or once in 3-3.5 weeks if offering a large meal.	iii-5% of your ball python'south weight. Y'all can feed few mice, just it's better to feed 1 larger rat

Ball python feeding chart

Ball python age and weight	Example of rodent weight and size
Hatchling brawl python, 70-ninety grams, first 3-5 meals	Mouse hopper or pinky rat (around 7-12 grams)
100-150 grams	Mouse hopper and then change to small weaned mice, or fuzzy rat (x-20 grams). You can start switching to rats
150-200 grams	Small/weaned mouse/fuzzy rat (15-20 grams)
200-250 grams	Big/developed mouse or rat pup (20-25 grams, up to around 30g for rat pups)
250-300 grams	Developed mouse, so change to X-Large mouse (around 30-35 grams), or rat pup (xxx grams)
300-350 grams	Weaned rats (30-45 grams), or 10-big/Jumbo mouse (35-40 grams)
350-500 grams	Weaned and so small rats (up to 60 grams, when ball python reaches 450-500 grams), or Jumbo mouse
500-750 grams	Small rat (60-seventy grams) or 2 adult mice, or upwardly to 10-15% of your ball python's weight if under 2 years of age,
750-1500 grams	Modest-medium rat or 2-iii adult mice (sixty-100 grams). If ball python is over 2 years of historic period, calculate five-vii%
1500 grams+ (3 years one-time and over)	Medium to lower terminate range weight Large rat, or iii large mice, or ii smaller rats

Ball python weight and feeding sizes

For example, for a juvenile brawl python, y'all tin get a bag of frozen adult mice like this. Larger mice will be effectually one-1.5 months erstwhile. However, as your ball python gets larger (upward to a year old or so), you volition need to either feed 2-3 mice, or switch to small adult rats.

Please use a digital kitchen scales like this to measure out prey'south weight and your ball pythons weight (monthly).

Delight offset switching from mice to rats at 100-150+ grams, sooner, the better. As your ball python grows, you volition need to offer larger sized rats. It'south ever better to feed 1 larger casualty item, than few smaller ones.

Please recollect, that the tabular array only presents approximate weights and sizes of rats. Some ball pythons volition grow much quicker, reaching 1kg by two years of age, while others only by two.5.

Mice and rat sizes will also differ. The nigh correct thing to do is to weigh your ball python and mice, and calculate percentages as shown in the first table.

Ball python food size

Food size for brawl pythons is important – casualty's thickest girth should be a flake less or equal to thickest girth of your brawl python.

Make sure you offering right sized nutrient – your brawl python won't eat any casualty items that are besides small. And, feeding casualty items that are as well large tin cause regurgitation. Feeding very big meal (or overly large rodents) might make your ball python not swallow afterward, for a long period of time.

Should I feed my ball python live or frozen food?

Ball Python Feeding Chart, Schedule, Sizes and Tips Guide

You should always aim to feed your brawl python frozen/thawed (f/t) mice or rats, instead of live prey items. That'southward considering live rodents might bite and injure your brawl python, and feeding frozen prey items is more than humane. Pre-killed (rodents just killed recently, might be used to aid with feeding response in picky eaters or when switching).

Ball pythons are also shy creatures, and don't like being presented with live prey. This might also crusade unnecessary stress. If a casualty rodent bites your ball python, information technology can lead to infections and even death. So, even if feeding live rodents at the moment, you should before long consider moving to f/t rodents.

While smaller mice that don't have their eyes open yet are not probable to assault back, you should get your ball python used to eating frozen mice/rats. Some ball pythons that offset eating alive casualty cannot switch to frozen mice/rats and might skip meals.

When to feed a ball python? Twenty-four hour period or night?

Ball pythons are mainly nocturnal snakes, and then they won't eat during the solar day. Feed your ball python later on twilight/sunset, as that'south when your brawl python volition exist interested in eating.

They start coming out late, by the end of the day – that's when yous should feed it. Make sure your ball python'south tank is warm enough to aid digestion. Ball pythons don't require whatsoever pregnant night temperature drops – make sure information technology'due south at lxxx-83 Fahrenheit (26.7-28.3 Celsius) through the dark.

You can read more about brawl python tank heating and platonic temperatures hither.

How to feed a brawl python?

Y'all will need to feed your ball python by offer a mouse/rat with feeding hemostat/tongs like this. Wiggle the prey item, to spike your ball python's interest. Grasp a prey rodent on the dorsum and wiggle until your ball python constricts. Once information technology constricts, keep fluctuant a fleck longer so it can constrict harder.

Wash your hands later on handling prey items, earlier you start feeding your brawl python. What is more, if offering thawed nutrient items, heat them showtime for 10-15 minutes under a lamp or like. Heat a rodent after information technology has thawed in the refrigerator overnight.

You tin put it in a purse to avoid wetting and submerge in hot water, or heat on a plate to a higher place boiling h2o. Ball pythons have heat sensing pits and warm and dry out prey item volition make them eat. Many brawl pythons will decline a moisture or common cold food item.

Don't offer prey items by hand – your brawl python might sense heat coming off you and then bite you past error. Use feeding tongs to offer food. If offer live rodents, go on an center and don't get out an uneaten rodent in a cage alone with your ball python.

When offering a thawed/pre-killed rodent, leave your brawl python alone after information technology has stricken. That'southward because brawl pythons are shy, and don't like beingness watched eating. Allow up to few hours for your brawl python to eat, up to 24 hours.

Should I feed a brawl python in a cage or outside a muzzle?

You should feed your ball python inside its cage, and feeding information technology outside its muzzle is actually stressful. Moving your ball python causes it stress, likewise equally tin can lead to regurgitation.

Your ball python will also feel scared and vulnerable to consume outside its cage, thus tin endeavor to bite. Leave your ball python in its cage so information technology feels safe, and don't handle for at to the lowest degree 3 days to let it assimilate a meal.

There are few things to follow for feeding your ball python, and you can avoid beingness bitten if you follow the rules. First of all, you must wash your hands properly after handling food items.

Secondly, you need to use long feeding tongs or hemostat like this when feeding, to avert your ball python striking at your hand. Wiggle a prey and let your brawl python accept it. Sometimes, yous can even leave a f/t casualty in the cage with your ball python.

To avert whatever substrate ingestion, place a mat, newspaper or similar under a food item. You can remove the mat after feeding. Make certain to bank check your ball python's face up pits regularly for whatever stuck substrate.

How to switch your ball python from mice to rats?

Some ball pythons get used to eating 1 type of food item, and will not accept annihilation else. For example, some ball pythons might non switch from mice to rats. This tin can also utilize to eating only alive or pre-killed mice/rats.

You can start switching your ball python from mice to rats when it hits around 100-200 grams. Sooner, the meliorate.

Most ball pythons don't accept any bug switching, and have rats straight away. Others might have an consequence switching, and information technology can accept weeks to months to get back on rails. Please exist patient and monitor your brawl python'due south weight.

If your ball python is not accepting rats later transition, you tin can utilize some tricks to help you.

#1: First of all, you can 'scent' a rat with mouse or its substrate, then that it has the smell. Gradually reduce scenting as your brawl python is eating rats for few times in a row.

#2: Make sure to warm rat casualty in warm water/nether the lamp to elicit feeding response.

#3: Experiment with rat colors, ball pythons might accept preferences. Stick to aforementioned color when switching, or attempt to experiment if needed.

#4: Offer a rat and a mouse together. If it only eats a small-scale mouse, don't offer some other mouse to leave information technology a bit hungry. Go on offering a mouse + rat with adjacent feedings. Over few weeks to couple months, reduce the size of a mouse and increase the size of a rat one time it starts eating rats. Eventually, remove mice from the diet.

#five: If your ball python is non eating, skip i-3 meals and then offer a scented rat. Constantly trying to feed a brawl python when it'south non eating will merely cause information technology not to eat for longer.

#6: If it's not accepting rats, remove mice from the nutrition and simply offer 1 appropriately sized rat.

How to switch your ball python from live to frozen?

It'due south ever a good thought to feed your ball python frozen/thawed rodents instead of live. That will save you lot money, time, and prevent any injuries/stress to your ball python and rodents.

To switch from alive to frozen, you should always warm up casualty items to 100 and even upwards to 110 F to elicit a feeding response. You can use an infrared thermometer like this to bank check the temperature. Also, make sure to properly wiggle and slightly (don't push) rub a rodent confronting your ball python's body and snout.

If your ball python is non accepting thawed prey, you lot can become pre-killed mouse/rats and showtime with that. Pre-killed rodents are ones that take been killed recently – you can request that from your local reptile shop or breeder.

If your ball python is non eating, please run into this post on causes & tips.

What not to feed your ball python?

Never feed any wild-caught rats or mice, as they might be carrying ticks and fleas. What is more than, they are going to be more aggressive, and can seriously injure and scare/stress your ball python.

Can brawl pythons eat fish?

No, ball python will not accept fish as food and won't attempt to swallow it, equally brawl pythons consume warm-blooded creatures. Too, raw fish tin can exist full of internal parasites that can harm your brawl python.

Can brawl pythons consume chicks?

While your ball python can eat chicks/chicken, information technology can also get used to eating them (even addicted). Ball pythons are picky eaters, so yous must stick to food items that you will exist able to get whenever needed.

Tin ball pythons eat eggs?

No, ball pythons will not eat eggs as they won't recognize it as nutrient. Your ball python needs to eat warm-blooded prey food items.

Should I feed a ball python in shed?

No, you should skip meals when your ball python is in shed. That's considering your ball python is likely to refuse food, will be stressed and feel vulnerable.

How long tin can brawl pythons get without eating?

Ball pythons are notorious for going off feed, and not eating for up to iii-4 months. In full general, a brawl python can go for 12 months, and even 1.5 years without eating, before starting to eat again.

If your ball python is not eating for few weeks, it can be normal. However, get-go taking action if it'southward been more than ii-three months. Also commencement taking action if at that place'southward weight loss of in a higher place 5-10% of ball python's body weight.

Do ball pythons need supplements?

No, ball pythons don't demand supplements. Because brawl pythons eat a whole mouse or a rat, it gets all the vitamins and minerals from its bones, insides and and then on, so you don't need any additional supplements.

Nonetheless, some owners advice to dust the prey items with calcium or a multivitamin with every few feedings. That'due south because rodents raised in labs are non equally nutritious and ones in the wild. Also, if you don't use UVB in the cage, your ball python would benefit from some vitamin D3 and calcium.

If you wish, you lot can grit the casualty item with calcium like this with every iv-5 feedings. You lot can also use a multivitamin like this with every 5-6 feedings (separately from calcium, switch).

How to tell if a ball python is hungry?

Ball Python Feeding Guide, How to Tell Ball Python Is Hungry

If a ball python is hungry, it will often start wandering around or showtime seeming more alarm and watching its surroundings (testing muzzle limits) at dark. Some ball pythons become more active mean solar day before and on the day of feeding, especially if you have a feeding schedule.

However, always make sure to ready a feeding schedule one time your ball python is eating unremarkably. Don't feed your ball python every time information technology seems active or alert, or it tin can lead to obesity. Ball python are opportunistic feeders, so you have to create a feeding schedule.

Tin can I handle my brawl python before feeding?

Don't handle any hatchling or new brawl pythons before start 4-v successful feeding sessions. With established ball pythons, you can mostly handle before feeding as long equally yous have not touched prey items, but information technology's always better to leave information technology alone on a feeding mean solar day.

How long to wait to handle a ball python afterward feeding?

Please permit at least 48 hours to handle your ball python after feeding. Handling before that will disrupt digestion, will cause stress and tin crusade regurgitation.

Ball python feeding tips and mistakes to avoid

Heat and dry out a mouse/rat earlier offer.
Wash your hands afterwards handling prey items and use feeding tongs/hemostats (at least 15″/38 cm long).
Don't feed a shedding ball python.
Wiggle a pre-killed mouse or rat.
Leave your snake alone later on it has constricted the prey. Some brawl pythons don't like being watched eating.
Don't handle your brawl python after feeding, for at least 2-iii days.
As well, don't handle your ball python straight before feeding and don't move information technology to a separate container to feed. This increases chances of your brawl python eating.
Don't leave the prey detail in the cage for more than than 24 hours, and watch your ball python is rodent is live.

Ball python water needs

Make sure yous have a basin with water for your ball python at all times in the cage. A good h2o bowl should be large to fit your ball python and not tip over, like this one. It'southward a good idea to refresh water every i-two days if possible.

How long can ball python get without drinking water?

Ball pythons crave fresh drinking water for drinking and soaking daily. In farthermost circumstances, your ball python can go upward to seven-10 days without drinking.