Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So my first BP is growing up quite a bit. He is currently at about 28" and very full bodied and healthy. I'm only feeding him one regular sized feeder mouse a week, but I'm concerned about when I should bump up his prey.

I'm thinking about buying a small rat to see how he handles it, but perhaps offering another mouse will do the same trick? Any advice?
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Adam

"I wish I were wise! I wish I were wise from the heart of me, like my serpent!"

The rule for most snakes is to feed prey the same diameter as the largest diameter of the snake's body. For longer bodies snakes, like some BPs but particularly for kingsnakes and corns, it's good to feed several items at the same time since their diameter is small, but a fuzzie or pinky just won't cut it.

With my male I usually give him a large mouse, wait ten minutes, and if there is still a feeding response where he will track a mouse on the lid of his cage, I will give him another. No more than two in a feeding though so he won't get fat.

Hope that helps.
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1.0 normal ball python
0.1 greyband hybrid kingsnake
0.2 crazy cats
1.0 husband

The rule of thumb is the prey should be slightly ( and I mean slightly ) larger than the area of where the snakes stomache is. This is a healthy once a week meal for your snake and if you have been feeding less than the right size in a few months of correct feeding you will notice a huge jump in its rate of growth. Also if the snkae can not eat it because it is to large it will give up and spit it out. Not that you should test this theory. Just look at the snakes body and then at the rat when FULLY streched out and if the girth is near the same you have the right size. Good luck and happy herping.