Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a ball to add to my menagerie this last weekend. I have been wanting one for a while now, and decided it was time. I know everything I read said they "can" have trouble shedding and sometimes are finicky eaters. Of course after I got her I got paranoid that she was not going to eat for me. I was really dreading it. Once I noticed her really trolling her enclosure I decided it was time to try. I got her a rat pup today (frozen) thawed it and offered it to her. No go, she wanted nothing to do with it. I put it in her enclosure, then left. I came back about 10 minutes later and she was as far away from it as possible. I thought oh man here we go. I left again, came back 20 minutes later and it was gone! I looked all over her enclosure, don't know why, it isn't like it was going to wake up and get out! I am really stoked.

So my next question is, it didn't leave a very big bump in her like the mice do in my corn snakes. Is it supposed to? She is only 85g, just a baby, so I don't really want to go bigger then a rat pup right? When should I expect to feed her again. I try to feed my baby corns every 5 days. Should I keep her on the same schedule?

Thanks,
Stephanie

Hi,

I would stay on rat pups for a while but I would try and feed multiple feedings of them. I was feeding 3 rat pups per meal every 5 to 7 days and then when she was about the same width as a weaned rat I went to one weaned rat per week. I think about 200 to 300 grams is a good weight to start on weaned rats. Good luck...In my opinion a good rule of thumb is about 30% of the snakes weight in food works well under 150 grams or so. When your ball gets around 100 grams or so it should be able to eat to or three rat pups no problem.

Regards,
Bill

Ok cool. So up to 100g keep her at 1 rat pup, then up it to two or three. I am so happy that she ate fine today. Oh how often do you suggest I feed her, every 5 days ok you think?

Stephanie

I have a female spider that was eating 2 to 3 rat pups every 4 days when she was 115 grams. As she got bigger I put her on an every 5 day cycle until she started eating weaned rats. Once she went on weaned rats she ate every 5 to 7 days. Now she weighs 500 grams and she is eating a small rat every 7 days. The 7 day cycle with an appropriate sized rat is where you want to be. Especially if you are breeding.

Regards,
Bill

Lucky! Ive been trying to get mine on rats... no success. Actually since I began attempting to switch she has begun to refuse mice as well, so now she hasn't eaten in the last 4-5 weeks.

I used to feed live- she attacked those with a vengeance. I really miss those days!