Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I have 4 female balls that weight about 2200 to 2500 grams each. They did not breed in 08. What should I be feeding them weekly. I have been feeding them one medium rat (abut 150 grams) a week. I heard someone post that if you are trying to put on weight they can eat about one X Large (300 grams) a week after they lay. I can't find any literature on feeding weights and I would be great full if any experienced breeder could share any success they have had with this question. I know this...Feeding once a week has been working for a routine. When I try and feed more or less it fails. I know people routinely say to feed a meal that is slightly bigger than the width of the snake. If that works than I have my answer. I definitely feel that this can't work with all situations especially during breeding season. I know that when I am putting weight on a juvenile about 80 to 100 grams of added weight monthly is good. But obviously a full grown female has to stop growing eventually so how do I know when to go into maintenance feeding, and what is the appropriate size rat for that?

Thanks for any help,
Bill

My adults all get the large size rats from rodentpro (I believe they weigh 200-275 grams). Some of my adults eat weekly, some don't. I have a female about the size of the ones you mentioned, and she's eating 2 of those per week after having laid a clutch in late march. Soon, she'll be going back to one per week. This seems to work fairly well for me. I don't have any problems with obesity in my snakes, so I would think a medium to large size rat per week would work just fine for your snakes.

Hi,

Thank you so much for your reply. I am trying to understand the diet of a ball python so much better. And you hit the nail on the head. I am afraid of obesity in my snakes. I hope many more replies come in here because I want to hear as many view points as possible. I was told that these snakes will gorge themselves if you let them and then they will go off feed for months. I am trying to figure out how far we can take that without going off feed. I am really tracking the weights and in time it should all be clear.

Regards,
Bill

A med/large rat once a week is good. I've always been told a good rule of thumb is to feed prey no larger than one and a half times bigger than the thickest part of the snake. Our adult female is just above 2200 grams and she eats large rats, but usually only eats every other week. She's not a breeder. Now just remember, snakes never really stop growing...hence why they shed. Good luck!