Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My B/P seems to be ready to eat every day! I'm feeding a small FT rat every monday and by friday he is looking for more food and if affered he will eat with no problem! So the question is: Will feeding him more then once a week cause heath issues?

Simple: feed her. I find when you have animals that are hungry, and you feed them, everyone is happier.
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www.strictlyballs.ca

Just because he comes out of his cage doesn't mean he's looking for food. Just feed an appropriate sized rat once a week. As long as he gains weight or maintains weight (if he's already an adult) he's eating enough.
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PHLdyPayne

This is a good question it depends on the size of the ball is the ball big enough to handle a med rat then do it this will slow his feeding down if he or she can do it. But be carefull not to feed to much because a overweight ball has more health problems as it gets older do to fat which leads to lung problems,resp prob,and more.There should be a slight bow in belly of ball this is a great meal not a bowling ball.If any questions let me know.I base mine on size and weight.

1) It depends on the age of your snake. Juvenile ball pythons can sometimes eat an appropriately sized meal twice a week for a while with no ill effects. It is not recommended to feed at this pace regularly, however. You should consider the age of your snake and the size of the prey item, so...

2) An appropriately sized prey item is as big around as the widest part of the snake's body. A snake can usually eat a meal this size once a week and be sated.

3) Finally, as another poster stated, just because your BP is coming out and exploring doesn't mean it is hungry. It might just be a happy snake enjoying its environment. If you think it is hungry because it is striking or quickly getting into striking position when you open its cage, this is probably fear instead.

I think that covers everything...
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

JMHO...but I wouldn't attribute it's activity to happily enjoying it's environment. I don't think snakes happily enjoy anything. They are instinctively concerned with avoiding getting eaten, eating, mating and staying warm/cool. Anthropomorphism is something we tend to use when we can't explain animal behavior.