Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone!

I have a large male bp (around 1700 grams) who seems to only want to eat small rats.

after he eats a small rat he pops his head out of his hide box and seems to want more.
So I tried feeding a medium rat and he refused (he has a rather small head for a such a large animal). After refusing the med rat I offered a small rat and he took it (as usual).

Is it ok to feed him another small rat if he seems hungry after feeding? Is this too much food? I ask because I'm not sure if this would put him off food for a while or not.

Thanks!
Rej

www.fuoconero.com

Not a prob i have a spider male who does the same thing,a med is about the same as 2 smalls anyway.And he eats every 7-9 days.
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1.0 100%het albino
0.1 100%het albino
1.0 pastel
0.1 spider
0.1 pastel
1.0 butter
0.1 albino hc
1.0 orange ghost
0.1 100%het pied poss het albino ringer
1.0 med pied
0.1 pewter
1.0 pinstripe
1.0 pastel

If he's big enough for a medium rat, but only eats smalls...two smalls that equal a medium will be fine.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

About two weeks ago I didn't notice that one of my big girls was heading into shed before I went to get rodents so my chocolate female ended up eating two retired breeder female rats. She skipped the next week (something she normally doesn't do) but all seems well otherwise and she was sure looking around for something when I just cleaned her cage (huge mess). After her shed my other big girl ate the retired male rat the chocolate skipped a week ago (it was the size of a small cat, biggest meal I've ever even thought about feeding a ball python). So, feed them what they will take within reason. I was surprised mine didn't even get much for lumps (the chocolate has weight to gain back after laying for the 4th year in a row). But if yours likes multiple smalls I bet he will do fine with them, just depending on how big a meal that turns out to be for him maybe he'll skip feedings.

I had the same question a few weeks ago. Three of my 1000g girls eat great for me. I fed them one small (60-70g) rat when I first got them and they were still looking hungry......so I fed them another and they still seemed hungry. After talking to many breeders, they advised to just feed one small rat per week so they have a healthy appetite and eat every week (of course you cannot always control this).

A couple weeks ago, I bought a 3500g and 2100g girl. The breeder advised he only fed them one small rat per week and that is how they both reached their size and have always ate (other then breeding season fasts). I'm sure you will get many opinions and different ways people feed their snakes.

Anyways, all my girls get one small F/T rat every week and my males get one weaned rat per week. My males are both 700g and I will switch them to small rats in a couple months.