Reptile & Amphibian Forums

yes am i newbie to reptiles so i would like to learn more then just the basics. i have a pastel ball python shes 153.7g on an empty stomach about 18 to 24in long and her roundest point is would as wide as a condom.(sorry couldnt figure out anything to compare too. lol) i been feeder her small rats usually 35g yup i weigh em when i get home. that are just as round as her fastest point or smaller. should i down grade to rat pups or be feeding more. im worried that she will get a growth disorder and look fat with no tail(seen it before not cute) neither do i want to be starving her. i feed her every weekend either sat or sun.

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Thanks for you time
SPC Danny Tejeda
US Army Reserves
0.1 Pastel Ball Python

You are doing fine. Babies need the extra nutrition since this is the time of their life when they are doing most of their growing. If, however, there comes a point when you notice her getting chubby (generally, you can tell she's put on a little too much weight because you'll see folds in her creases when she bends her body) - anyways, if that happens you can put her on a diet, so to speak.

There are a number of ways to approach this - whichever works the best for you is just fine:
- Begin feeding her smaller prey items (I wouldn't suggest trying to switch to mice or anything other than rats)
- Feed her less often. If she is getting bulky you could begin feeding her every other weekend instead.
- Do both. Feed smaller meals less frequently.

At this point though I wouldn't worry about her getting fat. As long as you aren't power feeding her you should be fine. And remember once she gets older she will begin going on a seasonal fast for roughly 3-6 months a year. Although, mine don't tend to lose too much weight during this time, it is always healthier for them to have enough energy stored in reserves to be able to make it through their fast. Generally, balls don't really overeat. If you are feeding her too much or too often she will slow down or stop eating altogether for a while until she is hungry again.
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Stay United!

I'm still not sure if it's weird that my best friend is a two year old boa named Ronin. He's quiet, non-judgemental and listens... what more could you want?

Would that be a small, regular or magnum you are comparing too. Just trying to understand the actual size....LOL.

Bill
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.0 Honeybee
0.1 Butter/hypo (I stole her from a good friend of mine)
1.1 Het Lavenders
0.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.2 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.1 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids (9) and (16)
0.1 Spouse (22 Years Married)
1.0 Chocolate Lab

Lol! It's in between a regular and magnum! Thanks for the info

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Thanks for you time
SPC Danny Tejeda
US Army Reserves
0.1 Pastel Ball Python

I switched mine to rats as soon as I could... Feeding about comparable size.... I'm just trying to get everybody on rats... haha. 2 out of 5 so far!
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Teresa
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3.0 Dogs (2.0 Chihuahuas, 1.0 Toy Poodle)
1.5 Cats
1.0 Cockatiel
1.0 Indonesian Blue tongue skink

Ball Pythons
0.1 100% Het Albino (Watson)
1.0 Pastel (Sweets)
0.1 Spider (Daisy)
1.0 Albino

Mines had no problem with the switch over to rats and I think she likes em more then mouse cause she would sniff the mouse and let it run around but with the rat is more like I see u and ur gone! Great eater I must say.
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Thanks for you time
SPC Danny Tejeda
US Army Reserves
0.1 Pastel Ball Python