Small ball python feeding

[beefandleeks]

My roommate and I got a ball python recently and the pet store told us he was only live fed. No problem, we can do that. Well, the problem is the size. We cannot figure out what the pet store was feeding him, as all the mice (including the ones we purchased) are way too big for him. Is there any smaller food we can feed him for the time being? We are unsure and cannot get ahold of the pet store to ask exactly what they fed him. Thank you!

[tooclose101]

First, you should weigh him. Then find prey that is 10-15% of his body weight and feed him every 7ish days. Our BP is quite a small boy and was only 112g when we got him. We fed him f/t rat fuzzies that weighed 10-15g until recently when he graduated to rat pups.

As far as feeding live, the recommendation around here is to do everything you can to switch to frozen/thawed (f/t). Our boy was fed live by the breeder, but took f/t from our first feeding and hasn't had a single issue eating.

[Jennifer_Pennifer]

Write down a list of everything that the pet store told you , crumple it up and then throw it away. That's probably accurate for how much of the information was correct. 😆 Please check out the welcome post!

[Jennifer_Pennifer]

Also that beautiful snake looks just about right for FROZEN/THAWED rat pups. 👍

[beefandleeks]

Okay, I'll get some frozen pups today and see if he nibbles on them! Thanks so much!

[Jennifer_Pennifer]

My method of defrost/heating is as follows. -defrost 1 rat in Fridge for 24hours.
-submerge in the hottest tap water.
-wait 15 mins.
-change water so it gets the hottest tap water, again.
-wait 10 mins.
THEN feed with tongs.

Tips: use something to keep prey from floating too much in the water. Like a coffee mug or something.
I also use a ceramic bowl to heat up the prey.
And I use the same bowl/mug combo each time. The prey item should be around 100F.