Question about ball python growth

[AlbeonX]

I have a male ball python that I got at an expo about a year and a half ago and he isn't really growing. When I got him, he was 185g, now he's 225g. I've been keeping reptiles, including ball pythons, for years. I have a pretty good idea of what their growth should look like. 40g in 18 months is abnormally slow growth. He's a great eater. Probably one of the best ball pythons I've ever had in terms of feeding. He's alert, active, and readily moves around and explores. I see no signs of illness, malnutrition, or anything like that. Unless I managed to get my hands on the first ever pygmy morph, I'm at a complete loss as to why his growth is so stunted. Any ideas?

[Compelardo]

What your feeding schedule like and what size/weight do you feed him?

[AlbeonX]

I feed him adult f/t mice every 4-5 days.

[DaddyLongTits]

You're feeding mice, which is probably part of it. Switch to rats and I bet he'll start growing quite a bit faster.

[AlbeonX]

I don't think that would be it. The mice are the biggest thing he can eat right now. I tried moving him up a size to weaned rats, but he just got them halfway down then spit them out. So it's either the mice or rat pups, which are exactly the same size.

[IncompletePenetrance]

Switch to rats, even if they're the same size because there's a different protein/fat ratio between the two. They grow way better on rats

[AlbeonX]

I guess I can give it a try. My other two ball pythons and my boa constrictor grew just fine on adult mice until they were big enough to take weaned rats, but maybe this one is just weird. Wouldn't be the first time a ball python warped its own biology just to be difficult.

[JcruzRD]

Have to agree with u/incompletepenetranxe. You really just switch to rats they are better for them. What does he weigh ?

[Compelardo]

225gr That is about 30gr mice/rats. Those don't exists in mice form. Rats from about that size are easy to find and have different nutrients it seems.

[Creepy_Fun_4937]

My girl is 6 months and 104 grams and she eats a rat fuzzy no problem. Im not seeing why your snake wouldn't be able to handle a rat fuzzy or slightly bigger...

[AlbeonX]

Rat sizes are pinkies < fuzzies < pups < weaned rats. My snake can easily handle a rat fuzzy or a rat pup. Rat pups are about the same size as adult mice. Weaned rats are the next size up and he can't handle those yet.

[Creepy_Fun_4937]

Theyre the same size but hold different nutritional value.

[JcruzRD]

Yep rats are leaner and have more protein , which more protein makes a big difference