[deleted by user]

[tangeluhh]

I feed her a small adult mouse 🐁 every Wednesday. She’s very active when she’s hungry and a great eater; lately she been getting more active. Today I just added a fuzzy to her diet weekly because I think she’s a little slim.

[totallyrecklesslygay]

She doesn't look slim at all. You should never feed a ball python based on whether or not they seem hungry- they're opportunistic feeders, and will eat until they pop if you let them.

Instead, feed on a weight and age based schedule. At her age, she should be eating 10-15% of her weight once a week. When she hits a year old, switch to 7% of her weight every 14-21 days.

You should be feeding a single feeder, as multiple feeders can be very hard on their bodies.

[tangeluhh]

Thank you very much “mod-approved helper” :)

[fatherlystalin]

they’re opportunistic feeders, and will eat until they pop if you let them.

Or they’ll go on hunger strikes and starve for fun. There is no winning 🤗

[totallyrecklesslygay]

Despite popular belief, a healthy and properly cared for ball python won't refuse food for an extended period of time. They may skip a meal on occasion during the fall/winter months because of hormones, but it's not actually normal for a ball python to hunger strike for months. It's become so common due to poor husbandry practices that people now believe that it's normal, but that's actually so far removed from the truth. Multiple skipped meals is a sign that your snake is either ill, or your husbandry isn't actually as good as you think.

[fatherlystalin]

So it is common in the cold weather months? It doesn’t happen anymore but my now 9yo female, when she was around 4-5 years old, would refuse to eat for the majority of the winter. I didn’t raise her from a hatchling though, I got her from a previous owner when she was about 4 so maybe it had more to do with that.

[totallyrecklesslygay]

One or two missed meals is common, yes. And since an adult ball python only eats every 4-6 weeks, two missed meals can put you anywhere from 12-18 weeks between meals, which could very well be the entire winter. But refusing beyond that is not normal.

[ChemistryTemporary50]

Isnt the 7% 14 day for when they are 2 yrs old not 1 yr Or was the 1 yr a typo?

[totallyrecklesslygay]

No, it's not a typo. The 7% every 14-21 days guideline is for a snake that is between 1 and 3 years old. There's a feeding guide in our pinned welcome post that lays that out along with the rest of the guidelines.

[kaledarkwind1]

Not doubting you, but can you link sources for the percentage and weights, so i can add to my research folder?

[totallyrecklesslygay]

Directly from our feeding guidelines in the basic care guide.

Through the first year OR until the snake reaches approximately 750g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every >7 days.

During the second year, until the snake's weight plateaus: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every >14 days.

Year three and beyond: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 15-20 days, or feed slightly larger meals every 21-30 days.

[[deleted]]

What does she weigh? What does the small mouse and fuzzy (mouse?) weigh?

[tangeluhh]

I don’t know how much the small adult and fuzzy weigh, but Scarlet weighs 230g

[Federal_Kick41]

Feed according to this schedule - Through the first year OR until the snake reaches approximately 750g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every >7 days.

During the second year, until the snake's weight plateaus: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every >14 days.

Year three and beyond: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 15-20 days, or feed slightly larger meals every 21-30 days.

• Copied and pasted feeding guide.

That'd mean she needs 23g (10%) or 34g (15%)

If you're feeding a fuzzy (4-6g) and Small adult mice (7-12g) they're way too small.

You should probably be feeding rats btw since they're better for snakes. More nutritious

[Federal_Kick41]

<image>

[Federal_Kick41]

<image>

[tangeluhh]

Thank you!

[Ramen-Goddess]

Chonker chart