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Okay, I'm interested in buying a ball python. However, I need to try and get things cleared up before I purchase. I have read they are very picky eaters and shouldn't be feed live mice. I'm confused because I've heard of a lot of people feeding them live mice. Is there a difference in giving them a mouse and a rat? Help.
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Re:Selective Feeding
well, from what i've learned frist off hte difference between feeding mice and rats depends on your pythons girth size. whatever the size of your python width is of her body you feed it the same size mouse or rat. Now about the live feeding, I suggest you DO NOT FEED LIVE. here is a post why you shouldn't feed live to any snake.
and this site....
Buy frozen rats or mice and when it's time to feed just put the frozen rator mouse in a bucket of hot water to thaw it. Make sure its fully thawed, the part that takes the longest to thaw is the stomach area and also to ease in the feeding process so she will be more willing to take the thawed rat or mouse is make sure its warm as if it just died, just leave it in the warm/hot water, depending on wether your'e using mice or rats, at least 30 mins. Works for me every time. Hope this helped. 8) -
Re:Selective Feeding
Rat's are far more nutritious. Mice are basically bones. You can almost always find a rat the size for your snake. Never feed live........... Good luck!! Oh, and not all pythons have eating probs.
**Beth**Comment
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Re:Selective Feeding
I agree wholeheartedly on the rats being more nutritious. Until a few months ago I had been feeding my ball python, Spot, frozen thawed mice. I obtained him from a friend who couldn't keep him anymore, and that's all he was ever fed. He had never been very active, and I figured that was just part of his nature as he is in general a very healthy snake. I started feeding him small thawed rats a few months ago (one every ten days) and it's almost as if he started taking multivitamins. He's much more active, for much longer periods of time. Yay rats!Comment
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Re:Selective Feeding
Thanks you guys, especially for those sites. I'll feed dead for sure. My brother just told me about a ball python at the pet store who had her tail chewed off by a mouse. He told me not to trust what pet stores are selling you. In that case, does anyone know off any breeders in or near Cali?Comment
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Re:Selective Feeding
No problem bro, thats what were here for. Good luck. 8)Comment
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Re:Selective Feeding
HI,
And welcome to the forum, many people have problems with BP"S, I usally try and find a really active almost nippy baby,they usally will feed well. He's the one all coiled up and looking rather ticked off when you uncover the group.. may even take a strike at you... hehe
The biggest problem with BP's that most people don't get is they are extemly
afraid of people when small, if you handle a baby to much they wll go off feeding. They need small cages when Little I use those plastic container's that have locking lids.Most BP's in the wild live in termite mounds this provides them adequate cover, temp stability, and an ample supply of small rodents. Another feature of the mounds is the humidity is constant even in a very arrid climate thsi is proably why they have shed problems if not at the right humidity . They can find their prey with heat sensors even in total darkness they spend most of their lives in total darkenss . most Bp's feed or hunt at around dusk so I don't feed till sunset.
I take my new baby put it in its box and only change the water every couple day's most people don't attempt feeding for about two weeks.
If you handle that baby during the first couple months it may go off feeding. Bps' are one of the nicest reptiles to keep as pets can live most of their lives in a rather small cage 2/4 ft and require very little attention.
they come in numeorus colors and patterns and can be one of the most expensive snakes to collect if you want special color.
My advice is try and find a sub adult.
I ve only had mine for a couple weeks and have had exceelent succes feeding fresh thawed, my baby is aggresive and will take the mouse off forceps, he strike at the mouse and then eats the warmed thawed mouse.
FInally in closing most wild BP's stop eating instinctively in the fall and will not feed til march or april this dosen't cause them any serious effects they rarely loose weight and can tolerate long fast. depending on light stimulation (lenght of day) many breeder bromolate ( cool their snakes) to stimulate breeding in the spring and if the baby is from wild caught may effect the fasting period many owner's donot expereince this some do. My first bp fasted four months it may have been wild caught this was a few years ago. ALways look for the code (CB ) that means captive bred ..
:P
Doug
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