Reader Feeding Question (INCLUDES PHOTO OF FROZEN RODENT)

"Hi Caitlin, iam a huge fan of u by the way in instagram iam @adal240 well my question is my male ball python is about to turn 1year old and idont know if its still to early to feed small rats he is currently eating large mice idk if I should start feeding him small rats ??"

The best way to figure out what to feed your snake is to look at them.. most snakes can handle prey items that are as wide as the largest part of their body or a bit larger.. Personally, I recommend getting a ball python onto rats as soon as they are large enough to safely ingest them. Every time I have switched a bp from mice to rats, they have gone through a growth spurt shortly after switching. I honestly think rats are better for them nutrient wise.. 

Some snakes prefer one larger rodent, while others prefer multiple smaller rodents (i.e. one mouse fuzzie or two pinkies, one weaned rat or two weaned mice, etc.)

Approximate Prey Sizes:

mouse pinkie- 0.5-3 grams

mouse fuzzie- 3-6 grams (can be exchanged for a rat pinkie)

mouse hopper- 7-12 grams (can be exchanged for a rat fuzzie)

weaned mice- 13-18 grams (can be exchanged for a rat fuzzie)

large mice- 19-25 grams (can be exchanged for a rat pup)

XL mice- 30 grams + (can be exchanged for a weaned rat)

large rat = 1/2 lb. rabbit
XL rat = 1.5lb rabbit

Wobbles currently has a full stomach (he ate two XL mice on saturday night and a third on sunday morning... i offered him the first two which he snatched up right away then left the third in with him overnight incase he wanted it and i caught him eating it early sunday morning)

This is an extra large mouse (so he ate two of these in a row saturday night, and a third the next morning)

He weighed 507g before eating, and now weighs 629g with a full stomach.. so each XL mouse was about 40g