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

Awesome Animal Companion of the Week

This week's Awesome Animal Companion is from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Joe Joe is a Capybara. He is an accomplished pianist, superior to all other piano playing rodents in the world!

Native to South America, the capybara is the largest rodent in the world. It's closest living relatives are guinea pigs and rock cavies, and more distantly related to the agouti, chinchillas, and the coypu. The capybara has a barrel-like, heavy body and a short head. They have reddish-brown fur on the upper part of their bodies and a more yellowy-brown shade underneath. Their feet are slightly webbed as they are semi aquatic vegetarians who swim in the water to find plants. Adults grow to about 3-4ft long, 20-25 inches tall at the withers, and weigh 77 to 150lbs.

Well little Joe Joe still has a lot of growing to do!

I first saw Joe Joe on his instagram page "joejoe_the_capybara" and fell in love with him. The page includes photos and video clips of "Joes", and actively comments on other ig users' pages from the point of view of the little guy. Some of the best conversations I've had on ig are with Joe Joe and his "daddybara" (who's regular ig account is "crazycodykadunk").


To see little Joe Joe grow up before your very eyes, follow him on instagram "joejoe_the_capybara", on facebook , and his hilarious youtube page.