Can I feed my ball python anything other than mice?

Can I feed my ball python anything other than mice?

Ball pythons can eat only rats or mice for an entire lifetime, but they also love to spice up their diet in captivity and feed on other rodent species such as hamsters, gerbils, and other exotic breeds. Young ball pythons should only be fed with large crickets, fuzzy mice, and pinky mice until they grow into adults.

Do ball pythons have to eat rats?

Young ball pythons may consume the occasional lizard in the wild, but most eat rodents. They do, however, require smaller rodents than adult ball pythons do. “Hopper” mice are usually ideal for hatchlings, and it doesn’t take very long for hatchling ball pythons to grow large enough to handle small adult mice.

Are rats better than mice?

However, overall rats tend to be cleaner than mice, particularly in terms of their smell and droppings. Pet rats can also be toilet trained whereas pet mice can’t. While pet mice tend to be a bit smellier than pet rats, female mice are less smelly than their musky male counterparts.

What does a full grown ball python eat?

Ball pythons, like other snakes, eat varying sizes of prey depending on how big they are. Smaller and younger snakes may eat large crickets, but should ideally be eating pinkies and fuzzies until they grow larger. Adult ball pythons will eat adult mice and rats when they get big enough.

What can I feed my snake instead of mice?

While rats are a popular food source for some snakes, snakes will eat what’s available to them.

• Insects. Smaller snakes, such as the garter snake, will eat a variety of insects, including crickets, cockroaches and insect larva, such as mealworms.
• Small Rodents.
• Eggs.
• Birds and Fish.
• Snakes and Lizards.
• Larger Mammals.

How long should I leave a rat with ball python?

The longer the prey item is left with the snake, the more desensitized the snake becomes to the prey item. Rule of thumb: Don’t leave live prey with an unattended snake for more than 15 minutes at a time.

How Long Can ball pythons go without eating?

Smaller snakes tend to feed more often than larger ones, but species like the ball python can go for as long as two years without needing a meal.

How can I tell if my ball python is hungry?

You can tell a snake is hungry when it exhibits specific behaviors such as: Prowling the front of the tank, being more active, focussing on you whenever you are near the enclosure, flicking its tongue more often, and hunting at a similar time each day or night.

What size rat should I feed my ball python?

In general, the youngest, smallest ones eat small frozen feeder mice or rats. Larger ball pythons typically eat larger mice or rats. Selecting prey for a ball python. As a general rule, you should select a rodent that is 1 to 1.25 times the size of the midsection of your snake.

Do rats or mice make better pets?

Mice and rats are both low maintenance, cute pets. However, they do have different needs and personalities. Choose a rat if you’re looking for a more social, active and clean pet. If you’re on a budget and want a pet that requires little to no handling, a mouse is your best bet.