The amount of food your baby ball python can eat depends on its age. A very young snake can’t eat large prey items, so baby mice are the best choice. Older snakes can eat a variety of food items, but you must make sure they don’t eat insects. They need prey the same size as the widest part of their bodies.
Contents
Prey
For your pet Ball Python, you’ll need to find prey items that are smaller than their mid-length. Rats, mice, and chicks are good options, but they should be smaller than their girth. A baby ball python’s diet can consist of pinky mice or a small mouse. After the first few months, you can feed it adult mice or rat pups.
You can make a diet of mice and rats, but you should ensure the snake is eating the same food every day. Even subtle changes in the prey can confuse a snake. Make sure the prey is warm if you’re pre-killing it. Otherwise, warm water is enough. Once you have the prey ready, it’s time to introduce the snake to the food. If you’ve bought the prey in advance, warm it in warm water before feeding the snake.
The preferred prey of a ball python is a small rat, a black rat, or an African giant rat. It is not an exclusive list of foods it enjoys, but it’s a good start. Ball pythons may also feed on bird hatchlings. While females are less adventurous, they won’t shy away from the birds. Their low metabolism makes it hard for them to get enough nutrients.
Feeding habits
Ball Pythons are nocturnal snakes that feed mostly during the night. While they need food at least once or twice a week, they do not have to be fed every day. They can eat rodents, insects, and small animals, including their young. You can feed your ball python one or two types of foods each week. You can find out more about feeding your ball Python by reading the following paragraphs.
In the wild, ball Pythons feed primarily on birds and rodents. The specific prey species will vary based on location, but usually includes lizards, birds, and rodents. Male ball Pythons are much more likely to feed on birds than females. In captivity, however, you can feed your ball Python a variety of different prey, and you can even feed it hatchlings.
Avoiding cold-blooded prey
Ball pythons thrive in a humid environment. Their ideal humidity level ranges from 55 to 65%. Areas of low humidity are acceptable as part of a gradient in an enclosure. You can monitor your ball python’s humidity level with a digital hygrometer. Place the hygrometer probe in the cool side of the enclosure or inside the cool hide.
A variety of prey is essential for a balanced diet. African soft-furred rats, quail, chicks, and Reptilinks are all great options. Avoid live rodents, which can cause injury to your snake. If you can’t find any live rodents, use frozen ones and thaw them in warm water.
Initially, introduce new food slowly. When introducing new food to your snake, it may go on a temporary hunger strike. To overcome this, introduce the new prey gradually and alternate feeding sessions. Increase the frequency of new prey. This allows your snake time to adjust to the new food and lessens the possibility of rejection. Using these methods may be successful for you and your pet.
Providing prey to baby ball pythons
Providing prey to baby ball pychons is a vitally important step in snake care. Adult ball pythons have complicated relationships with food. Some species are voracious eaters while others are not so picky. However, baby ball pychons are more vulnerable and need less food than adults. If you’re unsure what to feed them, read this guide to make sure you’re not setting a dangerous precedent.
Ball pythons are nocturnal hunters and should be fed during the dark. Providing prey during the day can cause the snake to become overly active, so you should feed it only after sundown. If feeding your snake during the day, it should be kept in a dark room. Don’t leave prey alone for more than 30 minutes at a time.
