Congratulations on your new pet!

Haunted Hatchlings has compiled a feeding guide to help you get started as a ball python keeper. We have consulted a variety of sources for information, but we encourage you to do further research as best practices evolve over time. There are many ways of keeping pets…what’s most important is that your new snake continues to grow and thrive!

If you’ve researched ball pythons, you’ve probably heard that they CAN be difficult eaters. We’ve found that as long as their husbandry is good, ball pythons typically eat just fine (of course there are always exceptions). When obtaining a new snake, we recommend allowing it to settle into its new environment for 1-2 weeks before attempting the first feeding.

Unless otherwise specified, all of our ball pythons are taking frozen/thawed rodents. If you prefer to feed live, they should transition easily. Remember to always wait 24-48 hours after a feeding to handle your snake. Handling too soon leads to increased stress and may cause regurgitation.

Here are some tips if you prefer to continue feeding frozen/thawed:

  • Place the rodent in a zipper bag and thaw in a refrigerator for 24 hours before feeding. If you prefer to skip this step, you can but it will take longer to thaw the rodent on feeding day.
  • On feeding day, place the bagged rodent in warm (not hot) water about an hour before feeding. You may need a couple of hours if you’re starting with a frozen rodent.
  • Check back periodically and replace the water as it begins to cool.
  • Rodents should be warm and soft to the touch when ready to feed. If using a temperature gun, it should read between 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Use rubber-tipped feeding tongs to pick up the rodent and offer it to your snake. Some snakes have a quick feeding response, while others will wait for you to wiggle the rodent around before they strike.
  • If your snake refuses a meal, DO NOT try to refreeze the rodent to offer again—the thawing process allows bacteria to inhabit the prey and this can make your snake sick if you offer it again another time.
  • If a refusal happens, wait until the next scheduled feeding to offer a new rodent. It can be tempting to try sooner, but doing so can start a habit of refusals.

Feeding Chart

Ball pythons should eat prey that is 10-15% of their weight once a week. This schedule should stay consistent until they switch to small rats. Once they get to small rats, pet ball pythons can transition to a consistent prey type with a longer period of time between feedings.

Ball Python Weight Prey Size Feeding Frequency
100-200 grams Rat fuzzy OR Small adult mouse 7 days
200-350 grams Rat pup OR Adult mouse 7 days
350-500 grams Weaned rat OR Jumbo mouse 7 days
500-750 grams Small rat OR 2 Jumbo mice 7-9 days
750-900 grams Small rat OR 2 Jumbo mice 9-12 days
900-1500 grams Small rat OR 2 Jumbo mice 14 days
FEMALES over 1500 grams Medium rat 14-21 days