Ball pythons make excellent pet snakes for both beginner snake enthusiasts and experienced owners who appreciate the diverse color morphs available. Unfortunately, a common challenge among ball python owners everywhere is getting their pet snake to feed regularly.
What Do Ball Pythons Eat? Ball pythons, like other snakes, eat various sizes of prey depending on their size. Younger snakes may eat large crickets as they grow larger; larger snakes should ideally feed on pinkies and fuzzies instead until their prey grows large enough for them. When adult ball pythons reach maturity enough, they consume adult mice and rats; some enthusiasts believe only feeding various stages of rats throughout their lifespan is recommended and no insects or mice.
How Can You Select Prey Size? In general, snakes will eat prey that fits within their own width parameters easily; thus if his widest part measures one inch across, he should easily consume a one inch mouse without issue. Some snakes prefer smaller prey compared to larger options so experimentation may be required in order to determine their preferred choice; too large meals could cause regurgitation or become stuck within his mouth/esophagus and should always opt for smaller prey instead when in doubt1. When in doubt opt for smaller as it will likely go down smoother in terms of its consumption!
How Often Should You Feed Your Ball Python? An adult snake (one year or older) typically eats once every 10-14 days, whereas younger snakes should eat more frequently due to growth – at least once weekly or every 5-6 days while growing. If your snake refuses to eat on this schedule, or appears overweight (their tail should slowly taper off from vent to tip), longer intervals between feedings should be given in order to prevent obesity issues.
Reasons Why Your Ball Python May Refuse to Eat
Aside from major medical conditions, snakes may refuse to eat for various reasons. Being too cold is often the cause, especially during the colder winter months; this issue can easily be rectified with providing heat lamps as an auxiliary heat source.
Internal parasites can make your snake sick or prevent them from gaining weight, and an annual fecal examination should be performed to check for pinworms, coccidia or any other intestinal parasites that might need treating with dewormers2.2
If your ball python is about to shed, they won’t eat until all their skin has been shed off. Telltale signs include an ashy hue to their skin or milky eyes3.3
Stress can often be overlooked as the culprit behind snakes not feeding, such as new enclosures or too much handling. Exposing them to new environments or having another species share their space could cause their stress levels to spike and lead them to not want to eat as planned.
Varying prey items will often discourage picky snakes from feeding. Their scent, size, form, type or even color could all play an influential role in whether or not your snake eats its meal.