Feeding Ball Pythons: Frozen-Thawed Prey and Solving Feeding Refusals
Frozen-Thawed: The Gold Standard
Frozen-thawed mice and rats are safe to store in bulk and eliminate the injury risk that live prey poses. Start with frozen-thawed immediately and establish the habit early.
Prey Sizing
The prey item should be roughly the same width as the widest part of your snake's body. When in doubt, go slightly smaller.
Feeding Frequency
Juveniles up to 200 grams: every 7-10 days. Adults over 1,500 grams: every 14 days. Overfeeding leads to obesity — a real health problem in captive ball pythons.
Solving Feeding Refusals
- Warm the thawed prey to approximately 100°F before offering
- Try feeding in a brown paper bag in a dark, quiet space
- Scent the prey by rubbing it with a feeder gerbil or chick
- Try a different prey type — some individuals strongly prefer rats over mice
- Reduce handling for 1-2 weeks before the next feeding attempt
A refusal lasting 12+ weeks in an otherwise healthy animal warrants a veterinary check.
