How fast do Ball Pythons grow?

New_BP_Guy · #1 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007, 11:37 PM

Hey I was wondering how fast ball pythons grow? and what would be the best diet/feeding schedule for a baby 12"s or so? since I just got him I haven't fed him yet his first feeding will probably be Saturday.

Ophiophilia · #2 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007, 11:38 PM

Well, I got my ball Python August 2006. He was 12" when I got him.
And right now he's 30"

New_BP_Guy · #3 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007, 11:50 PM

so about 2-3"s a month...

Ophiophilia · #4 (**permalink**) 03-15-2007, 11:54 PM

I suppose :P I'm no good with math.

morti · #5 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 12:15 AM

For the first two years of their lives, ball pythons put on the majority of their growth. Expect your snake to put on 2-3 inches per month for the first year or so, 1 inch or so a month in its second year and more like half an inch a month for it's third year. Expect the snake to Dramatically slow down after that.

Snakes seem to grow in spurts too, so don't feel like your snake is falling behind or getting ahead.

Females also get bigger and grow faster than males.

I would say feed your young ball python once a week until it is 2 years old and then back it off to every two weeks. It should grow at a safe, healthy rate on that schedule and live a long and happy life.

luker3232 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 12:17 AM

Couldnt have said it better myself

SoundUnsleep · #7 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 12:39 AM

BP's grow about a foot a year for the first three years - well, uhm ... that's according to the book. Let's put that away (it appears outdated), cause we know better. Ophiophilia and Morti already told you what to expect.
You should be feeding it f/t rat pinkies. At 12 inches long I suggest you feed it a girth-sized (can be slightly larger) rat pinky once a week. As your baby grows increase the size of the pinky accordingly. In about three months from now you will want to feed it rat pups once a week. In another three months you should be able to increase to rat weanlings. At that point, you've had plenty of time to read through the posts and will know exactly what comes next

.
To prepare your f/t rat pinky: Put it into a plastic baggie and thaw it out in a warm water bath (NOT the microwave and NOT boiling water). It should have a temperature of between 98 and 100 degree. Once it feels like as if it's all thawed out, give it another five minutes, to make sure the brain thawed out as well (it's the last to do so). Now go and do the pinky dance (wiggle the mouse in front of the baby with tongs like as if it was alive).

The prefered way of feeding your snake would be in a feeding box to avoid accidental swallowing of bedding and to prevent it from becoming cage aggressive.

Your baby may not readily accept food as you plan on Saturday, due to being stressed out from moving in with you. Be prepared for that and don't panic! The people on this board have tricks up there sleeve to help you, if that should happen.

morti · #8 (**permalink**) 03-16-2007, 12:49 AM

Quote:

The prefered way of feeding your snake would be in a feeding box to avoid accidental swallowing of bedding and to prevent it from becoming cage aggressive.

I don't want to start an argument that is basically off topic, but most of the experts are backing off this idea... especially with balls. Because balls can be such picky feeders, most of them are saying that it is a better idea not to subject them to the stress of removing them from their environment. It's better to just feed them there so that they eat.

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