When learning about ball python diet and feeding, it’s important to know which food and prey items to feed, what size foods to feed, how often to feed a baby and adult ball python, and other things such as how to tell when a ball python is hungry. In this post, you will find a full guide ball python diet with feeding chart and schedule, food sizes and other tips.
Ball pythons are notorious for losing their appetite – which can be caused for no reason as well. If your ball python is not eating, please read this post to identify possible issues (new tab).
What should I feed my ball python?
You should feed your young ball python frozen thawed mice or rats and then gradually increase the size. You should transition your young ball pythons of over 200-300 grams to eating rats, as they are bigger in size.
Please note, that most ball pythons get used to eating only one type of prey, and will have issues switching to something else. That’s especially true once your ball python gets older. That’s why it’s important to start switching to rats early (mice will be too small when it becomes older).
Baby ball pythons will get full from 1 small sized prey, but an adult might need 1-2. Most ball pythons do not eat more than 1-3 prey items per feeding. That’s why you would have to offer something larger, such as rats.
Stick to feeding mice and rats. While you can offer gerbils or other rodents, but they might be more expensive and harder to find for sale. And because ball pythons generally have a hard time switching, make sure you offer something that you can always get.
Should I feed my ball python mice or rats?
You should start with feeding your hatchling baby ball python smaller mice fuzzy or hopper mice for the first few feedings. However, most people get a ball python that’s over 100 grams, and you can start switching to rats straight away.
Feeding one larger meal is always better than trying to feed two smaller ones. That’s because your ball python might accept only 1 food item, and refuse to eat more. Also, it is easier to digest 1 prey item, rather than few. Rats are larger than mice.
What should I feed my baby ball python?
You should feed a baby ball python, which is under a year old, smaller mice or rats. As your ball python grows and gains weight, switch to larger sized rodents. That will make sure that your ball python perceives and accepts what you offer as food.
If feeding frozen mice or rats, make sure to thaw them properly before offering. Don’t use a microwave to heat food items, as it will cook its insides and can burn your ball python when it eats it.
It will also lead to bacterial growth and tissue deterioration. Most ball pythons won’t accept food unless it’s warm, as they have heat sensing pits that help detect prey.
Thaw frozen rodents in a fridge overnight, and then you can heat them in a bag by inserting in hot water/under a lamp. Heating a thawed rodent to 100-105 F (37.7-40.5 C) is ideal for your ball python.
Don’t leave food items outside for too long, as it can lead to bacterial growth. Dry and heat the prey items before offering.
How often should I feed a ball python?
You should feed a ball python from 0-1 years old around once in 5-7 days. Then, you should feed a sub-adult to an adult ball python from 1-3 years old once in 10-14 days.
Once your ball python reaches maturity at around 3 years old, feed it once in 2-2.5 weeks, or even 3 weeks if offering a larger meal.
How much to feed a ball python? Feeding chart
How much you need to feed your python is very important. Weighing your ball python and food items will be the most reliable way to determine how much to feed your ball python. This is how to break it down:
| Ball python age and weight | How often to feed | Size of a feeder prey item |
| Hatchling | Every 5-7 days | Small fuzzy/hopper mouse or similar. First meal is often 2 weeks after first shed |
| 1-12 months old, or up to 750 grams, whichever first | Every 5-7 days | 12-15% of your ball python’s weight. Start switching to rats at 150 grams+ |
| 1-3 years old | 10-14 days, gradually decrease | 5-7% of your ball python’s weight. 1-2 food items |
| 3 years old and over (adult) | Once in 2-2.5 weeks, or once in 3-3.5 weeks if offering a large meal. | 3-5% of your ball python’s weight. You can feed few mice, but it’s better to feed 1 larger rat |
| Ball python age and weight | Example of rodent weight and size |
| Hatchling ball python, 70-90 grams, first 3-5 meals | Mouse hopper or pinky rat (around 7-12 grams) |
| 100-150 grams | Mouse hopper and then change to small weaned mice, or fuzzy rat (10-20 grams). You can start switching to rats |
| 150-200 grams | Small/weaned mouse/fuzzy rat (15-20 grams) |
| 200-250 grams | Large/adult mouse or rat pup (20-25 grams, up to around 30g for rat pups) |
| 250-300 grams | Adult mouse, then change to X-Large mouse (around 30-35 grams), or rat pup (30 grams) |
| 300-350 grams | Weaned rats (30-45 grams), or X-large/Jumbo mouse (35-40 grams) |
| 350-500 grams | Weaned and then small rats (up to 60 grams, when ball python reaches 450-500 grams), or Jumbo mouse |
| 500-750 grams | Small rat (60-70 grams) or 2 adult mice, or up to 10-15% of your ball python’s weight if under 2 years of age, |
| 750-1500 grams | Small-medium rat or 2-3 adult mice (60-100 grams). If ball python is over 2 years of age, calculate 5-7% |
| 1500 grams+ (3 years old and over) | Medium to lower end range weight Large rat, or 3 large mice, or 2 smaller rats |
For example, for a juvenile ball python, you can get a bag of frozen adult mice like this. Larger mice will be around 1-1.5 months old. However, as your ball python gets larger (up to a year old or so), you will need to either feed 2-3 mice, or switch to small adult rats.
Please use a digital kitchen scales like this to measure prey’s weight and your ball pythons weight (monthly).
Please start switching from mice to rats at 100-150+ grams, sooner, the better. As your ball python grows, you will need to offer larger sized rats. It’s always better to feed 1 larger prey item, than few smaller ones.
Please remember, that the table only presents approximate weights and sizes of rats. Some ball pythons will grow much quicker, reaching 1kg by 2 years of age, while others only by 2.5.
Mice and rat sizes will also differ. The most correct thing to do is to weigh your ball python and mice, and calculate percentages as shown in the first table.
Ball python food size
Food size for ball pythons is important – prey’s thickest girth should be a bit less or equal to thickest girth of your ball python.
Make sure you offer right sized food – your ball python won’t eat any prey items that are too small. And, feeding prey items that are too large can cause regurgitation. Feeding very large meal (or overly large rodents) might make your ball python not eat after, for a long period of time.
Should I feed my ball python live or frozen food?
You should always aim to feed your ball python frozen/thawed (f/t) mice or rats, instead of live prey items. That’s because live rodents might bite and injure your ball python, and feeding frozen prey items is more humane. Pre-killed (rodents just killed recently, might be used to help with feeding response in picky eaters or when switching).
Ball pythons are also shy creatures, and don’t like being presented with live prey. This might also cause unnecessary stress. If a prey rodent bites your ball python, it can lead to infections and even death. So, even if feeding live rodents at the moment, you should soon consider moving to f/t rodents.
While smaller mice that don’t have their eyes open yet are not likely to attack back, you should get your ball python used to eating frozen mice/rats. Some ball pythons that start eating live prey cannot switch to frozen mice/rats and might skip meals.
When to feed a ball python? Day or night?
Ball pythons are mainly nocturnal snakes, so they won’t eat during the day. Feed your ball python after twilight/sunset, as that’s when your ball python will be interested in eating.
They start coming out late, by the end of the day – that’s when you should feed it. Make sure your ball python’s tank is warm enough to aid digestion. Ball pythons don’t require any significant night temperature drops – make sure it’s at 80-83 Fahrenheit (26.7-28.3 Celsius) through the night.
You can read more about ball python tank heating and ideal temperatures here.
How to feed a ball python?
You will need to feed your ball python by offering a mouse/rat with feeding hemostat/tongs like this. Wiggle the prey item, to spike your ball python’s interest. Grasp a prey rodent on the back and wiggle until your ball python constricts. Once it constricts, keep wiggling a bit longer so it can constrict harder.
Wash your hands after handling prey items, before you start feeding your ball python. What is more, if offering thawed food items, heat them first for 10-15 minutes under a lamp or similar. Heat a rodent after it has thawed in the fridge overnight.
You can put it in a bag to avoid wetting and submerge in hot water, or heat on a plate above boiling water. Ball pythons have heat sensing pits and warm and dry prey item will make them eat. Many ball pythons will reject a wet or cold food item.
Don’t offer prey items by hand – your ball python might sense heat coming off you and then bite you by mistake. Use feeding tongs to offer food. If offering live rodents, keep an eye and don’t leave an uneaten rodent in a cage alone with your ball python.
When offering a thawed/pre-killed rodent, leave your ball python alone after it has stricken. That’s because ball pythons are shy, and don’t like being watched eating. Allow up to few hours for your ball python to eat, up to 24 hours.
Should I feed a ball python in a cage or outside a cage?
You should feed your ball python inside its cage, and feeding it outside its cage is actually stressful. Moving your ball python causes it stress, as well as can lead to regurgitation.
Your ball python will also feel scared and vulnerable to eat outside its cage, thus can try to bite. Leave your ball python in its cage so it feels safe, and don’t handle for at least 3 days to let it digest a meal.
There are few things to follow for feeding your ball python, and you can avoid being bitten if you follow the rules. First of all, you must wash your hands properly after handling food items.
Secondly, you need to use long feeding tongs or hemostat like this when feeding, to avoid your ball python striking at your hand. Wiggle a prey and let your ball python take it. Sometimes, you can even leave a f/t prey in the cage with your ball python.
To avoid any substrate ingestion, place a mat, newspaper or similar under a food item. You can remove the mat after feeding. Make sure to check your ball python’s face pits regularly for any stuck substrate.
How to switch your ball python from mice to rats?
Some ball pythons get used to eating one type of food item, and will not accept anything else. For example, some ball pythons might not switch from mice to rats. This can also apply to eating only live or pre-killed mice/rats.
You can start switching your ball python from mice to rats when it hits around 100-200 grams. Sooner, the better.
Most ball pythons don’t have any issues switching, and accept rats straight away. Others might have an issue switching, and it can take weeks to months to get back on track. Please be patient and monitor your ball python’s weight.
If your ball python is not accepting rats after transition, you can use some tricks to help you.
#1: First of all, you can ‘scent’ a rat with mouse or its substrate, so that it has the smell. Gradually reduce scenting as your ball python is eating rats for few times in a row.
#2: Make sure to warm rat prey in warm water/under the lamp to elicit feeding response.
#3: Experiment with rat colors, ball pythons might have preferences. Stick to same color when switching, or try to experiment if needed.
#4: Offer a rat and a mouse together. If it only eats a small mouse, don’t offer another mouse to leave it a bit hungry. Keep offering a mouse + rat with next feedings. Over few weeks to couple months, reduce the size of a mouse and increase the size of a rat once it starts eating rats. Eventually, remove mice from the diet.
#5: If your ball python is not eating, skip 1-3 meals and then offer a scented rat. Constantly trying to feed a ball python when it’s not eating will only cause it not to eat for longer.
#6: If it’s not accepting rats, remove mice from the diet and only offer 1 appropriately sized rat.
How to switch your ball python from live to frozen?
It’s always a good idea to feed your ball python frozen/thawed rodents instead of live. That will save you money, time, and prevent any injuries/stress to your ball python and rodents.
To switch from live to frozen, you should always warm up prey items to 100 and even up to 110 F to elicit a feeding response. You can use an infrared thermometer like this to check the temperature. Also, make sure to properly wiggle and slightly (don’t push) rub a rodent against your ball python’s body and snout.
If your ball python is not accepting thawed prey, you can get pre-killed mouse/rats and start with that. Pre-killed rodents are ones that have been killed recently – you can request that from your local reptile shop or breeder.
If your ball python is not eating, please see this post on causes & tips.
What not to feed your ball python?
Never feed any wild-caught rats or mice, as they might be carrying ticks and fleas. What is more, they are going to be more aggressive, and can seriously injure and scare/stress your ball python.
Can ball pythons eat fish?
No, ball python will not accept fish as food and won’t attempt to eat it, as ball pythons eat warm-blooded creatures. Also, raw fish can be full of internal parasites that can harm your ball python.
Can ball pythons eat chicks?
While your ball python can eat chicks/chicken, it can also get used to eating them (even addicted). Ball pythons are picky eaters, so you must stick to food items that you will be able to get whenever needed.
Can ball pythons eat eggs?
No, ball pythons will not eat eggs as they won’t recognize it as food. Your ball python needs to eat warm-blooded prey food items.
Should I feed a ball python in shed?
No, you should skip meals when your ball python is in shed. That’s because your ball python is likely to refuse food, will be stressed and feel vulnerable.
How long can ball pythons go without eating?
Ball pythons are notorious for going off feed, and not eating for up to 3-4 months. In general, a ball python can go for 12 months, and even 1.5 years without eating, before starting to eat again.
If your ball python is not eating for few weeks, it can be normal. However, start taking action if it’s been more than 2-3 months. Also start taking action if there’s weight loss of above 5-10% of ball python’s body weight.
Do ball pythons need supplements?
No, ball pythons don’t need supplements. Because ball pythons eat a whole mouse or a rat, it gets all the vitamins and minerals from its bones, insides and so on, so you don’t need any additional supplements.
However, some owners advice to dust the prey items with calcium or a multivitamin with every few feedings. That’s because rodents raised in labs are not as nutritious and ones in the wild. Also, if you don’t use UVB in the cage, your ball python would benefit from some vitamin D3 and calcium.
If you wish, you can dust the prey item with calcium like this with every 4-5 feedings. You can also use a multivitamin like this with every 5-6 feedings (separately from calcium, switch).
How to tell if a ball python is hungry?
If a ball python is hungry, it will often start wandering around or start seeming more alert and watching its surroundings (testing cage limits) at night. Some ball pythons become more active day before and on the day of feeding, especially if you have a feeding schedule.
However, always make sure to set a feeding schedule once your ball python is eating normally. Don’t feed your ball python every time it seems active or alert, or it can lead to obesity. Ball python are opportunistic feeders, so you have to create a feeding schedule.
Can I handle my ball python before feeding?
Don’t handle any hatchling or new ball pythons before first 4-5 successful feeding sessions. With established ball pythons, you can generally handle before feeding as long as you have not touched prey items, but it’s always better to leave it alone on a feeding day.
How long to wait to handle a ball python after feeding?
Please allow at least 48 hours to handle your ball python after feeding. Handling before that will disrupt digestion, will cause stress and can cause regurgitation.
Ball python feeding tips and mistakes to avoid
- Heat and dry a mouse/rat before offering.
- Wash your hands after handling prey items and use feeding tongs/hemostats (at least 15″/38 cm long).
- Don’t feed a shedding ball python.
- Wiggle a pre-killed mouse or rat.
- Leave your snake alone after it has constricted the prey. Some ball pythons don’t like being watched eating.
- Don’t handle your ball python after feeding, for at least 2-3 days.
- Also, don’t handle your ball python straight before feeding and don’t move it to a separate container to feed. This increases chances of your ball python eating.
- Don’t leave the prey item in the cage for more than 24 hours, and watch your ball python is rodent is live.
Ball python water needs
Make sure you have a bowl with water for your ball python at all times in the cage. A good water bowl should be large to fit your ball python and not tip over, like this one. It’s a good idea to refresh water every 1-2 days if possible.
How long can ball python go without drinking water?
Ball pythons require fresh drinking water for drinking and soaking daily. In extreme circumstances, your ball python can go up to 7-10 days without drinking.