Feeding a ball python: prey size and how often
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
The ball python (Python regius) is a slow-metabolism snake that eats little and digests slowly: overfeeding is a more common mistake than the opposite. In the wild, its diet shifts with size: a study on ball pythons from south-eastern Nigeria found that individuals under 70 cm feed almost exclusively on small birds, while adults over one metre switch to small mammals. In a terrarium, we mirror that logic with correctly sized prey. Find our other pointers in the food section.
Contents · 5 sections
What prey size to choose
The basic rule: the prey should not exceed the widest part of the snake's body, measured at the middle of the trunk. A young ball python starts on pinky mice, then moves to adult mice, hopper mice and small rats as it grows. Prey that is too large causes regurgitation, a serious incident that then requires several days of fasting before offering a smaller meal.
How often to feed
A juvenile eats every 5 to 7 days, a subadult every 7 to 10 days, and an adult only every 2 to 3 weeks. This slow rhythm matches the species' metabolism and prevents obesity, which is very common in captive ball pythons that are fed too often. Offering thawed rather than live prey stays safer: our guide to buying and storing frozen prey covers how to go about it.
Meal refusals, often normal
The ball python is famous for its hunger strikes, sometimes lasting several weeks or even months, especially in winter or during the breeding season. As long as the snake stays active and does not visibly lose weight, a seasonal fast is nothing to worry about: we devote a whole guide to it, seasonal fasting and feeding refusal in the ball python. Marked weight loss or folds along the flanks, on the other hand, warrant a vet visit.
Presenting the prey properly
Thawed prey is warmed to body temperature and offered with tongs, never by hand, to avoid anticipation bites. Moving the prey in front of the snake's heat-sensing pits often triggers the strike. The age-appropriate prey-size principle applies to most snakes: see our feeding a corn snake guide for another beginner species.
Frequently asked questions
Should I feed a ball python live prey?
No, it is unnecessary and riskier: live prey can bite and injure the snake. Thawed prey, warmed properly, is accepted by the vast majority of individuals.
My ball python hasn't eaten for a month, is that serious?
Often not, especially in winter: prolonged fasts are typical of the species. Monitor weight and general condition; visible weight loss, however, warrants a vet's opinion.
Can I handle my snake after a meal?
Wait at least 48 hours: handling too soon after a meal can cause regurgitation, which is hard on the snake.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Stick-on digital thermometer for aquarium and terrarium glass (€18.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Reptiles universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
