Ball Python Feeding Chart by Weight
Last updated: · Reviewed against sources listed below
This ball python feeding chart shows what size rat to feed a ball python and how often, based on weight. Young snakes eat prey weighing 10–15% of their body weight every 5–10 days, while adults eat prey weighing 5–10% of their body weight about every 2 weeks.
Your snake’s feeding plan
- Prey weight
- Prey size
- Feed every
- Prey per month
This is the same calculator as our snake feeding calculator, preset for ball pythons.
Ball Python feeding chart
Weigh your snake in grams, find its row, and pick the rodent size whose weight falls inside the prey range.
| Snake weight | Prey weight | Typical prey size | Feed every |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchling 60–200 g | 10–15% of body weight about 6–30 g (0.2–1.1 oz)6–30 g | fuzzy mouse → adult mouse | 5–7 days |
| Juvenile 200–500 g | 10–15% of body weight about 20–75 g (0.7–2.6 oz)20–75 g | adult mouse → small rat | 7–10 days |
| Sub-adult 500–1,000 g | 10–12% of body weight about 50–120 g (1.8–4.2 oz)50–120 g | small rat → medium rat | 10–14 days |
| Adult 1,000 g and up | 5–10% of body weight about 50–250 g (1.8–8.8 oz)50–250 g | small rat → large rat | 14 days |
What size rat for a ball python?
Choose prey that weighs about 10–15% of your snake’s body weight while it is growing, and 5–10% once it is an adult. The prey should also be no wider than the widest part of your snake. For example, a 300 g juvenile eats prey of about 30–45 g, which is a weaned rat or a jumbo mouse. A 1,500 g adult eats prey of about 75–150 g: a small to medium rat. Size names vary between suppliers, so always check the weight in grams.
Most keepers move ball pythons from mice to rats early, because one rat of the right size replaces several mice and rats are a more complete meal for a large snake. Feeder rodent labels differ between suppliers, so go by the weight printed on the package.
How often to feed a ball python
Hatchlings under about 200 g eat every 5–7 days. Juveniles up to about 500 g eat every 7–10 days. Sub-adults up to about 1,000 g eat every 10–14 days, and adults eat about every 14 days. Adult females being prepared for breeding may eat more often; males often eat less in breeding season.
Weigh your snake every two to four weeks. If it is gaining steadily and looks rounded but not bulging, the plan is working. Our calculator adjusts both prey size and interval if your snake is underweight or overweight.
Live vs. frozen-thawed for ball pythons
Frozen-thawed prey is the standard recommendation. A live rat can bite and seriously injure a snake that is not hungry, and frozen prey is easier to buy in bulk and store. Thaw prey in the fridge overnight, then warm it in a sealed bag in warm water until it reaches about body temperature. Never microwave prey. Offer it with tongs and a little movement to trigger a strike.
Why won’t my ball python eat?
Ball pythons are famous for refusing food. Common reasons include an upcoming shed (look for cloudy eyes), a recent move, temperatures that are too low, hides that are too open, breeding season and the cooler months. Ball python refusing food in winter is especially common in adult males and is usually harmless if the snake is not losing much weight.
First check temperatures and hides, then wait a week and try again. Try a different prey size or type, feed at night, and leave the snake alone after it eats. Avoid handling for 48 hours after a meal.
See a reptile vet if your ball python loses more than about 10% of its body weight, refuses food for more than a month as a juvenile, or shows signs such as wheezing, bubbles at the nose, mouth swelling, regurgitation or stuck shed around the eyes.
What ball pythons can and can’t eat
Good foods
- Frozen-thawed rats (main food for most adults)
- Frozen-thawed mice (hatchlings and small juveniles)
- African soft-furred rats (for fussy eaters)
- Appropriately sized prey, no wider than the snake’s body
Avoid
- Live prey left unattended
- Prey much wider than the snake’s body
- Microwaved or partially thawed prey
- Wild-caught rodents (parasites, poisons)
- Handling within 48 hours after a meal
Frequently asked questions
How long can a ball python go without eating?
Healthy adult ball pythons can go several weeks, and sometimes months, without eating, especially in breeding season or winter, while losing little weight. Young snakes have fewer reserves. Weigh your snake regularly: if it loses more than about 10% of its body weight, see a reptile vet.
Should I feed my ball python in its enclosure?
Yes, most keepers now feed in the enclosure. Moving a snake to a separate feeding box adds handling and stress and does not prevent bites. Use tongs so the snake learns to associate the tongs, not your hand, with food.
Can I feed my ball python two small prey instead of one large one?
Yes. If the right weight falls between sizes, two smaller prey items that add up to the target weight are a safe option. Offer them one after the other at the same meal. Check that the combined weight stays within the range for your snake, and do not handle it for 48 hours afterward.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Snakes: Feeding
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Reptiles (Pet Owner Version)
- Wildwood Veterinary Hospital — Ball Python Care
- ReptiFiles — Ball Python Feeding
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Snakes: Owning
- RodentPro — Frozen Rats (sizes by weight)
- RodentPro — Guide to Frozen Feeder Mouse Sizes
Where sources disagree we show the range they share. See our sources and methodology for how every number is checked.