What Can Ball Pythons Eat Besides Rats?

[@bambitazzilla9377]

“& Let me tell you” “It’s pretty interesting” “It’s Kinda crazy” My favorite catch phrases of yours.

[@Placidtrip]

As a matter of fact!

[@amysscalesandtails2182]

We made a drinking game out of it 😂

[@sofiaobregon185]

"i actually have a video on that!"

[@allgasnobrakes919]

And “Essentially” he loves that word also!! Makes him sound SUPER INTELLIGENT 😂🤣😂🤣

[@SilentC90]

😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

[@pinkracoon101]

I’m a new ball python owner and I skim through channels looking for answers until I find the video I need and it’s always on this channel. Subscribed, thanks so much!

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

Happy to help!

[@beachmonkey9322]

Same here bro I just got mine and im hooked!

[@macy725]

Virgin domestic ball python: hmmmm no this isn't the proper breed of Himalayan pink mouse I won't eat it Chad Wild ball python: if it fits in my mouth it is food

[@stever3404]

Honestly I respect everyone's opinion but I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would click the dislike button on any of Chris Hardwicks video's.

[@marshinnawf3708]

I asked the same question love his videos

[@skm9420]

Peta, pita

[@linziRyan1965]

He’s great

[@ThatGuy-ub9tm]

presentation... put some effort into the vid, show some of the things youre talking about... there's nothing upvote worthy about 18 mins of a guy standing still talking to a camera. I'd rather just read a list.

[@stever3404]

@@ThatGuy-ub9tm Kind of ironic to complain or criticize " a guy standing in front of a camera" on a site that video based and then to follow up with I rather have a list. then why go to youtube and not a forum/reddit for a list lol.

[@Milacat]

I'm so excited watching all these videos! I got a corn snake last year and now I'm going to adopt a male bamboo bp soon. :> I'll pick up the 50 gallon tank next week, set it all up and then get the little bamboo guy. ♥ Watching so many of your videos, I surely got hooked on bps XD

[@glennjustus9839]

Hey Chris, excellent topic. I just heard about feeding chickens or quail to male ball pythons. The idea behind it is that they will stay in condition longer for breeding. When fed birds they're not as apt to get too large and heavy hence they would be lazy.

[@megs691]

Funny

[@ryanearl1081]

I've had a few ball pythons that would only eat mice or ASFs like you stated it can be hard to switch them to regular rats. If anyone is dealing with this issue with their ball python here's what I've done with great success and works with mice and ASFs. Start by taking your snakes food of choice is and put it in a box with some rat bedding that's only been used for a day or so. You don't want to over power the mouse or ASF with the rat odor. Do that for a couple weeks, then take a rat and have it sit in mouse or ASF bedding for awhile. You'll want the rat to smell like the snakes food of choice. In my experience, by the 3rd week I'll have the snake eating rats without smelling like mice or ASFs. One thing I have noticed, female breeders. I have an ASF only female and after the breeding season, to get her back on food I have had to offer her ASFs but she'll convert right back to rats within a few weeks. If you don't have ASF or mouse bedding. Go to your local reptile shop and ask for a bag full. Freeze it between feedings to help preserve the odor.

[@ambertornatore6362]

Your abbreviating is confusing, why didn’t you say whatever ASF is & then abbreviate it, I have a snake as well but I’m brand new with all of this bc I rescued her so please don’t abbreviate words bc some people just want to feed the snake and be done with it!!

[@fathersonreptiles]

I breed soft furs and feed them to all of my snakes. I have 29 and never had one miss a meal. On top of that, they have been growing quite fast. They’re all shedding every 3-4 weeks. Soft furs are the natural food of the ball python. A lot of ppl have problems breeding them but I never had an issue. Started with 2 males and 8 females. Separated 1.4 each colony. I now have 5 colonies and 4 grow out bins. They have litters every 21 days. My only dislike is that they take a little more time to grow for the bigger snakes. Other than that, the smell is basically non existent and they’re very easy to breed as long as you dial in the high protein intake.

[@250Scarr]

Hey what do you do about the smell?

[@mwanderson667]

I'm a newb python owner and had no idea there was a difference in rats and mice other than size... So that is good to know.

[@dafresh1]

my 15 yr old male had his first med rat, did great. only had adult mice til then but I would occasionally do two mice a week. Thanks for the video

[@jaysonoliveira4752]

Wow I live in MA, and there's only 1 local pet shop that has live rats, I pay $5.25 for a small rat. That = $21.00 a month, and she's only 38" the mediums go for $6.00. ?????? Kind of glad she goes off from December to March. Will see this winter how she does.

[@Ben_E_Boi]

Thanks for the video man, stay high AF for us!

[@robertbailey4454]

Bobby looked like he was ordering lunch. I'll take a #5 hold the calcium and can I get a #9 to go? Thanks!

[@vanillagorillas_6969]

Keep the ball python videos up !!! Great stuff

[@IdeaNeverSleeps]

I feed my BP in variety, Rat, mouse, chick, hamster, gerbil, quail and sometimes my fingers

[@NickThorbjørnsen2207]

I dont have ball Pythons, they're illegal in Australia, however my Murray Darling carpet and my Carpet python have started on pigeons and they love them.

[@bonniebunny6997]

I like to feed my snakes a varied diet. My 8 year old Male who is quite a big boy and almost 5ft long has eaten everything on this list. Hes the most unfussy royal ever and takes anything I offer. My other snakes get fed a mixture of mice, rats and African soft furs. I breed them all myself. The mice are mainly for my owl however but the snakes get a few now and then.

[@lordleatch]

U have a owl

[@bonniebunny6997]

@@lordleatch yes i do. A barn owl called Token

[@lordleatch]

@@bonniebunny6997 that’s crazy I always wanted one but heard the maintenance on them is crazy high

[@MistakezWeRMade_]

@@lordleatch a wild Owl that you feed or an actual owl you Hold and care for?? Either way it’s pretty awesome.

[@karyannfontaine8757]

I have a 15 year old male who will not eat rats. He is a die hard mouser. While not a long snake, he is at a healthy weight. He is also a confirmed breeder. I used to feed quail to my ferrets, but they seem very large for a Ball Python, unless you can buy very young ones.

[@paulharrison7126]

You can buy day old quail , (probably too small for an adult ball python) or you can buy a cheap incubator with an auto turning function and hatch some eggs and grow the chicks put to the size you need, they gain size rapidly 6-8 weeks from hatch to fully mature, eggs take around 16-19days to hatch at 37.5°c, well worth keeping a small flock if you have a large collection or enjoy eating eggs (females lay 1 egg per day )

[@sinandcyanide7505]

One of my girls will only eat ASFs. It's a pain. Breeding them is so slow its hard to keep up with feeding, but she was a mouser and wouldn't touch rats, even live, and that's as a hatchling. She's grown well on them through. Hatched at 16 grams and just had her first birthday and had hit 500g. She had a couple of months where she refused food at all until I found ASFs and then she started eating every time with very few refusals.

[@jase123111]

My ball pythons favourite food is quail. I breed quail and if I get a deformed or I'll one I feed it to my python rather than wates it's life throwing it away. My ball python had never refused a meal and I am soo lucky he is a great feeder. He will eat anything u offer too, nice, rats, quail, chicks, and even ate a baby pigeon that was from my flick and had a broken hip.

[@680ecks]

Fed some checks last night that I got on sale . They where small so I gave them to give of my ball pythons that are 100-130 grams including a very fussy female I have and they all are them . Three strikes and two I just put in and they disappeared. I am going to work them In but stick mostly to rats .

[@timothyrose7581]

In my specific area I live about 1 mile away from a chicken/ duck/quail hatchery since feeding has slowed down a good bit in my snake room I might just try something different to keep them feeding

[@Wingedshadowwolf]

Quail breed and mature pretty fast too!

[@Schiza001]

I’ve heard from friends that breed snakes that feathered feeders can make them sterile. Could be incorrect but this is what they always said about it.

[@whiteviper1979]

That's BS 🐂💩! I occasionally feed feathered birds too them! In the wild Ball pythons among other snakes have eaten small birds and it doesn't make them sterile!

[@680ecks]

There is a guy with some vids about ball Pythons and he had a bunch of research about what they eat in the wild . The info was showing they eat alot of birds . I have a female lesser that has been a bad eater since i got her she only eats every 4-5 weeks or so she is growing very slowly but doing ok . So chicks where on special so i got a bag . She was not interested in the least nor was my male banana that has skipped a few meals so i offered it to him . The research had shown that the males in the wild had eaten more birds than the females. So i dont know but none of mine where interested in chicks.

[@robertbailey4454]

Maybe you have gay snakes? lol

[@680ecks]

@@robertbailey4454 oh dont like chicks, took me a while to get it . I will love them the same anyway! Would like babys though. Does suck the little lesser just doesn't eat good . Got her as a hatching and have been waiting hoping she would start eating for me . I have 10 others i am raising up in the same conditions with no problems .

[@alleykat6171]

I saw that video too,I think it was called reptile research.

[@annmurry1628]

Here in Australia it cost $40 for a baby rabbit

[@animalwhisperer4653]

Rats are really good for them

[@CatNip379]

Ha! "My snake is CHICK DEPENDENT" lol

[@Katt30]

....wish I had a place here that sold rats for only a dollar and change. The closest places with feeders to me charges $6 for a small to medium ._. Fortunately I found a store that sells them for only $2. Only downside is, the store's 25 minutes away. But nothing is cheaper than them

[@andreheise1170]

Breed your own rats, it is not that complicated and cheap after the initial costs.

[@ronaldcolejr4132]

Great video Chris. Monty ( cupcake) is doing great and says hi!

[@blankspace178]

I have a guppy bowl in my terrarium, my ball python seems to enjoy fishing up his own snacks.

[@jennifertashik298]

Shut up! I want to know more! I love that and want to do that .

[@williamwilcox794]

I don't think ball pythons eat a minnow

[@m.morris3899]

Question of the day. How much does Bobbie weigh?

[@germaineparham9372]

How big of a rat will even the largest balls eat ? Cus some people say they feed Large in snake was still looking or acking hungry . So can they eat collosal , jumbo , xxL rats ?

[@albatraozgirl]

It depends on the size of the snake. The rule of thumb is the thickest part of the snake should be the same size as the thickest part of the rat.

[@niagarareptiles7017]

My understanding is that the ASF rat (which i have raised for some time), has a much higher quality protein than your normal fancy rat. Also, the protein amount is actually higher than your normal rat for the same weight. As such it's really hard to compare protein value. Also, the diet of the rat and its health will also create variables in how much protein a rat has verse another rat. It's easier to compare completely different species on average than between the same species of different weights and quality.

[@sinandcyanide7505]

As far as growth, my best friend and I ended up with female BPs the same age at the same time. She fed hers mice and I did mice in the beginning them soft furs. None had some feeding issues in the early months, my friend's always ate- I don't think that snake has missed more than a meal or two in a year. We moved in together a couple of months ago and I got my friend's snake transitioned to rats only and she's picked up a lot of weight, but she's sitting at 385g while my problem feeder is at 500g. A mouse diet definitely doesn't help them grow well. She just got a new baby and is making sure he's rat only. I breed them so he's already getting rat pinkies instead of hopper mice.

[@giftedbuthumble]

Great content keep it up!!!

[@GioBunny.818]

Very informative! Thanks you for all your content 🙂

[@BornNewKing]

Hey, love the vids. Could you maybe talk a little about how much electricity an ARS rack uses??? I currently have a 200 amp panel and am having to upgrade to a 400 amp panel (2 - 200 amp panels), due to the hybrid 7020 rack constantly blowing fuses.

[@azzikko2688]

Amazing video, thanks for this research.

[@davidjager23]

Hey Chris I have a question. I'm getting into breeding ball pythons and I was wondering if you would make me an incubator from a soda machine like what you've got and sell it to me? Or explain how to make it if not?

[@Duzzer_One]

Quite simple there are videos on here on how to convert them into incubators

[@saintedcat3140]

@@Duzzer_One yeah I’m pretty sure snake discovery made a vid on how to make one too

[@Duzzer_One]

@@saintedcat3140that's a great channel

[@fathersonreptiles]

Morph mixology has great diy on incubators and racks

[@jameswilkison9739]

Wete can i sell a baby bold python

[@volunteerpythons4052]

Hi Chris love your videos. Question for ya please. How long after my female lays eggs should I wait to breed her. My female fire laid eggs about 2 months ago and has been pounding rats ever since and is almost back to her laying weight. Is the time right or should I wait some more?

[@SpartanReptiles]

Great video! Very informative 🤙🏻

[@ambertornatore6362]

Literally just want to know if I can feed my snake a white egg, it can’t be much different from all the other eggs they eat, just make it room temperature but I’m sure you have a ton to say about it!

[@sgsp770]

Does your ball python have a head wobble and a kink or I’m I just imagining it

[@nileist6666]

Damn i pay 3$cnd per adult mouse in western Canada....where do i get them at your rates....do u sell?

[@Slicc_Partna-sv6wy]

I wish I could get a rat for $5, Petco taxing 13.99 for a small rat and 6.59 for a mouse, I had to start breeding my own

[@Thathighguy175]

Love the videos man but I have a question I have a ball but I can’t place the morph, how would I go about getting that figured out if possible? And easy to watch videos again

[@rp573]

Chris has videos on how to spot different genes. If that doesn’t help go to morphmarket and start researching. That’s what I do

[@piperatoms5926]

You can literally snap a picture and post it to the morph market forum. Snake experts up the wazzoo and theyre all super helpful.

[@hannahthefallenangel788]

You could post it on reddit

[@melteague117]

Post a photo of it on MorphMarket.com community page.

[@dethofasalesmanhoneyboi5577]

African soft furred usually switch mousers to them and they are better nutritionally

[@irenelacson2855]

Hi Chris! Me and My husband are such bigs fans of yours. We're from the Philippines and we are loving parents of less than year ballpythons (we have 4) We learned alot from you regarding ballpythons from how to take care of them and different genes... I wanted to know what an "exploratory bite" is? My ballpython baby, the most tamed and calmed one, bit me without striking, she literally just opened her mouth and bit into my hands slowly. I was kinda shock cause she wasn't in defensive or aggressive mode. What do you think it is?

[@Kcin1988]

What is your Opinion on Repti-Links? Was thinking about trying that will mine.

[@680ecks]

My garters love the micro links mostly the quail then rabbit and last frog. I ordered some bigger ones expected a long sausage but got almost a round ball short one so I messed up and they are not usable . I wanted to try them and still may but $30 waisted is a bummer . Be careful how you order so you get what you want . Also there is a minimum for shipping so you can't just try one pack so that sucks think it is $75.

[@samanthawinslett202]

That's a gorgeous bamboo you have there 😁

[@gregoryfortenberry1764]

I've hatched chickens and quail already for awhile quail are quick to lay about 6-8 weeks old they'll start laying eggs

[@DiegoCR17]

Such a good video!

[@nopressure8821]

When should I switch my snake to a rat pup. He is about 2 months only im terrified of making him a mouser only....

[@ibelievewhatiknow8745]

I pay 5 bucks for live smedium rats ... always seems too small ... is that average price?

[@brc8503]

My corn snake eats talipia and salmon

[@kimberleymarkova3641]

How do you prepare the Tilapia? I am looking for flexitarian diet suggestions

[@AllAloneAwesome7272]

Very informative

[@Snakeman19781]

I’ve been told by a few breeders that ASF’s was like crack for ball pythons lol

[@latasha6100]

...so it makes them act crazy?

[@andreheise1170]

This is true. My snakes often eat ASF when they denie to eat rats. But some ball python are hard to switch to rats when they got ASF, this is true too. But I think most picky eaters would take rats when they get really hungry. Many people and breeders want their snakes to eat every time, so many ball pythons get their ASF instead of rats just to make the owner happy ;-)

[@FelixS.]

Hamsters.

[@Bildgesmythe]

Thanks I was wondering about this.

[@DoorisJ]

You should put some generators on those wheels and make some power lol

[@wintermillennium]

prepare for a fecal Jackson Pollock if you start feeding chicks :P

[@jajatus2002]

So quick we're better or about the same as a rat?

[@TheVendale]

Can anyone tell me what the food animal after the hamster is ? english is not my native language and i did not get it right ....?!?

[@chesterswingjr9796]

So I guess small children are out??? JUST KIDDING!!! I figured I better say that before anyone has a hissy fit!!!

[@Stormy_88]

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I am looking to buy a thermostat to make my own incubator out of an old sobe fridge/cooler. What incubator should I buy, I am currently looking at the VE100... Would that do the job?

[@christopherologist]

I think the ve200s have an alarm. I would want one with an alarm, or is a separate cheap thermometer with an alarm.

[@jeffreyhillier6141]

Question about hairless rats. Chris are there any benefits of going hairless when feeding ball pythons ? I've never thought about it until now..

[@ettinakitten5047]

I can think of a drawback: unfortunately the hairless trait in rats comes with health problems. Depending on which gene they have, it can make them have immunodeficiency, kidney problems, misaligned teeth (a really bad problem for rats because they need to wear their teeth down), cancer, etc. Immunodeficiency would be particularly bad for a breeding stock because you tend to have a lot of rats together.

[@carloszamora3337]

Cool stuff

[@AngusBeef0]

if you're buying chicks for yourself you can buy some extra for your snakes. Check out deals for cheap rooster chicks.

[@lightsout176]

Wow, good info, ty

[@DaniPooo]

Hmm just a thought. About the fat content.. I thought we debunked the myth that eating fat makes us fat, And that it's in fact the carbs that is actually converted into to fats in our tissues. Does it work differently with snakes?

[@Snakeman19781]

I feed A ASF one week a mouse one week and a rat for 2 weeks every month and I have around 50 BP I do have a mouser and she was like that when I bought her and the mouse have a high fat content

[@patrickalilbitofeverything5181]

Great content

[@funnygaming2672]

The ASF is not really a problem that they grown slow or if you get too many that are ready to be feed off they will never get too big for a ball python same for mice but a rat will get too big if you don't cull them ...

[@macy725]

My ball python will eat anything small and furry/feathery in his tank.

[@maximilianzaff2517]

thanks i thought about getting a bp for a while and now decided i dont want to cuz i find mice and rats cute

[@johncunliffe3561]

In a pinch I've fed chunks of pork chops to my ball pythons. They did fine on them.

[@alleykat6171]

People will pay top dollar, for a python that would it pork chops.

[@kimberleymarkova3641]

Seriously? Tell me how to prepare and feed this please

[@johncunliffe3561]

@@kimberleymarkova3641 just wash the chops really well and cut them into pieces. Not really any different than feeding piglets to a retic or anaconda. Mine had no hesitation hitting the chops. Just make sure to rinse the face and mouth with a spray bottle of clean warm water afterwards

[@richcorbett6491]

Hey guys how are you my guy my girl rather won’t need anything but nice if I go to Petco they’re five dollars each so I got a lady in Flushing two dollars for any mouse it could be a pinky or it could be a full grown it’s all two dollars and sometimes she’ll eat one and sometimes eat four and she’s happy for like a week she won’t eat frozen 🥶 have a happy thanksgiving

[@Mark_Bloom]

How about reptilinks? ;)

[@Stealthcookie]

When are the rabbit enclosures coming?

[@jmc655]

It's like 5$ a rat at the pet store near me.

[@Snakeman19781]

And what is your website I’d love to own some of your bloodline

[@Trueknowledgeisfree]

What about giving them large crickets?

[@truthfirst2152]

I actually feed my snakes bearded dragons

[@jase123111]

I feed mine feeder kittens and puppies. Also chopped up panda and unicorns.

[@saintedcat3140]

@@jase123111 bro same on the unicorns, I also fed mine joe exotic

[@kimberleymarkova3641]

Mine are all vegan

[@Wolflover-wt7nl]

Can you please make a vid of things ball pythons eat that is not an other animal

[@alexisrutjes4412]

Ball pythons are carnivores

[@Wolflover-wt7nl]

@@alexisrutjes4412 I know *now* but thank you

[@rashikachand2661]

You should've shown images of these animals

[@amirathelazykid600]

Should the rat be dead?

[@dethofasalesmanhoneyboi5577]

Asf’s take twice as long to grow out

[@megs691]

I love ur snake

[@sammythai99]

What about dumbo rats? That's what I feed my snakes

[@shrimuyopa8117]

We own chickens and had some chicks. I tired to feed one live to my snake when the chick was only two days old. My snake wouldn't touch it. I was sad because it would have been a cheap way to feed my snake.

[@davejames2015]

Is Bobby just a bit heavy lol 🤣

[@BASSY_the_bass]

Can you feed them lizards

[@johnhammond9164]

Bullfrog?

[@Gta_gel]

I got a question

[@lisaespinosa3231]

Do you sell feeder rats?

[@gregwilliams853]

Cant find gerbils here in California, there illegal to own here.

[@dethofasalesmanhoneyboi5577]

And they won’t get past 60gs or so unless they are breeders then they can get up to 80 or so grams

[@zyephenz8466]

Could also probably do lizards, no?

[@michaelross5674]

Rodent pro and perfect prey... But they are exspensive.... Actually if you go to rodent pro ... If you go to a NERD video there is a promo u can always use....the only thing i switch up is my reticulated python...i want to find some baby pigs..

[@jamesrowe327]

How do you thaw your rats an mouse. Love your video.

[@michaelross5674]

Thaw in cold water as you would your meat we eat...... Then dump water out and do tap water as hot as you can stand and let them sit in it a few times letting them warm up ... Once warm I'll heat a little water in microwave and dip heads in to give good heat signature... And feed the only con is you have to dry rats if u have substrate.....