Ok, I took the plunge and have adopted an adult ball python and will be picking it up in a few weeks. I need advice on what size prey it should be fed so I can get some in advance. Also adopting an adult corn (same time making one trip), it is currently eating 2 adult mice or 1 rat pup which is better for it.

If he can take 2 adult mice he can take a small rat...The small rat would be more healthy for him Gratz on your new additions as well...I will be expecting pics you know how it works on this forum advice in exchange for pics

The general rule is the prey should be 1 and 1/2 the width of the snakes fattest point

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Ken
" The United States Marine Corps......sure we are a department of the Navy,,,,,,we're the MENS department "

Ken unfortunately I won't see the snakes before I pick them up and wanted to have food on hand so I no idea the size of the fattest part of the snake.

Savannah what is the difference between a small rat and a rat pup?

Rat pups are baby rats and are prolly only 1/3 the size of a small rat...rats are more nutri. then mice, they have more calcium and vits. Generally an adult BP should be able to take a small rat but as ken said it should be no bigger then 1 and 1/2 the width of the snakes fattest point.

I feed adult corns large mice, they do just fine on them. A rat pup is usually the size of a medium mouse, the pup stage is between pinkie and fuzzy and they generally don't weigh more than 10 grams. For the Ball, ask the previous home what they feed him, try to match that to start with. I have a 10 year old male, he eats small rats...when he eats.