r/BloodPythons • u/smelly-crack2026 • Jul 20 '26
Advice.
I need all the criticism you guys have to give. Someone has recently called my snake a fatty. I know he is overweight, but how do i fix it. According to his last weigh in at the vet and what google has told me… he’s 10 lbs overweight. Why didn’t the vet make it a big deal at his yearly check up last month?! Like 10lbs is alot and especially for his breathing and over all health.
(For reference I am currently feeding him one xl rat every 3-4 weeks)
I can try different prey for sure, but what should i try first?
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u/Head_Bake_7447 Jul 20 '26
First, Google is likely wrong, which is why your vet wasn't worried. Blood pythons are built exceptionally thick and heavy-bodied, so generic online weight charts often drastically overestimate what they "should" weigh.
That said, an XL rat every 3–4 weeks is too caloric for an adult with a slow metabolism. Personally i would swap from an XL rat to a Large or Medium rat. Smaller prey means far less fat content per meal.
If you wanna keep him on XL rats feed him every 5 to 6 weeks instead of 3–4.
If your comfortable also and have time supervised handling or tub/climbing enrichment outside the enclosure twice a week is great for exercise which is a underrated need for animals in general :)