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Can Ball Pythons Eat Hamsters?

Mice and rats are too familiar with the ball pythons diet. Owners want a new option to keep their pet entertained? And the hamster is on the standby list. 

This article will let you know if hamsters can be fed to ball pythons. Every meal is not good for a ball python, and certain foods are highly damaging to the ball python.

This article has been reviewed by Dr. Gospel. Read more about our knowledge control process here.

Can Ball Pythons Eat Hamsters?

Can Ball Pythons Eat Hamsters?

Yes, ball pythons can eat hamsters in the wild and captivity. You may feed them without worry because hamsters are one of the most favored foods among ball pythons.

Many people give the hamster to their ball pythons as a staple food since the hamster is high in protein and has a variety of other nutrients that the ball python may benefit from.

Good read: Ball Pythons In The Wild: Their Natural Habitat

Why should you offer hamsters? (Pros)

Why should you offer hamsters? (Pros)

The fact that the ball python lives to feed on hamsters is one of the most essential reasons. Despite their small size, they like eating hamsters without a doubt.

Because of the ball python’s finicky nature, some ball pythons exclusively eat hamsters and refuse to consume rats or mice.

Hamsters are high in proteins and other nutrients. They make a good meal for your pet. For a hamster that is extra large in size, it can provide approximately 6 kcal/g. 

It can also provide 15.59% crude protein, 10.86% crude fat, 0% crude fiber, 69.7% moisture, and 2.35% ash.

It will also assist to maintain the ball python healthy, and there is no danger or negative consequences to feeding a hamster to the ball python. 

Because of its excellent nutritional content and ability to be used as a staple feed for the ball python, the hamster is a fantastic alternative to mice or rats.

The hamster is also enjoyed by the ball python, and the hamster does not hurt the ball python in any way.

Unlike rats or mice, which you may feed alive to the ball python, humanely euthanize the hamster before feeding the ball python.

Why shouldn’t you offer hamsters? (Cons)

Because hamsters are not as large as mice, they may not fill the stomach of the ball python. Otherwise, it is a nice alternative for the ball python, and they may enjoy their hamster meal without fear of damage.

Furthermore, the hamster is a more expensive option as compared to mice and rats, which is why many people prefer not to feed the ball python with hamsters, and hamsters are not always accessible on the market.

Alternatives other than Hamster To Feed Your Ball Python

Alternatives other than Hamster To Feed Your Ball Python

In terms of the feeder option, There are lots of them. You should have no trouble obtaining the items such as rats, mice, chicks, quail, multimammate mice, and Guinea pigs.

Check out: What Do Ball Pythons Eat? The complete List

Ball Python Diet In Captivity

Ball Python Diet In Captivity

Ball pythons, like other snakes, devour a variety of prey sizes depending on their size.

Snakes that are smaller and younger can consume giant insects, but they should eat pinkies and fuzzies until they become larger. Adult ball pythons enjoy eating rats.

The majority of captive ball pythons consume rats and mice, and some even eat chicken and fowl.

Multimammate mice, which ball pythons would eat in the wild, are fed to certain keepers’ ball pythons. Owners buy feeder animals frozen and defrost them to give to their pythons.

Feeding eggs, fish, insects, or other meals to ball pythons that do not eat those foods in the wild is not a good idea. Also, stick to a feeding schedule to prevent your pet from overeating.

Check out: Ball Python Feeding Chart: Feeding made easy!

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Conclusion

Ball pythons can generally consume hamsters. However, this still depends on their size, larger ones can consume even larger prey such as hamsters.

The ball python is a popular pet because of its unique characteristics. 

But, in exchange, you must look after them so that they may have a happy and healthy life within the confines of captivity.

You should also learn how to communicate with a ball python so that you may form a deep relationship with them and avoid causing each other problems.

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