Feed your ball python an appropriately sized rodent weekly, no bigger around than the python at its largest point. Ball pythons can eat rats from the time they are young. Start off with rat pups or “crawlers” for younger snakes & move up in size as the animal grows. Do not handle your snake for at least a day after feeding, as this can lead to regurgitation. Ball pythons can be converted to feeding on frozen/thawed or pre-killed rodents.