Frozen mouse sizes: pinky to jumbo
The short answer: pick a prey item about as wide as your snake's widest point — or, for young snakes, roughly 10-15% of the snake's body weight. When in doubt between two sizes, go smaller: a slightly small meal is safe, while an oversized one can be regurgitated or, rarely, cause injury.
The size chart
| Size | Typical weight | What it is | Typical eater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinky | 1-2 g | Newborn mouse, hairless | Hatchling snakes, tiny colubrids |
| Fuzzy | 3-5 g | Young mouse, light fur, eyes still closed | Young snakes moving up from pinkies |
| Hopper | 7-12 g | Weaned juvenile mouse, mobile | Juvenile snakes |
| Adult mouse | 13-30 g | Full-grown mouse (small to large) | Subadult to adult colubrids, young ball pythons |
| Small rat | 20-85 g | Young rat, from pup to small adult | Adult ball pythons and similar species |
| Medium to jumbo rat | 85 g and up | Adult rat | Large constrictors |
Weights are typical industry ranges — sizes vary somewhat by supplier, so check the pack description when you order. Our current frozen range covers pinky mice, fuzzy mice, large mice, and small rats, plus small quail and small chickens for larger or more varied diets.
The girth rule, and the weight rule
The girth rule is the one most keepers use: hold the prey next to your snake — if it's about as wide as the snake's widest body section, it's the right size. The weight rule is the backup: for a growing snake, one prey item of roughly 10-15% of body weight per feeding is a good target. Both rules point to the same outcome for most snakes; use whichever is easier to check.
When to size up
Size up when the current prey leaves no visible lump at all and your snake is actively hunting again within a day or two — or when the snake has clearly outgrown it by girth. Don't jump two sizes at once. And don't size up just because a snake seems eager: snakes are opportunists and will take prey that's too big, then pay for it by regurgitating. A modest lump that disappears within a day or two is the sign you got it right.
Quail and chickens
Small quail and small chickens are useful variety for larger snakes and for monitors and tegus — different protein, different size steps, and a change from a mice-only diet. The same girth rule applies: match the bird to the snake's widest point, not to your guess about appetite.
Order the feeders in this guide
Frozen Pinky Mice - 100 ct
$56.99 FREE shipping
Frozen pinky mice for hatchling snakes and small colubrids. Breeder-direct, vacuum-sealed, and shipped frozen in insulated boxes with dry ic...
Frozen Fuzzy Mice - 100 ct
$72.99 FREE shipping
Frozen fuzzy mice for growing snakes moving up from pinkies. Shipped frozen with dry ice....
Frozen Large Mice - 50 ct
$64.99 FREE shipping
Frozen large mice — the volume staple for adult colubrids and smaller pythons. Shipped frozen with dry ice....
Frozen Small Rats - 20 ct
$73.99 FREE shipping
Frozen small rats for ball pythons and mid-size constrictors. Consistent sizing, shipped frozen with dry ice....
You order here; we place your order with the breeder, and the breeder ships direct to you. Live arrival is covered within the supplying breeder's window — see our live arrival policy. General keeper guidance only, not veterinary advice: if your animal is sick, not eating, or losing weight, see a reptile or aquatic vet.