Posted by:
Tigergenesis
at Fri Feb 27 09:27:33 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Tigergenesis ]
I took a second look at JM's weight chart posted earlier in this thread. It's interesting to see the big weight differences - and I believe these are about the same age snakes. At month 10 the largest snakes weighs twice as much as the smallest. Who's to say which is healthier and therefore is the more correct weight for the species tracked? One might say the smallest one is underweight, but one might also say the largest one is too big and that extra weight is bad for the heart and shortens life span....blah...blah...blah.
There just doesn't seem to be (unless someone can point me to it) the type of research, health and nutritional information available for snakes (and many other herps) as there are for dogs, cats - even humans. And even that information took a lot of time to get - and still changes.
I'm becoming inclined to go with the idea that if my BP is eating regularly (I currently offer 2 prey once a week and sometimes he only takes one), fecals come back good and he's acting 'normal'....that he's doing just fine FOR HIM.
I do agree that there have to be extremes and points where you should at least be concerned and possibly get a vet opinion - but again, I think you have to know more than weight and age to sometimes figure out when to be concerned. Based on some weights others have posted, my guy is on the right track and according to others too small. But he's been seen by 2 highly respected exotic vets (specializing in reptiles) in my area and they don't see a problem with his weight - that's because they asked what his feeding schedule, history and weights have been like.
8 month old @ 253grams (he ate the other day and hasn't defecated yet - I wait to weigh once he's ate and defecated. so he does actually weigh more now)
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RE: 150 gram 1 year old female? - Tigergenesis, Fri Feb 27 09:27:33 2004