Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased a baby Everglades ratsnake at a local herp show in New Orleans about a month or so ago and have a question about weight/girth. It was very tiny and thin when I got it (basically a freebie thrown in with another purchase), and the vendor was pretty honest in saying that he did not get all the babies in the clutch he received feeding, and was not sure if the one I got would either. Luckily it accepted the first f/t pink offered on forceps/teasing a bit, and has eaten every one since by just placing in the cage with no tricks needed. At first I only fed once a week due to not wanting it to regurge (due to it being thin and tiny IMO). Its been up to one pinky every four to five days now for the past two weeks or so and is not regurging. However, it still appears thin IMO. Is this normal for Glades?? With as well as it has been feeding, I suspect it should be going into shed soon too, which it has not to date. Do Glades typically show this growth pattern and then "bloom" in a few months or so??

Thanks

Any idea on its birth history? Was it captive born from a wild caught mama? Wild caught itself? or was it captive bred AND born? I would be looking for a fecal to check for parasites, if it hasn't bulked up in a reasonable time. Just my opinion.

>>I purchased a baby Everglades ratsnake at a local herp show in New Orleans about a month or so ago and have a question about weight/girth. It was very tiny and thin when I got it (basically a freebie thrown in with another purchase), and the vendor was pretty honest in saying that he did not get all the babies in the clutch he received feeding, and was not sure if the one I got would either. Luckily it accepted the first f/t pink offered on forceps/teasing a bit, and has eaten every one since by just placing in the cage with no tricks needed. At first I only fed once a week due to not wanting it to regurge (due to it being thin and tiny IMO). Its been up to one pinky every four to five days now for the past two weeks or so and is not regurging. However, it still appears thin IMO. Is this normal for Glades?? With as well as it has been feeding, I suspect it should be going into shed soon too, which it has not to date. Do Glades typically show this growth pattern and then "bloom" in a few months or so??
>>
>>Thanks
-----
phflame
kingsnake.com host

Right now the most important thing is the fact that you've got it eating on such a regular basis. Baby snakes tend to put most of their energy towards getting LONGER at first, and will tend towards the skinny side (especially true of our N. American Ratsnakes, which are not FAT snakes in general). I would guess that your snake will show significant growth over the next several months, but will likely remain quite slender.

The baby may not, for a variety of reasons, been on a very strong eating schedule before you got it. For one thing, some dealers keep their little ones on a schedule that will be fine for them but not really promote fast growth. Time, money and the fact that they plan on selling them soon can motivate some to put minimum effort into feeding the babies. And, of course, any problem eaters (doesn't seem like yours is...at least not now) are sometimes all but ignored.

Hope it grows into a beauty, which will make it the best "value for your dollar" snake in your collection. Duffy

The fact it is a Glades voluntarily taking f/t pinks is amazing to me LOL!! It doesnt appear to be losing weight and is not regurging. They do appear to have faster metabolisms then say a baby corn. I summize you are correct on the feeding schedule prior to my getting it, if it was fed at all in the vendors care. I am still waiting for a shed though. It was soaking in its water bowl a few days ago, but ate another pink last night. I am hoping for a shed soon.