Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was wondering what everyone saw for grwth rates... i some how feel like my Saphira should be bigger than she is but if so its probably my fault. Saphira was born oct-07 as dave knows and i got her i think june-08 so about 8 months old... i know most people feed thier snakes every week, i ont the other hand feed every two weeks, so over ther first two months i had her i back her down to the two week feedings, im wondering if this is why she doesnt seem as big as i fell she should be...

she shed just last night(ill get pictures later today) and her shed measures 43" which sounds about right to me. and i know alot of you keep track of weight also so for the first time i used a little dial food scale and came up with about 155g how does that sound compaired to everyone elses 07s

now if it is im just not feeding enough what is best maybe stick with once a week for the first year and a half to two years then maybe slow it down or feed every week till full grown adult?
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-Stephen-

0.1 soon to be wifey (Babe)
1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer)
1.0 norm corn (Jake)
1.0 col redtail boa (Switch, formally known as Dixie)
0.1 ball python (Bella)
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Torpaz & Saphira)

I'll have to double check when I get home but I'm pretty sure my '07s are in the 500 gram range. I'm infamous for feeding my animals conservatively so they tend to be a little on the small side. 155 grams for an '07 sounds a bit small even to me.

The general rule of thumb for feeding snakes is a meal as big around as their widest point once per week. How does your feeding schedule and food size compare to this?
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

i have a bunch of snakes from nov 07, and there weights are from about 400-550grams, That said, there were 2 picky feeders, who are still like under 200grams. All mine are fed every 7 days, occasionally out to 10 days if im away.
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Dave

13.19 brbs

My 07's are in the 500 - 700 gram range off the top of my head andthose were fed conservatively. From about a year on they were on a every other week feeding schedule. I'm guessing my 08's are around the 100G mark.

So yeah, 155 at 2 years old is on the small side.

Every other week feedings are fine but you need to be feeding a decent size prey item. By decent I mean one that is similar in diameter to the snake. With weekly feedings you can get away with smaller prey but you get messy cages twice as often
If she's eating more or ess every time you offer, then you must not be giving her large enough prey. You should be able to see a lump for a few days where dinner went.

I'm about to move my 08's to larger tubs and will change their feeding schedule to every other week when I do.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I just checked. My three '07s are all at about 700g.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

Stephen,
...I have four of them here that were born in october and november 2007. One weighs 452 grams and the others are 485 to 512 grams. I try to have the females up to 1600 grams for breeding when they are 30 months old. If you are not planning to breed them or are not in a hurry then growing them slower is fine.
Jeff

>>i was wondering what everyone saw for grwth rates... i some how feel like my Saphira should be bigger than she is but if so its probably my fault. Saphira was born oct-07 as dave knows and i got her i think june-08 so about 8 months old... i know most people feed thier snakes every week, i ont the other hand feed every two weeks, so over ther first two months i had her i back her down to the two week feedings, im wondering if this is why she doesnt seem as big as i fell she should be...
>>
>>she shed just last night(ill get pictures later today) and her shed measures 43" which sounds about right to me. and i know alot of you keep track of weight also so for the first time i used a little dial food scale and came up with about 155g how does that sound compaired to everyone elses 07s
>>
>>now if it is im just not feeding enough what is best maybe stick with once a week for the first year and a half to two years then maybe slow it down or feed every week till full grown adult?
>>-----
>>-Stephen-
>>
>>0.1 soon to be wifey (Babe)
>>1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer)
>>1.0 norm corn (Jake)
>>1.0 col redtail boa (Switch, formally known as Dixie)
>>0.1 ball python (Bella)
>>1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Torpaz & Saphira)

thats real helpfull i had suspitions for a little while now but it helps to confirm. i think i was trying to be a little conseritive with meal size and ended up be ultra conservitive but ill step her up now for sure. and yeah i think a little bigger would be fine seeing how they are on a two week schedual

Jeff, i am planning on breeding her but now if i cant get her up to size by the time she is ready i wont have any problem putting that off for a year till she is big enough, i would rather wait to breed than power feed her to breed sooner

but thanks Mike, Dave, Dave, and Jeff!
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-Stephen-

0.1 soon to be wifey (Babe)
1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer)
1.0 norm corn (Jake)
1.0 col redtail boa (Switch, formally known as Dixie)
0.1 ball python (Bella)
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Torpaz & Saphira)