Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently got a male (normal, I think)BP through a rescue. He has grown 1/2 inch and gotten considerably thicker in three months. He curently is 18 1/2 inches and weighs 101 grams. Any ideas how old he may be?

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Jeff Davis
1.0 Royal Python(Rescue)
2.0 Shi Tzus
1.0 Pug
0.1 Lovely Wife

He is very light at 101 grams if that is correct? Most ball pythons are born at least that heavy. How many times has he ate in the past 3months? If he is eating and isnt gaining any weight, he may have parasites... I would use a digital scale to track the weight of the prey items versus how much he gains. You may want to get a fecal exqam done at the vets to check him out for internal bugs...

Best of luck with him!

Sounds pretty consistent with a year old ball give or take a few months that hasn't been properly fed and cared for - -hopefully he will thrive under your care.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
The Blog
nihil facimus sed id bene facimus

Most Balls are hatched out UNDER 100 grams! If it's 18 inches and 101 g's AND a rescue, I'm guessing it's a 2, MAYBE even 3 year old!

Most Balls are born under 100grams...maybe 75-85grams...? Many are born over 100 grams as well. If he has a Ball that only weighs 101 grams after he has had it for 3 months, I would be very concerned with parastes. The snake must be eating if he stated that it has gained weight over the preceding months. I would weigh the animal to get a baseline and I would weigh the prey item before I feed it to the snake. If he feeds it a pinky every few days or week even, then snake should begin to put on weight. If not he should get a fecal done and get the animal some help. At 101 grams is way too light even if the animal is only 3months old. I would be inspecting the snakes stool to look for diareahh(sp?)too. Something is up with that snake.

A pinky? If you feed him pinkies, he'll never gain weight! Baby balls, should eat at least hoppers, right out of the egg!