Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,
I have an albino tangerine honduran milksnake. He is a 2007 male. I was told he didn't eat well as a baby and has grown significantly since I got him in 2009, but I am afraid he is too small for a honduran. At 3 years old I am sure he is done growing. He eats one f/t small mouse once a week and rarely refuses food. He just shed again 2 days ago. He is currently about 32 inches or so in length and 148g on an empty tummy. Any feedback is appreciated, I just want to make sure all of my snakes are healthy. Thanks and God bless.

Snakes, like most reptiles, continue to grow throughout their entire life. Hondurans do not stop growing at three years of age. I do not think 32 inches is especially small for a three year old snake. It may be smaller than average, but it's nothing that I'd worry about.

Tim

Third Eye

Tim,

This brings up an interesting point:
I do reptile presentations for elementary schools and one young student asked me WHY snakes continue to grow throughout their lives. I haven't been able to find an answer to his question. What do you think?
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http://www.mikefoux.com
http://snakerack.blogspot.com

2.6.2 Hondurans (Normal, amel, hypo, anery, ghost)
1.2.0 Pueblans (Normal, hypo)
0.1.0 Corn Bloodred
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.1.0 California King (normal, blue-eyed blond)
0.2.0 Speckled Kings Calcasieu Parish locality
1.1.0 Brooksi Hypo
1.1.0 Goini/Brooks Cross (Blaze and hypo)
1.1.0 San Diego gophers
0.0.1 Texas Rat
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
1.2.1 Leopard Geckos(various morphs)
0.1.0 Wife, Caucasius Mexicana Integrade WC

It's genetic. Most (probably all) non-Avian reptiles have what's known as indeterminate growth. It's a byproduct of their evolutionary history! Pretty cool stuff, really. There has been some interesting research into growth and the role of telomeres (protective "caps" of repetitive DNA at the tips of chromosomes) in degeneration and senescence.

-Cole