Reptile & Amphibian Forums

just last week i got a new ball python girl from a local pet store. i feel like i rescued her because she wasn't in the best of an enclosure and to my knowledge wasn't being feed enough. i had watched her for two months at the store before i caved in and bought her. i have her in a quarentine tank away from my other girl. my first bp is an april 03 baby and is about 225g and 21 inches. this new girl is 150g and 23 inches, i don't know when last year she was born. i feed her the night that she came home because she looked so skiny and she went straight for the mouse. her skin is sort of loose on her too. so less bable and on to my question. what is the appropriate weight for a 23 inch female?? how long should i keep her in quarantine? is there any way to outwardly tell if she has internal paracites?? i have looked her over and have her on white paper towels and she has no mites. i plan on taking her to the vet next week after she has has some time to settle in. also how can you tell if your ball python is obese? i don't think my first is, i was just curious. thanks in advance for the help and advice

~dana~

0.2 ball python (roxy and haileigh)
1.1 dwarf hamsters (peanut and tj)
1.0 cat (whiskers)

My little girl is about 21-22 inches long and she weighs 182 g. She is on the smaller side, but by no means underweight. My boyfriends bp is about 25 inches and 250 g, so weight really depends on the individual snake. Ultimately, keep track of her weight, make sure she is eating, and get her checked at the vet for parasites....good luck!
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*Amy*
0.1 Green Iguana (yes, I have a lizard in my bathroom)-iggy
2.1 Ball Pythons (normal)-cosi, jake, and howie
0.1 B.smithi (mexican redknee tarantula)-athena
0.0.1 midland painted turtle-nemo
1.1 dogs-rocky and skippy
1.0 normal grey cockatiel-opie
0.0.30 betta, guppies, rosy reds, fantail goldfish, clown pleco,...

A ball pythons weight is individual like anything else. It has to do with opportunity to eat and prevalence of prey. I would just start feeding with 2 mice per week either at one feeding or 4 days apart. Mine is about 9 months and weighs 430 grams at 27 inches and this is how I feed. Unfortunately it has slowed down and is refusing to eat, but its winter and that's part of ball python behavior. As far as quarentine, 1 month would probably do well, but see what the vet says. She needs to be clear of mites and internal parasites so definitely follow thru with a vet check.

i too have an april 03 ball. a female that was 88 grams when i got her. She was pushing 1130 grams the week before we got off break. (i think that was like december 16th) im guessing she has hit the 1200gram mark right now. She eats 130gram rats 1 per week on a strict shedule. She used to feed on 2 large mice per week. i switched her to rats at the 900gram mark.