Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 5 1/2 month old burm that seems to be growing really slowly. When I first got her(yes she is a female) October, she was about 28 inches. I measued her a month later and found that she was 36 inches. Then a month later and was 40 inches. And now, a month later, she is only 43 inches. She has shed twice since I've had her and is due for another one in about a week. What has caused such slow growth? Usually 5 1/2 month old female burms are bigger than that and grow at a more rapid pace. I have been feeding her 1 medium rat a week and she is pretty stuffed after she eats it. Should I try and move it up to 2 rats a week? I dont want to power feed her or anything but a little more growth would be ideal.

It is fine, but dont feed her two med. rats a week. Feeding a snake a med. rat at about 3.5' sounds a little big. My burm was only eating a sm. rat at that time and my red tail only eats med. rats and he is almost five feet. All snakes grow at different paces. Its like a person there are short ones and tall ones. Just because a snake is supposed to get 15-20 feet doesnt mean it will. There is probably nothing wrong with your snake.

I am sorry, but I have to disagree with willis. I have a 44" MALE albino burn that is eating large rats every 5-7 days. He is shedding now, but as soon as he is done, he will get back to the same regemin. He has no problems digesting and eating the same day, and he is shedding every 4 weeks. I have had him about 3 months and he went from 30" to 44" in that time. In my opinion, a female burm that is 3.5' should be able to take a medium rat every 5 days, or a large every 7-10.

This is just my opinion, and should not be taken as fact.