Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got this girl from Brandon when she was just a little worm. She's actually my favorite snake out of the 30 or so that I own.

And then here is a horrible picture of me holding her so you can get an idea of her size. I think my small hands might make her look bigger than she is though.

I've only recently begun working with brooksi. I'm kind of curious to know how I'm doing as far as getting her up to optimal breeding size. I'm not trying to rush any breeding projects, but I know the first couple of years count the most in terms of growth so I'm wondering how she's progressing.

thats extremely large and girthy for a yearling unless you have tiny lil hands.thats a normal 2-3 y/o size imo,how often and what does she eat,some people talk that obese snakes, are that obese! poor breeders and health problems.
cool looking snake, try a weekly feeding day. C

I don't post often but in this case I will make an exception. I think she is beautiful. Back on page 2 of this forum you will find pics of some 04 Brooksi and on page 4...you will find a pic of one of my '04 Brooksi...Helane

That snake is morbidly obese.

Obese snakes generally don't breed as well as non-obese snakes and obese snakes (like all vertebrates that have been studied) tend to live shorter lives.

Their appears to be a correlation between egg binding and obesity in snakes as well so not only does the snake have less chance of successfully breeding, but a higher chance of complications should she breed.

A snake that length should be eating a mouse every 5-7 days. You need to cut back on feeding to try and get her body fat down. She will still grow in length, but won't be as fat. I have found that faster growth rates are achieved by feeding small meals more often. Whether faster growth rats are good or not remains debatable.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, TX

I know there's a correlation between obese animals and reproduction issues; however, every person I've talked to who breeds brooksi says that they need to eat a lot when they're young if they're ever going to hit full size.

I fed this girl every 4 days up until this summer, which is when my schedule went haywire, so now she eats every week. She gets multiple smaller mice instead of one big one.

In your opinion what is obese? Looking at that snake it doesnt appear obese to me (no disrespect intended) but I would think as long as the snakes growth is even (not having pin head) it would no be really obese?
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http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=173260&ck=

Thats snakes back third looks like it doesnt have any overlapping scales. That to me is a sign of an overweight snake. Ive seen overweight snakes before so I know what it looks like. Some snakes just dont grow length they simply grow slower or if your temps are low they remaion less active and simply get calories without burning them.

Keith
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Have there been any stuidies invloving a group of well fed snakes V.S. 1x per week fed snakes? If so what species were the snakes and how many were tested for breeding and for how many seasons??

What does Brandon say ?

your snake is not obese in my personal opinion... very nice Axanthic in my opinion.

i have a few `04 brooksi females that are bout that size and bigger... i think snakes that have higher fat content will yield either bigger eggs or a larger clutch. what do you think the egg yolk is made of?

keep up the good work

~ZF
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Thanx
Royal Blue Reptilez

~ZF

That snake's a BEAUTIFUL Axanthic in my opinion. Just about right weight wise, especially if you're looking to breed her in a yr. or so. Keep it up.

Here's my 04 axanthic male, which also came from Brandon. He's around 30-31 inchs, or maybe a little more.

Steve

but xelda-that is obese.you really don't want to see interstitial skin(the skin between the scales)unless he/she has a meal inside at that particular time....otherwise like,i think it was keith,says-all the dorsal scales should overlap.

btw it's easy to get kings to this point of obesity or at least overweightness;they can be real gluttons,and i hear this probably most often about floridanas...the one i have kept was the same way(gluttonous,not overweight)....the other common kings i keep(obx,goini) are also greedy eaters....but the controversy is whether you should feed a snake all that it will eat,or even just any more than you feel is right for it,just because it will continue to eat more per feeding...pituophis are famous for being very greedy-then often regurgitating some or all of the meal later-so no a snake should not be fed all it wants at one feeding....though kings usually can keep a big meal down better than a pine/bull/gopher,just beause they can keep it down does'nt mean it was'nt too much food to be a healthy sized meal....long story short,that's how i have come to agree that a good gauge for overweightness/obesity is whether you can see the interstitial(between the scales) skin....my opinion,but it's your snake.

Is when did the snake last eat before the pictures were taken? If it had just ate, or ate within 48 hours of the pic I can understand it looking as it does. If it has been any longer than that I would guess your temps are not optimum as a snake with that much food in its belley should be pooping up a storm. It is hard to judge just by the snake as pictured without knowing anything else. If it is a little fatter than it should be,....the snake is young and can easily drop some grams especially if the temps are raised. However as an adult it will attain a certain size and then have it's 2 or 3 versions of weight depending on being full, half empty and on an empty stomach. If your snake looks like that on an empty stomach it is time to cut back. Keep in mind these are so capable of devouring tons of rodents that to slim a young King down...and then start a feeding regiment to gain growth at a good pace will be easier than taking a fat adult and trying to get some weight off of it. Tom Stevens

IT'S TOOOOOO FAT!!!! Sorry I'm so direct, BUT: Tell me if you have EVER and I mean EVER seen a snake THAT fat in the wild???
I havn't (been herpin over 30 years now - and found thousands of snakes)! That can't be good for a snake - not long term that's for sure. . . But it is an otherwise nice looking specimen. Thanks for posting - as we are all just trying to help!

You asked for an opinion, you got one. . .

Zee