Reptile & Amphibian Forums

for a 20 month old approximately 30 inch male BP? I finally found a scale, and weighed the BP I adopted almost 4 weeks ago. He weighs 312 grams. I wasn't able to weigh him when I first got him home, but I can tell my how he feels in my hand, he's gaining, and filling out. What weight should I be shooting for to have him in an appropriate range?

pic of him today (I hope it isn't too huge a pic)

also from today

I don't know what good weights and lengths are. My 17 inch female weighs about 135 grams. I think someone who posted a few days ago had a male that was about 20 inches long and weighed 225 grams.

If I had to guess, I'd say that 30 inches and 312 grams is on the small side.

I'm going to try to record when people post weights and lengths. I'm amazed that these records aren't available somewhere.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

I'm hoping to get him up to 500 grams.... or more.... I just hope that his past feeding history didn't "stunt" his growth capabilities!

What are you feeding him? I think he's big enough to take adult mice and small rats. As long as you have your scale, you might start weighing his food to make a record of his intake. I'm trying to give mine about 15 to 20 grams per week, but she only took half of that this week. I think most folks around here say that rats will make him grow bigger and faster because they have more calcium. I wish I had a good supply of f/t rats for when mine gets bigger. I don't know what effect his history will have. I think you should be able to get him to 500 grams pretty easily. Has he shed yet for you?

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

I'm feeding him adult mice, 3 times a week. I was doing it just twice a week, but decided to see if he'd go for it every other day...and he did. I'm feeding live, and feeder mice are a lot easier to find here than feeder rats. Wonder if I should feed him 2 per feeding twice a week instead.....

He was in a bad shed when I got him, just over a month ago, and isn't showing any signs of shedding again at this point.

I will start weighing the food before I give it to him. Should I weigh him like a day before feedings? I figure if I weigh him after, it's false, predigested mouse weight lol.

I appreciate your input!

Thanks

DeAnne

From what others have said, the best plan is to feed once every five to ten days and to feed more per feeding if he needs more. However, I don't know whether they take into account that you are feeding live. I think it might be tough for a snake to take two, live, adult mice in one sitting.

The frozen mice that I buy from PetCo weigh about 20 to 25 grams each. If I were feeding a snake as big as yours, I'd feed him two f/t of this size. I guess if he's taking three per week, then you can keep up the current plan. Tosha says that 10 to 20 percent of body weight once per week is the formula for feeding mice that are smaller than the snake's diameter. If he takes three of these per week, he's getting around 20% of his body weight.

I think most people weigh immediately after a snake defecates. That weight should represent the most snake and the least food. I tend to weigh as often as I can regardless of defecation cycle. I don't expect any one number to be the "right" weight, but I get a feel for the trend. As long as the overall trend is upward, I'm happy.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.