Breeders: A proposal for a weight gain/growth in length survey.

[Erratum]

I've been curious to see how my mojo female compares to other snakes but, since there's such a variety in length and weights at a given age, no real numbers are available as a benchmark.

What I propose is a survey to accumulate some data with regards to this aspect of the ball python. I would tabulate it all in excel once receiving enough entries.

I would like the following:
A minimum of 300 snake measurements, 150 male and 150 female. This is the minimum I would like, or else the sample size will be too small to give decent results.

The data would be for snakes between the ages of 3 months and 5 years old. Any younger it would throw of the scale of an excel graph.

What I would need:
Your measurements, both weight and length! Grams and inches; conflicting systems of measurement but they're the most commonly used. You need to submit an equal amount of male and female snake measurements. No fewer than 4 per person and no more than 10 per person (2 males and 2 females minimum, 5 males and 5 females maximum). This ensures one breeder doesn't provide too large a portion, in case those snakes are an anomaly. You must also provide me with the exact age of the snake in days. You can select examples from any morph you would like; it would be too much work to consider any genetic difference between size/length of different morphs (if this would even apply, I am not an expert).

You would try to select snakes which seem to be, from your experience, healthy and good examples of where a snake at that age should be. In a perfect collection, all snakes big and small would be accepted. However, power fed snakes and runts will alter the data for a sample of this size. Thus, please use your judgment in selection. I'd have to ask that measurements are limited to those who have a fair collection of BPs. If you only have 4 snakes, 2 males and 2 females for instance, I'd prefer you didn't submit as there's less of a control with the data.

What I will provide:
I'll tabulate all the data in excel and provide 4 charts: Male/Female Weight/Length with age. I'll add a trend to highlight certain convenient ages, such as 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, etc...

I will make a list of all those who contributed, so they may be recognized. However, in case there is any potential sensitivity, I will not disclose individual information about any measurements.



So, this is what I would propose. It wouldn't be concrete, but should provide some insight and a good estimation. The more measurements, the better. What are peoples' thoughts on this idea? Is it worth our time?

Edit: to clarify, I would ask you pm your 4 to 10 measurements. You should also try and weigh post-shed, when your snake isn't overdue for a huge bowl movement, not immediately after your snake just ate big meal, etc. Once again, judgment