BP Care - Should I weigh William Snakespeare regularly?

[Mattsmom]

So, I've done a good job of logging his eating habits and his bathroom habits. I wondered if I should be weighing him regularly too? I would assume that's the best way to ensure that he's growing properly. It's not as though he would enjoy me stretching him out once a month on a yard stick. Any advice? Thanks!

He's still eating like a champ and finally did his business. He's a lot of fun. Got him a new hide that he seems to enjoy. As best I can tell, he's a happy snake.

[Crazymonkee]

Yes I would definitely weigh him regularly. Glad he's happy!!

[Artemille]

Not many ball python owners measure length and it really doesn't matter as much as their overall body condition. I weigh once a month, preferably after a poop to keep it consistent and accurate. I weigh more often when the adult males stop eating to make sure they're doing okay.

[Pythonfriend]

its a few minutes once a month, and when you do it each month you can make a nice diagram. for whomever it concerns.

no, really, its not bad to have. when you have a weight-time-diagram going on, and if your BP somehow picks up internal parasites for example, that would be the first indication. same food scedule, same feeding response, but weight curve does a dive.

keeping records of stuff seems like a waste of time...... until you wish you had them but dont have them. and then they are suddenly worth a lot. putting your snake on a scale now and then and writing it down is not much work. but when random circumstances arrive, it may prove invaluable.

by the way, for snakes its grams and kilograms. the resistance that the USA, Burma, and Liberia still mount against the global takeover of grams, kilograms, milligrams and tons is corroding. all other nations adapted. the imperial unit coalition is rather small now. the reptile world is a lost cause. grams it is.

[Mattsmom]

Thanks! I thought I was headed in the right direction. We do have a scale that measures in grams. I can put him in his feeding box and weigh him once a month. Probably on a Saturday, right before I feed him for consistency. He really does seem to be quite content. He's fun to watch and likes to hang out on my arm and shoulder when I'm checking email and such.

I really appreciate the advice. I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing for him.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Its totally up to you, I weight weekly but I tend to over do things too LoL

[gaplastina]

You know if you google 'snake measurer' there are websites where you can upload a picture of your slithering snake with an object next to him (I use a cell phone) and you can get a length on him without having to stretch him out. The object is the scale and you click on points along his body to measure him curve by curve.

[dgring]

nice name

[Pythonfriend]

You know if you google 'snake measurer' there are websites where you can upload a picture of your slithering snake with an object next to him (I use a cell phone) and you can get a length on him without having to stretch him out. The object is the scale and you click on points along his body to measure him curve by curve.

its a ball python, they are tame, so you can just use a tape measure (a soft, fabric one) to go along the back. or a piece of string. also this tiny little piece of software will not account for perspective.

that being said, we are talking about weight.

[200xth]

Weights are good to track. If you're tracking feedings and poops, weight is a good thing to add (along with sheds).

If nothing else, it'll help you feel better if your snake goes into one of the BP fasts. It's very easy for people to say their snake is losing weight and looks skinny because he hasn't eaten in two months, but the truth ends up being he's lost a trivial amount (10g) and is just fine. If you have the weights all along, you'll know how he's doing and won't be guessing or letting concern cloud your vision.

If you end up running into serious issues and need a vet for your snake, you'll have the detailed weight history for him. The weight may or may not be useful for whatever the issue is, but better to have the history and not need it than want it and not have it.

For what it's worth, I weigh mine everytime they get fed. Once a week for bigger snakes, every 4 or 5 days for smaller snakes as feed day dictates.