Slow weight gain?

[zlw830]

I just got myself a male pastel. I don't know what he weighed when I first bought him or a week later before his first feeding but I weighed him at 209g six days later (may 22) before his second feeding. I am feeding him f/t adult mice. On may 22, he was 209g. His next feeding was on 5/27 and he was 222g. It was a good 13g gain in 5 days. His next feeding was on June 1 and he had only gained 7 more grams. I wasn't able to feed him again until today (June 8) and this time he's only gained 5 grams. I've noticed he poops a lot. He didn't use the bathroom within the time period of the 13g gain. But he used the bathroom between both of the next 2 feeding periods. As I said, he's eating f/t adult mice. At 234g should I step up to small rats or stick with the adult mice? Small rats look a little too big to me which is why I was sticking to the mice. But my main question is whether or not his weight gain is bad or not. Should he be gaining more weight? Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all very much!

[chrid16371]

At 234 he wouldn't be ready for small rats. If you could get rat pups that would work. What are the weight of the mice?

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[BMorrison]

Here's a good guide based on weight.


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[DennisM]

Weight gain is never bad, unless a snake is over feeding and reached an unhealthy weight. He's gained 25 grams in less than 3 weeks. Nothing to worry about. Small rats are too large for this size snake, maybe a weaned rat. I'd probably still be feeding rat pups at this size.

[zlw830]

At 234 he wouldn't be ready for small rats. If you could get rat pups that would work. What are the weight of the mice?

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I've never actually weighed the mouse before. They're usually all around the same size. They're the frozen adult mice that you get from gourmet rodent. I'll do that next time I feed. Is there an ideal weight I should feeding him?

[chrid16371]

I've never actually weighed the mouse before. They're usually all around the same size. They're the frozen adult mice that you get from gourmet rodent. I'll do that next time I feed. Is there an ideal weight I should feeding him?

Around 10%-15% of your snakes body weight. So if your snake is 234g you should be feeding between 23.4g-35.1g a little bit bigger or smaller won't hurt.

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[zlw830]

Weight gain is never bad, unless a snake is over feeding and reached an unhealthy weight. He's gained 25 grams in less than 3 weeks. Nothing to worry about. Small rats are too large for this size snake, maybe a weaned rat. I'd probably still be feeding rat pups at this size.

I knew weight gain was good but it was the fact that he was gaining less and less with each feeding that was worrying me. But at the same time, the first time I fed him, he gained 13g without using the bathroom. The next few feedings, he had taken a pretty healthy poop in between so I thought that might have something to do with it. Thanks for the reply!

[zlw830]

Around 10%-15% of your snakes body weight. So if your snake is 234g you should be feeding between 23.4g-35.1g a little bit bigger or smaller won't hurt.

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Awesome, I'll definitely weigh them next time. Thanks for the advice!

[chrid16371]

Awesome, I'll definitely weigh them next time. Thanks for the advice!

Yeah no problem! I've never order from gourmet rodent and idk what sizes they offer but if you wanna try to get your snake on rats quicker or if gourmet rodent doesn't offer rodents between the sizes of adult mice and small rat you may want to check out big cheese rodent and buy some rat pups, they have sizes in between so you can get the appropriate size rodent. If after you weigh them and there not close to the 10-15% then you can always feed more then one mouse, just offer one right after it has the other one completely down.

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