baby Ball python weight concerns

[Rembrandt]

I bought a ball python from a breeder that hatched at the beginning of October. He weighed 30 grams when I got him and has gained 13 grams during the month I've owned him. I haven't been able to find much information on young ball python weight in the first few months of their lives except for a weight chart that had the hatchlings at 60 grams. I've been feeding him every five-seven days depending on when Mr. Stubborn wants to eat. He is around a foot long and is more triangular than round which makes believe he is underweight. The breeder told me she'd fed him three times before I got him, but I don't know if that's true. I'm hoping someone could give me better information on what he should weigh or if he is fine.

[Macropodus]

You say he gained 13 grams in 1 month by feeding every five-seven days. So he has eaten at least 4 times. Have you been feeding mice pinkies? Are your scales accurate? I like to use 2 different scales to be sure. A 13 gram gain in a month seems so little.

[Rembrandt]

I've been feeding fuzzy mice which is as large as I'd dare to give him right now. I only use one scale,but it's very accurate.

[piedlover79]

30 grams is *tiny* usually reserved for ball pythons hatched out as twins. Most are 60-80 grams right out of the egg. Some pictures would help. Keep feeding him, but he does sound underweight.

[Mangiapane85]

That's a tiny baby. But if it's eating consistently and gaining weight, I'd just keep doing what you're doing.


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

Buying an animal that small was really not a good idea, if you have not done so I would recommend you to do this https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101 to help with feeding so he catches up especially since you mention he is stubborn.

Usually out of the eggs they are about twice bigger or sometime 3 times bigger than your original 30 grams weight, now it happens that some hatch much smaller but it is the exception, and to be honest, when it is the case I do not believe that the animal should be released until he has caught up, I personally do not let go of that type of hatchlings before they are at least 100 grams just to make sure they are good feeders and that there is no other issue. (whereas a normal hatchling I will let go after 3 to 5 meals depending on how aggressive of a feeder they are)

At this point you can now feed hoppers just like an average hatchlings and he will start gaining weight a little faster.

[Rembrandt]

This is what he looked like the day I brought him home. He looked better in the breeders pictures. I was not happy at all when I picked him up because I could tell he should've been rounder but I didn't know if some hatchlings were triangular at first.





This is after having him a few weeks. He has began filling out,but slowly.



It may have been unwise, but my mother and I are both wildlife rehabilitators and raise and care for unhealthy animals all the time. I would've felt terrible leaving him in a bad situation.

[piedlover79]

The images are not showing up. The problem with buying an animal from a bad situation is that you just encourage bad behavior from the breeder.

[Ballpythonguy92]

Idk anybody who would sell a baby ball python at that weight I know a few breeders who always wait till the snake is around 150 grams before putting up for sale which seems smart as they know it's eating fine and shedding fine and what not

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