How is my boy growing?

[SecurityStacey]

Hey there, I just wanted to get peoples opinions about how Stan is growing and if I should bump up his meals.

I've had him for 4 months - he eats a f/t adult mouse once a week and I haven't had any refusals. He weighs 375 grams, is 26-30 inches long (that is tricky to get) and is approx 16 months old according the reptile place I got him from.

I think he looks a bit thin and I was going to either bump up how much I'm feeding him or change his schedule to every 5 days, what do you guys think?

Here are some pictures of him - he has gained a lot of weight since I brought him home, I actually think they weren't really feeding him that often at the place I got him from.

Opinions really appreciated!

[Mochelem]

I think it looks pretty good, maybe a little on the thin side... At that weight it should get 2 adult mice, or 1 jumbo mouse a week...

[blackcrystal22]

They couldn't have been feeding him properly because that's a bit on the smaller side for that old of a snake.
He doesn't look thin to me at all. A large mouse a week is fine. :]

[SecurityStacey]

They couldn't have been feeding him properly because that's a bit on the smaller side for that old of a snake.

Hindsight is 20/20 and knowing what I've learned on here I can see that there were a lot of things they weren't doing that they should have been.

As for the feeding I was looking at him over a 3 week period between when I first looked at him and when I decided to get him and that entire time they kept telling me that he was "due" a feeding right up until I bought him. When I asked the last time he had eaten they wouldn't say, just that he was "due". And the size mouse they recommended was a small hopper.

[blackcrystal22]

Hindsight is 20/20 and knowing what I've learned on here I can see that there were a lot of things they weren't doing that they should have been.

As for the feeding I was looking at him over a 3 week period between when I first looked at him and when I decided to get him and that entire time they kept telling me that he was "due" a feeding right up until I bought him. When I asked the last time he had eaten they wouldn't say, just that he was "due". And the size mouse they recommended was a small hopper.

Hm. 'Due'. Like once-a-month snake myth due?
It's really surprising how many places think that once a month is perfectly healthy to feed a growing snake at any size.
If your worried about his weight at all, see if he'll get down two mice. Unless you want to start giving him weanling rats. :]

[SecurityStacey]

Hey - didn't want to start a new thread - this is related to how Stan is growing...

If he hits the mouse as soon as its in his cage, coils and downs it all within 7 minutes is it a sign I'm not feeding him enough? I feed him one adult mouse every Sunday but they are less than 10% of his body weight (he is 375 grams and the mice are generally 32-35grams)

[mooingtricycle]

Hey - didn't want to start a new thread - this is related to how Stan is growing...

If he hits the mouse as soon as its in his cage, coils and downs it all within 7 minutes is it a sign I'm not feeding him enough? I feed him one adult mouse every Sunday but they are less than 10% of his body weight (he is 375 grams and the mice are generally 32-35grams)

If they dont leave a noticeable bump. Up his prey size to two mice.

If it leaves a slight bump, but not too big, Toss him a Jumbo mouse and keep working at him until you dont see that one anymore.

[starmom]

You could always offer him a second mouse if he is still hunting after eating the first!! Also, if it would be more convenient for you, you could try to switch him over to a small rat

[SecurityStacey]

You could always offer him a second mouse if he is still hunting after eating the first!! Also, if it would be more convenient for you, you could try to switch him over to a small rat

That is what I want to do - He is just such a champ eater - never missed a meal - that I'm scared to change... :-)

[anendeloflorien]

I've got a female BP who is about the same size as your Stanley and she'll eat a small (don't really know weight I go by girth more) rat every 5 days. I'd say they're a little bit older than a weaned rat. She's doing great on that feeding schedule maybe try that with your guy?